jjhoneck

...for this ugly piece?


The cheap faux chrome around the bottom piece has let go due to corrosion getting between it and the base metal. As you can see, the base metal doesn't look bad, polished up, but it's going to instantly corrode.

New ones are $1350 (!) a pair. How do I fix this? Get the whole thing chromed and then paint?

Thanks!
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Jay

Alan 71

Hi jj,
It isn't 'faux' chrome.
It's chrome plating.
Originally the entire piece was chrome plated and then certain areas were painted using dark gray paint. The edges of the 'egg-crates' and the lower surfaces of the grill remained un-painted.
The grill is pot metal so not every plating shop will plate it.
Try Librandi near Harrisburg, Pa. .
Regards,
Alan

7T1vette

Your BEST solution would be to remove the park light lens, etc., strip the paint with a chemical stripper, and send it to a good chrome shop for de-plating and then re-plating. There doesn't appear to be any real damage on the metal part, so it should come out well.

If you want 'less expensive', you could try to put silver leaf on the damaged areas, buff them to a good shine, and protect it with some clearcoating.

oldgto

The grills that came with the 1971 front clip we bought for our car were powder coated a shiney silver. Not as bright as chrome, but looks acceptable for a "driver".

sug

Maybe you could try a chrome wrap,

jjhoneck

Thanks from the suggestion.

I actually "wrapped" the chrome part of the piece with shiny aluminum tape. It looks marginally better, now, and -- since no one gets on their hands and knees to see this piece -- is acceptable.

Ultimately I will have it rechromed.
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Jay

general ike

Hey can you clarify what you mean by chrome wrap? Thanks

Richard454

I'd do what 7T1 recommends as far as the silver leafing

The center grill from the factory is all black. I personally though it looks unfinished as the sides are chrome,

Since I'm not a NCRS guy- I wanted it to match the sides with out big money to chrome.

I glass beaded the grill- Sprayed with some primer and then a coat a semi-gloss black. I then got a silver leaf pen (on line for less then $10) and did the edges. Was really easy to do. let it set-up for a few days and buffed it out gently.

Now it matched the sides. I'm thinking this would work h\well to you and minimal costs.

Richard




Original-

jjhoneck

That's cool, thanks!
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Jay

sug

Chrome wrap is a adhesive vinyl that they use on cars and can be moulded with a heat gun for curves .Google chrome wrap and you will see what I mean .

Tooonz

There is no way the silver leaf pen is real silver leaf. Real silver will ALWAYS tarnish and should never be used outdoors. The pen may be called silver leaf but as I said there is NO way it can be real silver.

Richard454

I put it on sort of thick-

Let it dry several days and it looked dull- polished gently and it shined up really nice...

Krylon says the silver is just to indicate color and it's OK to use in exterior applications...However I am going to shoot it with a clear coat.

Bottom line- it looks really good for under $10!!!

Richard

general ike

Thanks for the explanation!!!!! Ike

Richard Daugird

I got some small item re-chromed here in Houston area lately pretty reasonable. Let me know when you are ready, I'll hook you up with the chromer.

jjhoneck

Thanks. I suspect I will be going to San Antonio (it's closer) with a bunch of parts off my '52 Pontiac soon. Might as well have them do these, too.