Polishing Sill/Treadplates?
 

Has anybody attempted to polish out minor scuffs from the chrome sill or tread plates? I have a feeling they are anodized so polishing them is probably not an option. Anybody tried?

If they're actually chromed you'll have a fun time trying to buff them. Chrome is Very hard which is why it's used for bright work; it doesn't scratch easily and doesn't tarnish.

My car came with aluminum sill plates that were heavily oxidized to a dull gray. The oxidized layer is very thin but hard so I never tried to polish them.

I found some highly polished stainless steel ones on a SIII in a wrecking yard and took them on a chance. They aren't an *Exact* fit because the ends are slightly different, but the holes match up Perfectly and they look Really good!
(';')

Hi Dale...

Your thread plates are likely the stainless ones, that came on the 86/87 models..
I've sold lots of them in the past, and have had reports back about very good results from sanding them with very high grit sandpaper. Apparently it's enough to make the scratches disappear...
I know of a few people on this forum that have done it, so hopefully they'll chime in with their experience doing it...

Cheers,
David
Everyday XJ

Dale,
I have a 86 series 3 sovereign with stainless steel treadplates that were completely dull and scratched. Using drill based polishing kit with three different polishing wheels and polishing bars the treadplates have come up like new with only a few of the deeper scratches remaining - but hardly noticeable. If I had spent longer using the coarse polishing wheel then perhaps all scratches would have been removed.