Chicago Info.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Oswego IL
Chicago Info.
Hello All,
I'm about to get my first corvette delivered in about a week (69 coupe) and am looking for some good shops in the Chicago area. Anything that you have found to be reputable would be a great help. Motor work, Plating, Painting or any other useful contacts. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanx in advance...Frank
I'm about to get my first corvette delivered in about a week (69 coupe) and am looking for some good shops in the Chicago area. Anything that you have found to be reputable would be a great help. Motor work, Plating, Painting or any other useful contacts. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanx in advance...Frank
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Fathom 427
Hello All,
I'm about to get my first corvette delivered in about a week (69 coupe) and am looking for some good shops in the Chicago area. Anything that you have found to be reputable would be a great help. Motor work, Plating, Painting or any other useful contacts. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanx in advance...Frank
I'm about to get my first corvette delivered in about a week (69 coupe) and am looking for some good shops in the Chicago area. Anything that you have found to be reputable would be a great help. Motor work, Plating, Painting or any other useful contacts. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Thanx in advance...Frank
I'd suggest buying a box full of books on your year car, a bunch of beer, and a few hours here on this forum. Learn to do the work yourself. You'll save a TON on labor, and it'll be a lot of fun for you to learn about your new toy and all the things you can do together.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 6,217
Likes: 1
From: End of the Ike IL
Cruise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Your key word is "reputable." There are a few that have a bit of a reputation for not being completely honest even though they are pretty well know as Corvette-centered shops. DurangoBoy is correct- you can save yourself a ton of money- and headaches regarding "reputable"- by doing work yourself. I posted along those lines a couple of weeks back and the thread took a couple of twists and turns along the way that I had not intended.
You can also post this question in the Great Lakes forum section. A few of us have C3's but I've not gotten too excited with some of the shops that work on "old cars." Thank heavens I have a good contact out toward Rockford that does all the hard stuff on mine. He's above and beyond "reputable." But I also like doing the work that doesn't take rocket surgery to figure out. Post in Great Lakes and you'll get some good responses.
You can also post this question in the Great Lakes forum section. A few of us have C3's but I've not gotten too excited with some of the shops that work on "old cars." Thank heavens I have a good contact out toward Rockford that does all the hard stuff on mine. He's above and beyond "reputable." But I also like doing the work that doesn't take rocket surgery to figure out. Post in Great Lakes and you'll get some good responses.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
I live around Great America up north. There are alot of good guys around here. You mentioned paint, paint jobs depend on how much you want to spend. I know a great guy in Mundelein, honest, estimate and time frame. Corvette guy himself, not cheap but work is 9 out of 10. Never have I met a 10 in my book. Performace Restoration is there name and ask for Brent.
Glenview Autobody is a good shop a little cheaper.
Plating Chrome Co in Elmhurst
I come up with others
Glenview Autobody is a good shop a little cheaper.
Plating Chrome Co in Elmhurst
I come up with others
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
There's a place in San Diego CA that does the new non-chrome plating really well. Chromeworks. They seem to have been in the business for a long time, and if you want the contact I'll send you the info. I know they're not in the Chicago area, but it's worth the shipping to a good plating shop.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by spedaleden
I live around Great America up north.
Glenview Autobody is a good shop a little cheaper.
Glenview Autobody is a good shop a little cheaper.
Engine work: Dixon Automotive in Waukegan...Fast Times Motorworks in Morton Grove
Eddie
Last edited by Edzred72; Nov 21, 2006 at 01:34 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Oswego IL
Hey All, thanks for the info. Durango_boy, I would definitely like the contact info of the plating shop you mentioned. As a side note do you know if the factory side pipes can be re-plated, there is a small amount of pitting and I would like to get them fixed over the winter if I can.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Fathom 427
Hey All, thanks for the info. Durango_boy, I would definitely like the contact info of the plating shop you mentioned. As a side note do you know if the factory side pipes can be re-plated, there is a small amount of pitting and I would like to get them fixed over the winter if I can.
I was actually just looking into that very same thing. My chrome side pipes are pitted and rusted and I have been looking into getting them re-plated. I was debating between JetHot or having them re-plated. Here's the two places I was looking into, the top is the plating service in Santee, CA.
Chromeworks
9962 Prospect Ave. Suite A.
Santee, CA 92071
619-258-8093
JetHot
5602 Orchard Rd.
Pascagoala, MS 39581
800-432-3379
I've heard that JetHot will shiny coat a set of headers for $330 + shipping, and add the pipes if they need to match. The will send you a box for sending them the large headers and pipes.
I did not contact Chromeworks about plating headers and side pipes so I don't know what they would charge for that. Give them a call and see what they offer. Post back if you find anything out.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,135
Likes: 1
dan does all my painting/. body work, in romeoville ,,repos body shop off i -55 and south on rt.53 ,,turn right ( west ) at the macdonalds,,then left,,on left side(east) (630)378-9900,ask for dan the owner,tell him carl sent ya..afar as chrome i use a&r chrome plating in bedford park,,250.00 for both rear bumpers,,, off 65th and laramie(708)728-1005,,just east of central and south of 65th street
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 342
Likes: 2
From: Naperville, IL
As said before, doing the work yourself is a big savings.
But if you are anything like me, there are just things that I could probably do in 5-6 hours that take a pro with all the best tools 2. I just can't justify that much time! Of course, I'm not much of a mechanic. Maybe you are.
As far as anything you can't tackle yourself, Bill Kay Chevrolet in Lisle/Downers Grove, IL has a very knowledgeable corvette team. The service manager George is extremely busy but very helpful. He knows his stuff. For mechanical repairs, I have nothing but great work. Of course, it's a dealership, so it's not cheap. If you go there, tell them Greg sent you (the guy with 4 corvettes).
I have owned corvettes for 20 years, and it's like the cliche goes....you get what you pay for. My first corvette I fixed on a shoestring, and I ended up doing things over sooner than I should have or needed to if more knowledgeable and skilled people.....and yeah, probably more expensive.....had done it the first time.
But if you are anything like me, there are just things that I could probably do in 5-6 hours that take a pro with all the best tools 2. I just can't justify that much time! Of course, I'm not much of a mechanic. Maybe you are.
As far as anything you can't tackle yourself, Bill Kay Chevrolet in Lisle/Downers Grove, IL has a very knowledgeable corvette team. The service manager George is extremely busy but very helpful. He knows his stuff. For mechanical repairs, I have nothing but great work. Of course, it's a dealership, so it's not cheap. If you go there, tell them Greg sent you (the guy with 4 corvettes).
I have owned corvettes for 20 years, and it's like the cliche goes....you get what you pay for. My first corvette I fixed on a shoestring, and I ended up doing things over sooner than I should have or needed to if more knowledgeable and skilled people.....and yeah, probably more expensive.....had done it the first time.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Originally Posted by Fathom 427
Hey All, thanks for the info. Durango_boy, I would definitely like the contact info of the plating shop you mentioned. As a side note do you know if the factory side pipes can be re-plated, there is a small amount of pitting and I would like to get them fixed over the winter if I can.
What other items were you thinking of having plated?