Painting over chrome?
Thread Starter
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,932
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Painting over chrome?
How easy is it to paint over something that is chrome. The piece is old and flash chrome. Can I just roughen up the surface with some fine steel wool and paint?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
Likes: 201
From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
Originally Posted by 81 Vette
Just an ignoramus question, but why are you painting over nice, shiny, pretty chrome??? 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 917
Likes: 0
From: Vernon British Columbia
St. Jude Donor '05
First C3 General Poster!
hahah that works...couldnt you polish? EVERYONE Loves shiny things....
Last edited by 81 Vette; Sep 30, 2004 at 12:47 PM. Reason: BECAUSE...
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 3
From: Surrey
You sure can. Just make absolutely sure that the chrome isn't flaking off at all. If a small part has flaked off then there's a possibility that another part will flake off a few months down the road, taking a scab of paint off with it. Don't ask how I know this!
Some bike manufacturers used to paint directly over chrome as a matter of course (eg BSA). Flash chrome has a slightly rough surface so the paint will grip OK, show chrome will need to have a decent primer applied to it to give adhesion (it's called an etch primer here, don't know what you guys would call it). If you use a "normal" primer then you'll be able to scrape the paint off with your fingernail when it's dry. I suppose roughing it up 1st would help, but I couldn't bring myself to take abrasives to show chrome - it'd be like drawing fangs on the Mona Lisa!
Some bike manufacturers used to paint directly over chrome as a matter of course (eg BSA). Flash chrome has a slightly rough surface so the paint will grip OK, show chrome will need to have a decent primer applied to it to give adhesion (it's called an etch primer here, don't know what you guys would call it). If you use a "normal" primer then you'll be able to scrape the paint off with your fingernail when it's dry. I suppose roughing it up 1st would help, but I couldn't bring myself to take abrasives to show chrome - it'd be like drawing fangs on the Mona Lisa!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,932
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by PRND21
you are going to spray them chevy orange, right? should look nice! 
Is the intake aluminum?
Is the intake aluminum?Yep. And yes, the intake is aluminum.
