540 vette

where can I get the gold paint for the headlight actuators on my 72. The guy painted them black before I bought the car.

terry82

http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=...ooster%20paint

theandies

I painted mine black. Does that make me Bubba????

540 vette

No it just means you like them black. I like them the original color.

theandies

Whew.......that was close.

zwede

The Eastwood stuff is as close to cad plating you'll get in a paint, but it won't really look like cad plating.

Alan 71

Hi 540,
You can duplicate the look of the original chromate washed zinc finish on the actuators fairly well by first spraying them silver, then DUSTING on some gold or copper levying bait of the silver peaking through in a few places. You can then DUST on some blue and green in even fewer places to mimic the iridescent appearance one the chromate wash.
Regards,
Alan

I think it does a nicer job for a bit less $ the the Eastwood kit.


This is the same finishing procedure used on the headlight door actuators.

biackbenz

At a car show i was looking at a early 60's olds mobile. the gold valve covers looked sort of close. anyone else look at it?

Faster Rat

If you really care about originality you can always send them to this guy in Texas and get them rebuilt and re-plated for $220 + frt. Does that make me stupid????

Alan 71

Hi FR,
No not at all!
The fellow in Texas (probably Bob Demmel?) does really good work! And, is a nice guy too!
Regards,
Alan

540 vette

I have pissed away more on my car than that. It makes you want it done right.

Faster Rat

That's my problem. My dad always told me that any job worth doing is worth doing right. Great way to end up underwater with these cars.

7T1vette

If you spend money to get them yellow chromate plated, you need to put a clear coat on them, too. Otherwise, in just a few years, they will be dull zinc colored again. Yellow chromate disappears due to oxidation (just being in air) rather quickly. The chromate is just a "wash" dip on zinc plated parts. It won't last.

kenba

Paint is paint & plating is plating. there is No way to make one look like the other.

7T1vette

Everything is a matter of 'cost vs. results' when you attempt to bring an old vehicle back to life. Getting stuff zinc plated and yellow chromate dipped so you can have "perfect" appearance...for a few years...is expensive. Buying a few cans of spray paint for doing most of your yellow chromated parts is [relatively] inexpensive and lasts for many MORE years. So, it's a 'choice' for the car's owner...

zwede

Thanks, Alan. I redid my wiper door actuator using the Eastwood kit, but first spraying it silver (actually aluminum as I didn't have a can of silver). It turned out much better that my previous attempt without the silver (before it was too gold-ish).

Alan 71

Hi z,
Your results look very good!!!
You hit the nail on the head…. since the actuator is first plated with a layer of zinc and THEN the transparent dichromate 'wash' is done, you get a good duplication of the original plating with silver and then a dusting og gold or copper.
Regards,
Alan

540 vette

Any specific blue and green. semi gloss, flat?

Alan 71

Hi 540,
It really doesn't matter.
You really only add a DUSTING of the blue and green to mimic the iridescence of the original dichromate wash.
Based on the car I THINK you're building, I don't think I'd even fool with the 2 colors…. just silver first and then a VERY light coat of gold or copper.
As z's photo shows it's good to see just a bit of silver peeking through when you're finished.
Regards,
Alan

zwede

The advantage of the eastwood kit is that the red & green paint is transparent so it's easier to dust it without getting too much on there.