Chrome Plating Wheels?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Hartsville SC
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
Chrome Plating Wheels?
I'm considering chrome plating a set of 2013 Corvette Q5V machine face cup style aluminum wheels. I don't want to compromise the safety aspect of the wheels. Anyone know of any negative reason not to do this? Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 11,973
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From: Tonawanda New York
No problems at all,just find a reputable place to have them done,I know there is a place out in Cali. that guys I know have sent their wheels to I'm not sure of the place though. Look here...
http://www.calchrome.com/Chrome-My-Wheels
http://www.calchrome.com/Chrome-My-Wheels
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,639
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From: Woodstock And Grateful to God GA
If you do this PLEASE post some good pics. I'm thinking of doing the same thing. What can i say-I'm ol' school and think hot rods should have chromies (and a cue ball shift **** and a 427)!
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: South Fort Myers Florida
Drifting
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From: South Fort Myers Florida
Melting Slicks
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From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
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Team Owner
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From: Springfield MO
GM offers chrome wheels on their two highest horsepower Corvettes...the Z06 and ZR1. GM isn't worried about the wheels falling off them.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
No problems at all,just find a reputable place to have them done,I know there is a place out in Cali. that guys I know have sent their wheels to I'm not sure of the place though. Look here...
http://www.calchrome.com/Chrome-My-Wheels
http://www.calchrome.com/Chrome-My-Wheels
Race Director
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From: Austin Texas
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
There shouldn't be any safety issues with plating the wheels but the real trick is to make sure whoever does it knows how to properly prep and plate them. The PO of my 06 put some chromed repros on that were not done well and are already starting to peel. Luckily, the problem is only in the barrels and not the face, for now.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
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From: Ventura County, Calif
No dog in this discussion but thought I should offer this (reminder) caveat from 2007 when there was all the buzz about chroming the new '08 Split Spokes:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ke-wheels.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ke-wheels.html
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 41,732
Likes: 1,718
From: Springfield MO
Your answer above contradicts the post you originally made.
You said...."There is a reason GM doesn't offer Chrome on all wheel styles". Please tell me the reason.........
Are you saying a wheel on a base 430 HP Corvette needs to be stronger then a wheel on a Z06 or ZR1 so they only offer it painted?
Seems to me that a wheel on a 638 HP car that can hit 1.13g's needs a stronger wheel then a car with 430 HP that hits .92g's. Yet GM offers a chrome wheel on the 638 Hp version on the C6.
PS- All wheels have to meet DOT requirements.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
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From: Austin Texas
Your answer above contradicts the post you originally made.
You said...."There is a reason GM doesn't offer Chrome on all wheel styles". Please tell me the reason.........
Are you saying a wheel on a base 430 HP Corvette needs to be stronger then a wheel on a Z06 or ZR1 so they only offer it painted?
Seems to me that a wheel on a 638 HP car that can hit 1.13g's needs a stronger wheel then a car with 430 HP that hits .92g's. Yet GM offers a chrome wheel on the 638 Hp version on the C6.
PS- All wheels have to meet DOT requirements.
You said...."There is a reason GM doesn't offer Chrome on all wheel styles". Please tell me the reason.........
Are you saying a wheel on a base 430 HP Corvette needs to be stronger then a wheel on a Z06 or ZR1 so they only offer it painted?
Seems to me that a wheel on a 638 HP car that can hit 1.13g's needs a stronger wheel then a car with 430 HP that hits .92g's. Yet GM offers a chrome wheel on the 638 Hp version on the C6.
PS- All wheels have to meet DOT requirements.
No contradiction. Part of the reason is the style of the wheel, some designs would be very labor intensive to polish prior to chroming.
Another part of the reason; I'm reasonably sure that the bean counters at GM have looked at what alloys of Aluminum will Electochrome and which ones would cause a hydrgen embrittlement problem. Cheaper material, cheaper tooling, cheaper handling = a cheaper wheel. In '08 a 5 spoke Chrome was an $1800 option, the split spokes were standard (no extra charge). $450 a wheel, Chrome just for profit?
I didn't say anything about the strength of a wheel for different models of Corvette. The Z06 and ZR1 wheel styles are exclusive to those models and C6 wheels wouldn't fit correctly anyway. If you want to widen the C6 wheels and run track days be my guest, I wouldn't trust stock C6 wheels at the stresses a Z06 or ZR1 would run.
You did notice that the '08 split spoke has never been available in Chrome? We'll never know if it was because of the cost to polish and chrome or if it was because the alloy would be affected by Hydrogen embrittlement and be weaker.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
No dog in this discussion but thought I should offer this (reminder) caveat from 2007 when there was all the buzz about chroming the new '08 Split Spokes:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ke-wheels.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...ke-wheels.html
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
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From: Ventura County, Calif
Melting Slicks
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From: Pittsburgh PA
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Team Owner
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From: Springfield MO
"While hydrogen can invade most metals, certain metals and alloys are known to be more susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement, namely magnetic steel, titanium, and nickel. In contrast, copper, aluminum, and stainless steel are least impacted."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hydr...rittlement.htm
"Hydrogen embrittlement does not affect all metallic materials equally. The most vulnerable are high-strength steels, titanium alloys and aluminum alloys."
http://techplate.com/hydrogenembrittlement.html
I found several referances that say the same thing.
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hydr...rittlement.htm
"Hydrogen embrittlement does not affect all metallic materials equally. The most vulnerable are high-strength steels, titanium alloys and aluminum alloys."
http://techplate.com/hydrogenembrittlement.html
I found several referances that say the same thing.
Last edited by JoesC5; Oct 11, 2012 at 11:57 AM.