re chrome recommendations

[Reed F.]

Can anyone suggest a good source for re-chroming both bumpers and pot metal parts (i.e. grille teeth) for C1. Being in Hawaii, obviously it will all go by mail. My concern is good work, fair price and ALL parts returned. Any sound leads would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Reed Flickinger
27656

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: re chrome recommendations

Reed, you will get many suggestions for sure. As a side note, take pictures of everything you send out to match what you get back. Especially any unique marks that will verify it's your part. It just keeps honest people honest.

Harry
38513

[Myron Sleeva]

Re: re chrome recommendations

Do a google on Pauls Chrome. They will give you an estimate on the phone and them again once they get the actual parts.

Their work with pot metal is without equal. They manage to restore without losing the detail that often happens when parts are stripped of the old finish.

You may find cheaper but you will not find better. (Sounds like a slogan)

BTW, not related or involved with the business in any form.

[Stephen L.]

Re: re chrome recommendations

I just had some outside door handles rechromed on my '67. Frankford Plating (DRIVELINE AD) did the work. Superb results with NO detail loss!!!! Reasonable cost and good turnaround.

Have had some other chrome done in the past by another vendor....advertised as show quality..... all detail lost... parts were unusable.... all platers are not the same.

[Gary Schisler]

Re: re chrome recommendations

Oh Yeah. Paul's Chrome is almost art!

Gary

[Patrick T.]

Re: re chrome recommendations

The last time I talked with Paul's Chrome Plating owner, Fred Hespenseide? he told me they DON'T do standard GM chrome plating. All they do is triple plate chrome, which is beautiful, but is not what the General did. In other words, they won't do the standard GM nickel and chrome plating for your bumpers. Maybe this rule may have changed, but that's the last I heard. PT

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: re chrome recommendations

Would you really want the quality GM did on the car? Sorry, but I rather loss a few points then pay same amount of money to have the chrome returned to me as GM did it... Just my opinion....I think a few things should be done a little better then what GM produced, if for anything the sake of better preservation of these cars. The money you spend today for services such a Chroming, and in some case parts, my opinion is to upscale for preservation.

[Myron Sleeva]

Re: re chrome recommendations

Ah, a voice of reason.

Why spend a great deal of time and money to replicate mediocrity and/or antiquated production?

When was the last time you heard a boss or client say that you did too good of a job!

[Jack H.]

Why?

Why bother to spend time/$$$ doing 'shoddy' flash/smack chrome vs. a good solid triple chrome job for show? Well, some opt to do it for two reasons: (1) they want full scoring credit on the judging field, and (2) their intention is try and capture a piece of automotive history as best they can rather then knowingly deviate.

Now, I personally don't care which way an owner goes (it IS his car!) with one caveat: Don't cry or complain when judges take originality points for this/that being over restored and obviously different from typical factory production.

[Collin MacDonald]

Re: Why?

I simply won't cry or complain. But because I chose to make something better but you mean to tell me because of this my car is not capturing a piece of automotice history because of chrome? Most people cannot even see the difference in new chrome and triple show chrome...so I must make this a full confession as I have made the ultimate of NCRS sins, when I used show chrome, well I also used BC/CC, Stainless Steel exhaust, SS gas and brake lines and installed lube valves on my restoration...I guess I will be condemed to spend the rest of my show life at NCCC and local Hot Rod shows? My car will not be welcome at NCRS, just because I chose to drive my car and don't want to have the exhaust rust out in two years, the paint spiderweb in two years and replace bearings every year...because I chose not to repeat Chevrolets mistakes...Come on... I guess if I chose to build a piece of museum furniture then I would go the full scoring cred for the judging field. I just chose to build me car for ME to enjoy, no for somebody else to enjoy...as a drivable car...great concept huh?

NCRS is a top notch organization with extremely intelligent people, I am sure my car, when finished, will be accepted among the rest. Sure I hope to Top Flight, but you know, scoring a perfect score doesn't matter to me as much as enjoying the car and having other people enjoy it too... At least I am not producing big block cars from small block cars. I am honest and up front about my restoration. A very good NCRS judge told me they look for you capacity to restore the car the best you can to its original state...I am doing that.

So I will shead no tears or complain about stupid points, blue ribbons, red ribbons or whatever....if my car is considered over restored...then I consider I did not just a good job on the restoration, but a great job on the restoration. Like previous said be another wise person a few posts ago, I much rather have me boss tell me I did a great job.

[Jack H.]

Nothing of the sort...

"My car will not be welcome at NCRS, just because I chose to drive my car and don't want to have the exhaust rust out in two years, the paint spiderweb in two years and replace bearings every year...because I chose not to repeat Chevrolets mistakes...Come on"

No where is it said a member and his car are UNWELCOME at an NCRS meet! But, if a car is presented for judging, those items that deviate from typical factory production and/or are addressed by the club's judging rules (standard deductions apply to certain SS components), expect scoring deduction(s).

If that doesn't bother you because you intentionally decided to deviate from typical factory production in order to make a 'better' car, FINE! The only time problem(s) erupt is when owners knowing (or unknowingly) deviate from factory original and then want to argue or 'cry' about lost points...

My '71 is a driver car that's done the Founder's award five times now and has been Flight Judged many times. I intentionally deviated on exterior paint by using enamel with blended clear for the final color shot. I've clocked about 60K miles on 'er since frame off and I DO drive/use the car. I routinely take a full deduction on exterior paint but get credit for the basic color. It doesn't bother me--I know what I did.

In fact, at one meet the judges couldn't agree on whether or not the paint was lacquer and gave me the benefit of the doubt on the score sheet. I told them to change the score and take a full deduction because the paint was NOT factory lacquer!

I've never been 'unwelcome' with my car(s) at an NCRS event and I bring 'em back frequently. I think you're reading an 'attitude' into the thread that's not there. We don't 'put down' a car because it deviates from our judging standards, we simply make the appropriate scoring deduction(s) as our judging rules provide.

[Myron Sleeva]

NCRS too stringent ?

"In fact, at one meet the judges couldn't agree on whether or not the paint was lacquer and gave me the benefit of the doubt on the score sheet. I told them to change the score and take a full deduction because the paint was NOT factory lacquer!"

Perhaps NCRS might want to revisit their thinking in this regard. The EPA has a rather dim view of VOC's from lacquer based paints, to the point of making use illegal in some states.

Would NCRS want to be associated with preserving the past, regardless of the legality and with apparent wreckless regard to the environmental concerns of the future? That would make for one ugly press release.

[Jack H.]

Many other nations signed...

the same atmospheric environmental treaties that we in the US did and, they continue the use of lacquer paint there (consider London with its 'quaint' fleet of gloss black taxi cabs and their everpresent classic Rolls and Jaguars). Some paints used have known toxic content (like the lead flakes used in 1963 Sebring Silver for metallic sparkle, or the arsenic content of various painting oils used by period artists). Other nations routinely exempt these US 'banned' formulae allowing them to be recreated and used in CONTROLLED quantities in the interest of art...

And, YES, it's street legal to travel outside the US, acquire these 'unlawful' paints and repatriate them to the US via proper shipping channels as they're NOT classified as 'contraband' materials. If you legally acquired them outside the US, you have a right to your property. It depends on how specific legislation is written (banned from sale within the US vs. banned from possession within the US).

Last, there are INTENTIONAL loopholes on lacquer paint in our current leglislation. Do you think Congress had the 'balls' to tell American women they couldn't use fast drying nail polish anymore? Not on your life! That's a solid 50% of the electorate!

Fine musical instruments (pianos, guitars, Etc.) are still made here, maintained and refinished using nitrocelluous lacquer long discontinued from automotive use.

What I'm saying is I think you've oversimplified the case of the EPA and lacquer paint. In most places where there are hard bans on the use of lacquer, it's still possible to legally apply the paint PROVIDED you have the appropriate air and waste water processing facilities to handle it. But, few paint shops want to blow the dough for the appropriate NEMA class certified containment systems they'd be required to purchase.

[John H.]

Re: Many other nations signed...

In addition, the Federal EPA regulations for VOC emissions were amended about eight years ago adding specific exceptions for painting "collectible, antique, and special interest vehicles" - VOC's resulting from those activities DO NOT have to be included in VOC compliance reporting. The states, however, are free to enact their own regulations, so the actual requirements/prohibitions for VOC emissions depend on each state's regs/legislation.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Why?

Collin,

I think you will see everything little clearer after you've been through an actual judging event. Jack is 100% on the money here. No one will make you feel unwelcome on the field.

Look at this as an opportunity to learn about the car and how GM built it originaly. As long as you go in with your eye's open and proper expectations, then everybody wins..

tc