Jeffrey67

Can this be done? I need to re-finish my sidepipe covers, but I think they are fiberglass with a chrome finish on them. Can they be re-chromed??

ffas23

Hey Jeff,
Wouldn't be worth the trouble. You are better off buying new ones. It will cost you almost as much to redo what you have. They are metal not fiberglass. The insulators are fiberglass.

Fred

Jeffrey67

Fred! How's it going...who sells new ones in chrome? The only ones I see for sale are "Paintable" ones from Eckler's...

ffas23

Most of the Corvette Suppliers have them. The last set I purchased for someone was through Corvette America.

griffths

Not sure I agree that new ones would be cheaper HOWEVER I have not had my covers rechromed so take what I say below with a grain of salt.

You can purchase just the covers (without the fibergalss insulators) for around 1100.00 for both sides and I have a hard time believing that rechroming existing covers would cost anywhere near that much. A complete set of reproduction covers will set you back around 2300.00 without the pipes.

Just my .02

Regards,

Jay

Garys 68

Mid America, Corvette central, etc have the original style for about $2000. Kind of expensive. They also carry fiberglass repro covers that you have to paint. They're about $300. Cant tell you about rechroming costs.
Gary

ffas23

Jay, There is a post on Sunday in the C-3 general section under a thread about Corvette side exhaust insulators where a member said it cost $1200 just to rechrome the covers and that is if they don't need any work. Heck I wish I could find someone my self. The front section of the side exhaust cover behind the driver side front wheel is somewhat pittted on my 73' and this car was never left outside or has it ever been driven in bad weather. Go figure. This is why I always liked the aluminum covers on the C-2 better because they hold up better then the covers on the C-3. I know I have owned both and every Corvette I have owned since 1970 had factory side exhaust mounted to them. Two C-2's (2-67's) and three C-3's (69',72',73').

StickShiftCorvette

The orginal covers can be rechromed. I had mine done several years ago. The quality was better than new and they have lasted better than when I bought them new from Chevrolet (I have had my car since '76). You need to find a plater that will fill any pit - it was expensive at the time.

shark food

It is more expensive to rechrome the original covers than to buy new ones. Paragon reproductions is the only company making them. If you buy them from someone else then they are just a distributor. They sell a set call a side exhaust shield set it includes all six pieces. two fronts, two centers, and two rears that screw on to your insulators. as long as your insulators are good this is the cheapest way. They list for around 100.00 Anything over 1000.00 qualifies for a discount and I think they ran me around 920 and some change. hope this helps.

shark food

they list for around 1100 I mean

silver74vette

Paragon sells repro covers at a reasonable (relative term) price. My friend bought a set of blems at Bloomington Gold for around $600, they look great.

Good luck.

ffas23

When I hear some of these prices they are getting for just the side exhaust covers I just shake my head. Back in 82' I paid around $550 for a complete set of side exhaust covers and pipes for my 73' from a local Chevrolet dealer and thought that was alot of money at the time. Boy have the times changed. I remember back in 71' when I purchased a complete set for my 69' 427-435hp Coupe. I am pretty sure I paid $120 each for the complete side cover and $75 each for the pipes for a total of around $390 for everything. It might of been even a little cheaper.