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Chrome plating pieces

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Old Mar 3, 2025 | 08:22 PM
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Default Chrome plating pieces

If I like a set of wheels or an exhaust but want it in chrome, can I bring it to a shop to get it chromed?
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 08:22 AM
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You can, this is a detailing sub here
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 11:45 AM
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Moving you to C5 general for further discussion
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 09:51 PM
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Be aware the cost to chrome wheels is very expensive.

As for tail pipes you may want to check mist C5 tips are stainless. You can have them cleaned and re polished. . If they are chrome it may be cheaper to replace.

Note due to the EPA today’s chrome is not very good. Most wheels and parts that are chrome are done outside America. It is hard to find a good shop today here.
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 10:23 PM
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There are a number of spray chrome processes now, none of which are actually chrome, of course. Not sure of exterior lifespan, but should be a fraction of the price of actual chrome, particularly in modern times. There might well be someone in your neck of the woods that does spray chrome activation. As with actual chrome, surface preparation is absolutely key to final results. I would think with things like wheels, a spray chrome would be significantly easier to achieve, since you can use a non-metallic filler.
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Old Mar 4, 2025 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by hyperv6
Be aware the cost to chrome wheels is very expensive.

As for tail pipes you may want to check mist C5 tips are stainless. You can have them cleaned and re polished. . If they are chrome it may be cheaper to replace.

Note due to the EPA today’s chrome is not very good. Most wheels and parts that are chrome are done outside America. It is hard to find a good shop today here.
How expensive could it get to chrome a cat back exhaust system?
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Old Mar 5, 2025 | 12:17 PM
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Finding a shop that does actual chrome plating may be difficult.

Calchrome.com offers chrome plating for wheels and parts, but shipping may be involved which gets expensive and the cost may make it cost prohibitive. But, give them a call and see what they quote for a price.

It may be cheaper to just purchase new chrome plated reproduction wheels and a nice used catback that has high polished tips on it.
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Old Mar 5, 2025 | 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Dean-O
How expensive could it get to chrome a cat back exhaust system?
Most aftermarket exhaust systems are made of stainless steel so chroming that material is not an option. Secondly, if the catback system is mild steel, they can be chromed but shops won't accept a used system because of tank contamination issues. Chroming a new mild steel catback would probably cost way over $1K. Polished stainless steel looks like chrome and is far more durable.

Chroming aluminum wheels is a crapshoot and not something I would recommend. There are now powdercoating finishes that look like chrome and are far more durable, plus a lot less money.
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Perfect time to upgrade to a stainless cat-back performance system. My cat back Magnaflows x-pipes have stainless but polished tips that look very sharp. Good luck with your quest.
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