simichrome polish
 

milord,
don't put any coatings on the stainless, even if it's just 304, it probably won't rust on a dash panel. If you do end up with discoloration, or small rust pits, try some Simichrome Polish by Happich, it removes the discoloration without scratching and has no wax in it, you can apply it with plain old toilet paper, cotton swabs, or felt bobs. It is used mainly on production injection molds after diamond polishing the mold surface to obtain an optical quality finish, but I think a tube of it will come in handy for your stainless.
http://www.newmantools.com/simi.htm

Good Luck,
Paul

by the way, you going to the Tin Fish on the 27th?

Thanks for the replies guys. I think they will stay bare. I'll post some pics when I get them all in.

Paul,

I'll pick some of that up and yes I'll be there on the 27th. Check out the post in the gatherings section. Email me if you are interested in the tours.

James

Steve 1 hass the best answer to the rusting question.
What about having the prop or any other stainless part passivated to clean the surface?
For those that don't know whart that is, it's a chemical process that involves dipping the part in a solution containing acid to remove all surface contaminates. As long as you don't use anything like steel wool or Brillo pads it won't rust again.
There's another process they used to call Reverse Chrome Plating. Insted of applying chrome to the part, it would draw the chromium out to the surfce of a SST part leaving a chromed finish. Looks good too.

Milford,
I was going to do this once, then it was pointed out to me that a shiny dash was going to reflect the sun and blind me. After careful though and consideration, I trashed the idea. Hope you have thought of this already.