Who does good plating?

[Christopher J. Bunsey]

I have my original gas cap, and I need to have it refinished. I found out the caps were zinc plated with a gold irridite overplate. Can anyone suggest a reputable place to have mine refinished?

Thanks!

[Donald T.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Christopher,

Starting in 71 they were zinc plated and then immersed in a dichromate solution to produce the gold finish. This is actually a process that you can accomplish yourself (see pic). The advantage is that you will have many other zinc plated parts that you will be able to restore on your own. Caswell sells the plating kits and with a little practice, you will be able to produce better results than a commercial plater.

If DIY is not your thing, then there are many platers that can do it for you. Just check the archives and you will find a plenty of recommendations.

Good luck!

[Donald T.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Christopher,

Starting in 71 they were zinc plated and then immersed in a dichromate solution to produce the gold finish. This is actually a process that you can accomplish yourself (see pic). The advantage is that you will have many other zinc plated parts that you will be able to restore on your own. Caswell sells the plating kits and with a little practice, you will be able to produce better results than a commercial plater.

If DIY is not your thing, then there are many platers that can do it for you. Just check the archives and you will find a plenty of recommendations.

Good luck!

[Bryan L.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Try Steve Gregori in Sanger,CA. www.brakebooster.com

He has done some C2 and Camaro stuff for me and his work is outstanding. He does just about everything except chrome.

BL

[Bryan L.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Try Steve Gregori in Sanger,CA. www.brakebooster.com

He has done some C2 and Camaro stuff for me and his work is outstanding. He does just about everything except chrome.

BL

[Larry M.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Don,

Are those photos 'before and after' of the same cap? Did you do the plating yourself with that Caswell system? If so, what sort of prep work was needed prior to replating? Replated one looks fantastic.

Thanks, Larry, #10731

[Larry M.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Don,

Are those photos 'before and after' of the same cap? Did you do the plating yourself with that Caswell system? If so, what sort of prep work was needed prior to replating? Replated one looks fantastic.

Thanks, Larry, #10731

[Donald T.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Thanks Larry. Yes, that is a before and after of the same cap. Here's a pic of the back of the same cap. I used a small trim hammer and dolly to straighten the bent handle. The cap was then bead blasted. Thoroughly cleaned to ensure any trapped media was removed from inside the cap. Once thoroughly cleaned the cap was zinc plated using the Caswell system. I then used the yellow dichromate solution (also from Caswell) to provide the proper gold iridescent finish.

There's nothing wrong with sending parts out for plating. However, I get a great deal of satisfaction in doing it myself. I think that's what the hobby is all about.

Thanks!

[Donald T.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Thanks Larry. Yes, that is a before and after of the same cap. Here's a pic of the back of the same cap. I used a small trim hammer and dolly to straighten the bent handle. The cap was then bead blasted. Thoroughly cleaned to ensure any trapped media was removed from inside the cap. Once thoroughly cleaned the cap was zinc plated using the Caswell system. I then used the yellow dichromate solution (also from Caswell) to provide the proper gold iridescent finish.

There's nothing wrong with sending parts out for plating. However, I get a great deal of satisfaction in doing it myself. I think that's what the hobby is all about.

Thanks!

[Larry M.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Don,

Thanks for opening my eyes to what can be accomplished with a DIY plating system. I have a bead blast cabinet to take care of prep work; looks as if Caswell has a new customer. I'll check them out on the web.

Larry

[Larry M.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Don,

Thanks for opening my eyes to what can be accomplished with a DIY plating system. I have a bead blast cabinet to take care of prep work; looks as if Caswell has a new customer. I'll check them out on the web.

Larry

[Robert E.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Don,

Thanks for sharing the information about refinishing your gas cap. I too am interested in refinishing my original '71 cap. The only thing I'm puzzled with is the finish. Mine shows no indications that it was ever finished in the manner you suggest. It seems to be a dull silver finish that seems to agree with the 70-72 Judging Guide.

"The large diameter gas cap is dull silver cadmium for all 1970 through 1972 units and has the logo SMC, for Stant Manufacturing Company, in a circular stylized script on the underside of the cap."

Robert
41801

BTW, your cap turned out wonderfully, I can only hope mine could look as good.

[Robert E.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Don,

Thanks for sharing the information about refinishing your gas cap. I too am interested in refinishing my original '71 cap. The only thing I'm puzzled with is the finish. Mine shows no indications that it was ever finished in the manner you suggest. It seems to be a dull silver finish that seems to agree with the 70-72 Judging Guide.

"The large diameter gas cap is dull silver cadmium for all 1970 through 1972 units and has the logo SMC, for Stant Manufacturing Company, in a circular stylized script on the underside of the cap."

Robert
41801

BTW, your cap turned out wonderfully, I can only hope mine could look as good.

[Donald T.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Robert,

I'm a little confused by the verbiage in the JG. The 63-69 caps were zinc plated vented caps. 1970 is also zinc plated and is very similar in appearance to the earlier cap with the scalloped edges, except it is a sealed cap. 71-74 was a zinc dichromate sealed cap with a smooth circumfrance as was pictured. I suspect the JG is describing the 1970 cap. It's also possible that the 1970 version was installed on your 71 (especially if an early production). Perhaps others know more precisely when the changeover took place from the zinc plated scalloped cap to the zinc dichromate smooth circumfrance cap.

[Donald T.]

Re: Who does good plating?

Robert,

I'm a little confused by the verbiage in the JG. The 63-69 caps were zinc plated vented caps. 1970 is also zinc plated and is very similar in appearance to the earlier cap with the scalloped edges, except it is a sealed cap. 71-74 was a zinc dichromate sealed cap with a smooth circumfrance as was pictured. I suspect the JG is describing the 1970 cap. It's also possible that the 1970 version was installed on your 71 (especially if an early production). Perhaps others know more precisely when the changeover took place from the zinc plated scalloped cap to the zinc dichromate smooth circumfrance cap.