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Customs No money for chrome!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Driveway builder, Oct 7, 2018.

  1. Driveway builder
    Joined: Jan 17, 2013
    Posts: 588

    Driveway builder
    Member

    CA0C1EB0-C0A9-4A54-9398-42E2361A57F8.jpeg 46B8B030-D506-4D2C-9001-004AC71DD061.jpeg 89D73862-FF88-4CE2-857A-F657F447E04D.jpeg Hey guys, anyone have any advice on a cheap way to make a grill look good? Mine is in great shape except painted. I can’t afford a re chrome right now but I was thinking about maybe powder coat or if there is any kind of paint I can try? Thanks
     
    BigO and CudaChick1968 like this.
  2. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    The cost of nickel plating is a fraction of the cost of chrome.
     
    Hollywood-East and Pinstriper40 like this.
  3. williebill
    Joined: Mar 1, 2004
    Posts: 3,274

    williebill
    Member

    When I see a decent looking car, but pieces that should be chrome are body color, it makes me have very bad thoughts.
    When I see the same car with pieces that should be chrome, but are some form of silver, I think "poor guy's probably saving up for chrome."
    I'm sure many would disagree, but I've seen that treatment not look so bad. Not like anyone's trying to pass it off as chrome.
     
  4. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,602

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    The near as "chrome" paint that looks good isn't a simple process.
     

  5. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 7,856

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Find a clean used '51 grille & install it.
     
    clem, 49ratfink, FortyNiner and 3 others like this.
  6. 56premiere
    Joined: Mar 8, 2011
    Posts: 1,445

    56premiere
    Member
    from oregon

    sometimes repops are cheaper
     
    clem likes this.
  7. thirtytwo
    Joined: Dec 19, 2003
    Posts: 2,639

    thirtytwo
    Member

    Huh?.. how so?
     
  8. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Electroless nickel.
    $225.00

    20161029_092024.jpg
     
  9. Sounds like an excuse to customize it, to me. Use a grille that isn't chrome. '58-'60 T-bird would be something different on there.
     
  10. Terrible80
    Joined: Oct 1, 2010
    Posts: 785

    Terrible80
    Member

  11. rockable
    Joined: Dec 21, 2009
    Posts: 4,429

    rockable
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Plating itself is not that expensive. It's all the buffing and hand work that has to be done to make the surface as flat as a mirror that's expensive. Then you plate it. Just plating some new parts, without polishing them, to keep them from rusting isn't expensive but it doesn't look good on exterior pieces that should be slick and shiny, IMO.
     
    clem and Squablow like this.
  12. upspirate
    Joined: Apr 15, 2012
    Posts: 2,299

    upspirate
    Member

    I think HRP had a thread on this for his bumpers
     
  13. speed v8
    Joined: Nov 22, 2011
    Posts: 85

    speed v8
    Member

    find a good used one or start saving for chrome
     
  14. If you ain't got no muny, you ain't gittin' no krome!!

    10-26-2015 10-39-22 AM.jpg
     
  15. I powder coat on the side at home, the "chrome look" stuff is real, well "chrome look". If they know what they're doing they can get it somewhat polished looking but it wont look like actual chrome more like a buffed up billet aluminum.

    Now if it were my car (and its a killer looking car btw) Id try maybe painting the grill white for now? Might play off your wide whites some.
     
  16. x2 on what moose said, the silver wouldnt look bad either
     
    50 customcoupe likes this.
  17. rusty rocket
    Joined: Oct 30, 2011
    Posts: 5,053

    rusty rocket
    Member

    Chrome dont get ya home! Save up and do it right or as mentioned above maybe think about a Kustom grill. Just my two cents.
    BTW Kool looking car.
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2018
  18. How about that Brush on Chrome that was on this Board a couple of Months ago
    I don't know the Name of it But it Looked really Good when you
    Don't have the Coin's
    By the way Your Car Look's Really Great

    Just my 3.5 cents

    Live Learn & Die a Fool
     
  19. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    One of the regulars on here put that (stretchy?) chrome tape stuff on his ('34?) windshield frame, looked good in the photos.
     
  20. What about the chrome wrap, I saw it recently on a off topic car and it fooled me. HRP
     
    Bandit Billy and upspirate like this.
  21. Pinstriper40
    Joined: Sep 24, 2007
    Posts: 3,602

    Pinstriper40
    Member

    In my experience you can find nice original parts for the same price as getting something chromed.
     
    Tim and Nailhead Jason like this.
  22. CudaChick1968
    Joined: Dec 11, 2012
    Posts: 108

    CudaChick1968
    Member

    There are developments in the powder coating world all the time. The biggest hurdle in chrome replicas was the fact they were not UV stable on their own; it looked great straight out of the oven, but the necessary clear top coat then took all the pop and reflection out of it. The end result was more of a silver and the 'chrome look' was all but gone. These previously pitted and beat up Dodge 800 truck emblems were restored and coated in the old chrome powder with a clear.

    FB_IMG_1525401227660.jpg

    The latest upgrade in the industry has been a single stage chrome replica that is UV stable without the dulling clear coat. The difference is amazing. It reflects almost as nicely as a real chrome job!

    FB_IMG_1522203953160.jpg
     
    LBCD, swade41 and HunterYJ like this.
  23. 41rodderz
    Joined: Sep 27, 2010
    Posts: 6,540

    41rodderz
    Member
    from Oregon

    Maybe one of the hambers can help you out. You could put a wanted ad on here, just be careful.
     
  24. Jalopy Joker
    Joined: Sep 3, 2006
    Posts: 31,179

    Jalopy Joker
    Member

    place Wanted ad here for good replacement parts - check swap meets, craigslist, etc
     
  25. Nostrebor
    Joined: Jun 25, 2014
    Posts: 1,278

    Nostrebor
    Member

    Hilarious!:D

    I've been watching for a few parts of a clean used 51 grille for 3 years. I'm looking for the big sister to the Hope Diamond too! The horseshoes rust and the chrome is Korean era stuff. It's hard to find a decent one. I have a few solid ready for chrome ones now.

    Of course if you want to pay almost the same cost as a freshly chromed good grille, you can find decent clean used ones.
     
  26. F-ONE
    Joined: Mar 27, 2008
    Posts: 3,271

    F-ONE
    Member
    from Alabama

    You could get really artistic with this...
    Sure there's a risk but maybe not.

    This is what I'm getting at.....
    Study Chrome grilles. Study the many features of a chrome grille and how it looks. Chrome is like a mirror.

    Rather than simply painting silver.....

    Come up with a design based on your study of the reflections and detail that shows in chrome......
    paint these features onto your grille and clear.
    Paint the grille like an artist would paint a chrome grille in a painting.
    It's art. Art is cool.
     
    CudaChick1968 and millersgarage like this.
  27. brigrat
    Joined: Nov 9, 2007
    Posts: 5,615

    brigrat
    Member
    from Wa.St.

    That car deserves the best, open a "Go fund me account"!
     
    Last edited: Oct 8, 2018
  28. millersgarage
    Joined: Jun 23, 2009
    Posts: 2,294

    millersgarage
    Member

    sand it down, polish the steel and clear coat it.
    Sure it won't last, but...
     
  29. nunattax
    Joined: Jan 10, 2011
    Posts: 3,052

    nunattax
    Member
    from IRELAND

    it looks very nice as it is
     

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