Re-Chrome question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 11
From: Merrick NY
Re-Chrome question
I'm curious if anyone has any idea how much it would cost to re-chrome a set of '70 front grills. I have my eye on a set for a real good price, but if rechroming is more than NOS, is it even worth it? I'm in the lower NY area, and am open to recommendations of any local shops. I believe in keeping it in the family. Thanks.
SD
SD
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: Mishawaka Indiana
I may not be a lot of help, but I had gotten some quotes to redo some smaller stuff like my air cleaner lid. If there are pits and or rust, then the platers have to actually strip the old plating and then polish the metal smooth before reapplying the copper and other substrates. This is what can add up. If the finish is decent but just dull, and they can just flash it, its not too bad. But usually rechrome will be as much as much and sometimes more than replacement, in the instances I've looked into it, because it will almost always call for stripping before replating.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
For just those few pieces, you will be better off finding clean replacements. If you were doing the whole car, though, replating would be cheaper than sourcing all the replacements.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
I remember seeing a post on this very topic: re-chroming '70 front grills. You might try a search. I remember the cost was not as much as what a NOS set of '70 front grills would cost. I understand those are very rare '70 only parts. You can replace them with '71 or '72 grills but an NCRS type can pick out the additional screw holes. Your normal Joe on the street won't be able to tell the difference. Even the '71 and '72 replacement grills are getting expensive. Rechroming may make sense here.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 748
Likes: 0
From: Ardsley Pa
I picked up a 1970 front grill (the rare one) for a great price. As you can see by the 1st picture, it didn't look to good. I took it to FRANKFORD PLATING in Phila 215-288-3683 and this is the job they did. It only took 8 weeks and $235. They did do some repair work on it. You might get it cheaper if it's a good piece to start out with.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,383
Likes: 789
From: Redondo Beach, California
Good to know about Frankford.
Many (most?) chrome shops cannot replate the 70 front grills. They are cast aluminum. The chrome shop I've been using refused since they didn't couldn't do the have the anodyze process that aluminum needs.
This is what they told me (best as I remember). With steel, copper is plated over the steel, polished, and then plated with nickel and then with chrome. However, with aluminum, you cannot directly plate on the copper. Aluminum and copper will react and corrode. The aluminum is polished and then anodyzed. The copper is then plated over the anodyzation layer, and then the nickle/chrome process is completed.
Many (most?) chrome shops cannot replate the 70 front grills. They are cast aluminum. The chrome shop I've been using refused since they didn't couldn't do the have the anodyze process that aluminum needs.
This is what they told me (best as I remember). With steel, copper is plated over the steel, polished, and then plated with nickel and then with chrome. However, with aluminum, you cannot directly plate on the copper. Aluminum and copper will react and corrode. The aluminum is polished and then anodyzed. The copper is then plated over the anodyzation layer, and then the nickle/chrome process is completed.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,997
Likes: 0
I am getting ready to send my 70 to the body/paint shop this month after years of research (read as -saving money for the deed), I have talked to several people and one common thread has come up regarding re-chrome or buy n.o.s. Most people have told me that due to variations on these older cars sometimes new parts may not line up correctly and its best to re chrome your originals, assuming they are salvageable and fit well. Down here in Ft laud/miami I have been quoted around 300-350$ for the fenders
just my .02
mike
just my .02
mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,477
Likes: 1,495
From: Little Rock AR
I thought those pieces were pot metal?
I had a rare pot metal remote mirror replated by Advanced Plating in TN and they did a great job on it. It cost about $95 and took about 8 weeks. Nice thick plating.
Maybe they would do it.
-Mark.
I had a rare pot metal remote mirror replated by Advanced Plating in TN and they did a great job on it. It cost about $95 and took about 8 weeks. Nice thick plating.
Maybe they would do it.-Mark.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
I have read on this forum and others as well as being told by people in the Corvette hobby, that it is best to rechrome what you have since it is usually of better quality than some of the repro stuff that is floating around on the market today. Can you tell if what you are buying is repro or not? If repro, I would replate what I have. I had all my chrome on my 68 replated and it was cheaper and I prefer to think the quality was better. Costs vary in different states, I live in Massachusetts and spent less than $500 to do all my chrome (bumpers, latches , etc)
Kurt
Kurt
