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Anybody had any luck getting orange valve covers flash chromed?
Anybody had any luck getting the base engine painted orange valve covers flash chromed??
I have a set of base engine painted orange valve covers for a base engine 1968 and am thinking about getting them flash chromed like the 68 L79 valve covers for a new 68 L79 project. If I understand correctly, the base engine 68 valve covers are identical to the 68 L79 covers except for the flash chroming.
Any suggestions on shops and costs would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hi 20,
Part of the problem will be finding a plater that's willing to do 'flash' chrome.
I believe Richard Fortier has someone that does it for him and you might also talk to Librandi's near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Regards,
Alan
Hi 20,
Part of the problem will be finding a plater that's willing to do 'flash' chrome.
I believe Richard Fortier has someone that does it for him and you might also talk to Librandi's near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Regards,
Alan
Alan,
Thanks for the great advice as always! What is the difference between "flash" chrome and "regular" chrome?
Will check Librandi's as you suggest, thanks for the lead.
Hi 20,
Flash chrome is a layer of chrome plating directly over the surface of the material the part is made from. Valve covers, air cleaner lids, ignition shielding, 70-73 exhaust tips.
The chrome plating on bumpers for example is a layer of copper plating, followed by a layer of nickel plating, followed by a layer of chrome plating.
The amount of preparation of the surface before the copper layer and the amount of buffing after the copper and nickel layers is what determines how beautiful the finished product ends up being.
Have you seen any, does it look okay?
I saw some stunning chrome that was more of a paint idea, the cat said tge key was black smooth base, they were doing vintage cycle parts with it,
My dad used to do chrome plating, from machinest chrome to show chrome,
Once i was bitching about that cheap import vw stuff that is flash chromed rusts before you get it installed,
My dad said flash chrome is cheap, bottom barrel, and due to the nature of chrome flash chrome will have rust through, its the metal under it rusting,
He said keep on it with Polish or spray clear to help but it is what it is,
With all that said, i really dig the idea of having the stock part chromed, just consider full treatment not flashed,
Chrome plating is porous (which is one of the reasons they use it for engine cylinder plating) so unless the chrome has something such as nickel under it the part will rust very easily.
What about the coating they use on a lot of inlet manifolds etc Duralast I think some call it? I assume it is a powder coating? Got to be easier and a lot cheaper to do than chrome. JMPO.
Chrome plating is porous (which is one of the reasons they use it for engine cylinder plating) so unless the chrome has something such as nickel under it the part will rust very easily.
What about the coating they use on a lot of inlet manifolds etc Duralast I think some call it? I assume it is a powder coating? Got to be easier and a lot cheaper to do than chrome. JMPO.
Years ago there were a lot of small chrome shops around that would chrome just about anything. We had a local place nearby in Little Washington, NC that did this for lots of folks in our local Corvette Club. I recall a few of them having early metal valve covers done and don't remember any having issues.
The Chrome Wizard is in Mt Juliet, Tennessee and the shop I use has sent them a lot of off-the-wall things that customers have requested to be chromed. They do a terrific job at a reasonable price and have a pretty good turn around time. It's worth a phone call to see what they have to say. Ask for Bubba Moon, he knows his business.
Years ago there were a lot of small chrome shops around that would chrome just about anything. We had a local place nearby in Little Washington, NC that did this for lots of folks in our local Corvette Club. I recall a few of them having early metal valve covers done and don't remember any having issues.
The Chrome Wizard is in Mt Juliet, Tennessee and the shop I use has sent them a lot of off-the-wall things that customers have requested to be chromed. They do a terrific job at a reasonable price and have a pretty good turn around time. It's worth a phone call to see what they have to say. Ask for Bubba Moon, he knows his business.
Good luck... GUSTO
No doubt anybody named Bubba Moon in Tennessee is a good man to know!
Have you seen any, does it look okay?
I saw some stunning chrome that was more of a paint idea, the cat said tge key was black smooth base, they were doing vintage cycle parts with it,
Yes I have- it looked pretty good. Not as good as a real chrome plating job, but for sure acceptable. I'll see if I can scare up some pictures.
Show chrome = fully prep sand etc base metal then PLATE COPPER -polish- PLATE NICKEL - polish- PLATE CHROME
Production Chrome = rough prep bare base metal - Plate Nickel over bare metal then plate Chrome. Little if any care given to fine detail aesthetics of the base metal.
Flash Chrome = Chrome over Stainless - this was done to all the stainless trim on cars in order to make the parts match better AND provide surface protection from abrasion. .
I recently found a place in Elizabethton TN to do production chrome - nickel then chrome leaving tooling and heavy grind marks. He does work for restorers who show at NCRS.
Two bumperettes shifter handle and full bumper $800
Turn around was a month from leaving them with R&D at Charlotte Autofair to them shipping in return. - sand scratches as original with nice sharp edges not rounded from polishing. WITHOUT A DOUBT I will use them for my next plating job.
If you investigate the price to have your factory-installed covers cleaned/plated/polished/chromed and the shipping costs to go both ways, you might decide that the aftermarket cost for new covers was not such a bad deal...
06-23-2017, 12:32 PM
Anybody had any luck getting orange valve covers flash chromed?
Thanks!
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