Question about windshield/hatch trim

[axerob60]

I would like to change the painted windshield/hatch trim on my 83 capri from flat black to bright stainless. What hides beneath the paint? Will the shine need to be buffed out?

[82GTforME]

I have been told that for the black/grey painted ones that the colour comes off and they can be polished to be shiny. Never tried it but I am not thinking so. They are aluminum and I am not confident that you can polish to the same finish as the "bright" (chrome looking) surface.

I was searching for a couple of replacement bright (chrome) pieces and this is what I was being told. I ended up finding the pieces I needed in chrome versus needing to try to polish. If you have an older painted piece you could try it. I think it would be a lot of work and time consuming with the size, shape and contour of pieces to work with to change them.

You may find a full set of chrome pieces through the FEP parts page or elsewhere.

[mudgepondexpress]

All brightwork is clear anodized aluminum. In order for it to look it's best, the aluminum must be
Polished, the anodized. You can strip the anodizing with easy off oven cleaner as well as other products. Then you could polish them to a chrome like finish either leaving them as it (you better protect them with wax, Boeshield, etc) or they will corrode quickly. The anodizing takes away a bit of the shine, but the trade-off is low
/No maintenance. I have some painted ones and I don't believe those are anodized. Strip and polish. There is a black stained anodizing that would also come off with easy off. Start with stripper, if it doesn't work, they are anodized.