Hot Rods I guess I am living in the 80’s (chrome prices)

Mark has all the cool stuff. The only cool stuff I get is from Mark.

 

Chrome is some nasty stuff to work with.... To bad that the government has to get involved to make companies clean up their mess.... It started here with the Love Canal...

 

All this discussion and talk of what things cost to do a quality rod or custom makes a person understand why the whole patina thing has taken off and is still so popular. We read threads about the cost of upholstery work, body and paint and now chrome plating. The cost of things is making it to where the only ones who can afford an all out rod or custom are the wealthy folks.
As far as the EPA, our local chrome shop ended their chrome plating years ago due to new regs and the increase in fees to keep it in operation. They still do other plating but the chroming is no more. It was a sad day for me when I found out as I was always chroming some little this or little that.
A person wonders if the EPA would have stepped in with these new rules if the auto industry was still doing chrome plating on new cars. Modern cars have almost no chrome, and the chrome they do have is plated plastic that goes to crap in a short time with the weird chemicals they put on the roads in the winter.
I'm not trying to get all political here and get the thread shut down, but things like @mohr hp had to say really make you think. I don't know if this is something that they do where ever you are, but have you noticed that when you buy a spray bomb of paint at WalMart or the local hardware store the powers that be have added a disposal fee? What is that for? If you take a ride through the barrio around here to look at the art on the graffiti walls you'll find the ground is littered with empty spray cans. Hmmm..........
Hey @Roothawg, as far as your valve covers go, anything you do to them should look great as the covers themselves are bitchin! Good luck man! E

 

Sometimes even the legends have to make compromises to roll forward. Sadly, time marches on..........E

 

I agree that building a nice hot rod or custom is an expensive endeavor. That’s why I learn to do everything myself. I could never afford to hire someone out. I was over at a buddy’s shop the other night. He’s a fireman full time but he does OT LS conversions for people on his days off. He had an 84 square body K10. New motor, tranny, suspension, paint etc. I asked what the owner was into for and he said 65K in parts alone.

 

Just build a custom. And keep the hood shut. Cars look much better with the hoods shut.

 

I’m doing that also…..it will definitely be a hood down car.

 

Root, I bet the copper and buff stage would take care of those pitts. Lippy

 

I wondered.

 

Yes**. The copper stage is filling (to a point) & like high build primer some builders work w/the plater where they then ship back the copper plated part(s) and the owner blocks it. Then repeat. And repeat. $.$.$. But OCD minded folk already know the costs. Post these valve covers. You may find a guy who is under the radar for a decent price who is reading this thread. Lots of eyes are.

 

This probably isn't the most useful tip, but keep an eye out for used. I bought a pair of the same chrome cad valve covers at the trog swap meet last fall for $200 for my car. Not a week later I saw another nice set at Hershey for about the same price. They're out there...

 

I'm surprised that some of these "third world" countries haven't set up shops to do chrome plating. Labor costs would be nil and disposal would be no problem for them. Of course shipping for large items (bumpers) could be problematic, but little stuff like light bezels and interior parts would probably be affordable.

 

A friend just spent 10k € on chrome for his 60 Ford station… the parts came out perfectly and they even fixed all the corroded pot metal parts. Quality costs I guess.

 

They have. A lot of shops take truckloads of parts into Mexico where the regulations are few so they don't have to incur ridiculous fees however, they still have to ship those truckloads of parts along with the logistics involved with that of which we ultimately pay for.

 

Of course

Of course, you're only dodging the "let's not screw the world" issue and do you really want to ship off rare or un-replacable parts to any third world country?

 

These ain't cheap, but they are cheaper than chroming what you got. You can get them already polished as well. I'm thinkin some black powder coat (at home) and some polishing on the fins and logo............

 

Powder coating will smooth that out a bit. Talk to your powder coater.

 

All I can say is a am damn glad I have 8 rechromed bumpers here for 4 different cars I am building in the shop. A while back I figured since I was going to have a couple done anyway.....I might as well do a bunch of them. I had the money & was going to drop them off anyway... As a transporter, I drop them off when I get a transport that is close to their location & I drop them off. When they are done & I have another transport close, I pick them up. Saving the shipping cost.

By the way I highly recommend Chip @ Tri-City Plating in Elizabethton, Tennessee for bumpers! Unfortunately they do NOT do Pot Metal Plating!

God Bless, Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

 

I've seen chrome caddy valve covers for sale now and then. Some are nice-nice, some gracefully aged, but not $800 either. Just a thought @Roothawg . If I see anything again I'll fwd it to ya.

 

You sir are 100% correct. It costs money to get rid of stuff that causes birth defects, organ damage, etc. properly.
I must also apologize for my reply to you, I made it seem as if I was questioning your post.

 

Not a big fan of those. I have looked at them though. They just scream repop to me.

 

So, are you going to put off retiring early?

 

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/chrome-jail-wasnt-so-bad.1254848/

 

Yo @Roothawg , Chrome Troy says $175 to $300 on the pair depending on work needed. He knows his chit. Let me know if you need my assistance. I like helping people find their shiny!

 

Dang! Now we are talking! Thanks!

 

People have shook their heads about chrome prices since I got into cars in the early 1970's.

 

I’ll be following this. I’m interested in home plating, but I would probably buy all the supplies, then never finish. I need some chrome work on my Olds. I’ve thought about doing something creative with a silver base coat, and several layers of clear/heavy metal flakes. May or may not turn out. Might be worth a try for an interesting custom look.

 

I bought some chrome bumpers years ago for a 57 Chevy. Guy had a display at the local swap meet and had some beautiful gleaming chrome on display.

Turned out that the rear bumper would get a rusty colored appearance and had to be wiped off everyday if there was any moisture in the air. The front bumper flaked a couple of small pieces before I ever mounted it. So, when looking for chrome, I learned my lesson about using vendors who don't have a known or verifiable reputation.

How much is too much $$$$.......I don't know, but I'll never buy from anyone thats cheaper because they probably will disappoint you later and you are out that money. The bumpers I bought weren't cheap, just cheaper. Never again........

Personally, I think most chrome valve covers look too "glitzy" on a hot rod, maybe ok on a custom.....but thats just personal taste.......besides, I hate polishing.






Repop or not, I think this looks very good, and probably better with black powder coating. Anyway, you can look at these pictures for comparison and see which type of look suits your vison.

 

Thinking us senior citizen car guys have now become our parents, I can remember my parents, Dad grumbling about cost of everything, Mom not so much, both depression era people. Speed costs Money, Chrome costs Money, Nice Paint costs money, Kustom Interior costs Money, Nothing Has Changed IMO, just the numbers are bigger, Much Bigger. I see the younger car guys coming in with fixed up old cars minus paint, custom interior, chrome as is or off. I attend SYMCO, a great show that follows HAMB guidelines, other RockaBilly style shows are growing fast in Wisconsin and with very good family participation, opposite of us old timers sitting in our lawn chairs under our popup tents. Note to some the Snotty youngsters here, Your time is coming, You too will get old.