66 center console

[Jim S.]

I recently went to my local Plater to get all my chrome work done .He , however would not re-chrome my center console .He sited it as being to large and constructed of pot metal.He further went on to say that no one in town (AZ) WOULD TOUCH IT FOR LESS THAN $900...Who else out there has had their center console re-chromed and at a reasonable price....Mine is very near perfect,But does have some very minor pitting
Thanks in advance,
Jim

[Jack H.]

Re: 66 center console

You probably don't want to hear some of this 'advice' but here goes....

Items that were pot metal chrome plated from the factory were NOT 'comb your hair' in them, Mona Lisa, products to start with. The rule of thumb was: we're building 'kit' cars that can make it through a 12-month warranty cycle....

There WERE inperfections and minor pit to start with. The factory used 'smack/flash' chrome whenever it could to save $$$, Very FEW pieces were done with a triple-chrome/show chrome (base metal, copper, nickel, chromium) process to start with and that's about all local plating shops know how to do today....

Yes, a triple/show chrome process IS superior but you are limited in resources due to the size of an item. Plus the tooling cost it takes to lay down a professional final finish on a LARGE geometry surface gets pricey. But that's probably NOT how this/that piece actually left the factory in the first place!

Do you want to 'over-restore' a part and take deductions or simply buff it out carefully and show it like it really was? If it's as good as you say, consider the second approach; it's simple: do NOT have it 'restored'; buff it up, pocket the saving, and move on to piece next....

[Jim S.]

Re: 66 center console

Jack,

Thanks for your responce.I hear what your saying and believe me ,no one whats to save money more than me!I however think there are two givens in this situation:1 it going to keep costing more as time goes on ,and 2 the piece is going to get worse.Isnt the best time to stop further deterioration the time of restoration?

Jim

[Kevin M.]

Re: 66 center console

Are you driving or judging? If you start with this piece which one will you NEED to do next? I understand your thought process with regard to, it will cost more in the future, I struggled with that thought too. What if 10-15 years from now I want to restore my car, it won't happen, can't afford to start buying and saving parts now because there cheaper. I decided mine will always be a driver and the next owner can restore it, about 2040.

Kevin

[Jean C.]

66 center console re-chrome

Jim, my experience FWIW.

I had the center console on my '64 re-chromed. The owner of the plating shop did state up front that because it is made of pot metal the chrome job may not be all that great; however, it came out perfect. Work was done in Houston at

Bright Metals of The Heights
626 E. 11th St.
Houston, TX 77008
Owner is Gus Olivares
(713) 861 0729)

and the price was somewhere in the neighborhood of $175 - $200. I painted the console using mid-year red vinyl dye (otherwise I had no idea of what color red paint to use) after first roughing up the chrome with a Scotch Brite pad. Used 1/8" plastic masking tape to lay out the paint line then filled in with regular masking tape. Gus could not understand why I was covering up most of the chrome with paint.

His shop also did a super job on four bumpers and front license bar for me in three days for $640.

Best regards,
Charlie

[Mike M.]

Re: 66 center console re-chrome

I had mine rechromed by Areba and they did a good job and fast turn around. Can't remember what I paid but at the time I thought they were very reasoniable.
http://arebachrome.com worth checking out.

[Jim S.]

Re: 66 center console re-chrome

charlie,
Thanks for the source,I will give them Gus a call if I decide to go for it!

[Jim S.]

Re: 66 center console re-chrome

Mike, I will call them as well.Thanks