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I just used a repop set on my Malibu I have been working on. I was doing plating anyway, so I striped off the bright zinc in phosphoric acid and had them cad plated. They are toned way down, not shiny at all.
I can shoot you a couple pic's if you want. There on the car.
Or, give them a quick dunk in the acid and rinse and inspect, repeat as need. That will dull them up a bit.
#3, strip the zinc, there will be a nice phosphoros coating on the steel, blow off with a air gun and a damp towell, force dry or hang in the sun ( you may have to go to AZ.) then treat with Rpm and leave the bare ?
Prep and Etch