Is there anywhere to buy a chromed 12 volt GM generator or will I have to have one chromed? Any info much appreciated.
I have two GM alternators that are chromed. One is 60 amp single wire and the other is 100 amp. I purchased both from the Fillingstation in Lebanon, OR. Both have been on the job for over two years with no problems. I also purchased chromed brackets with both too. Normbc9
I don't know of anyone that make one or sells a cover. I took mine apart and had it chromed for $30 and then rebuilt for another $20. Then I polished the aluminum front and back plates. Looks killer!
getting the case chromed for 30 bucks sounds like a deal. I don't know if you can it done for that price just anywhere though. generator on top alternator on the bottom : )
http://www.powermastermotorsports.com/powergen.html You can buy chrome PowerGen's. But the price is steep. But then again, so is chroming.
ebay 120765237220 is an old cover, fits the earlier generators. I would expect that taking it apart and chroming/polishing the parts would be the thing to do. If I didn't believe in Stroker, that is.... "if it don't go, chrome it"
I'm pretty sure you will have to take it apart and have it chromed. All the young guys want alternators now. I doubt that there is a big enough market to sell them. I just rebuilt my Ford generator and found an old Cal custom polished stainless cover. That was the traditional way to get a shiny generator in my neighborhood. They are not hard to work on if you want to disassemble, have it chromed and then assemble it yourself. The chrome shop wanted 125$ each to do my very nice Merc valve covers so be prepared for sticker shock. I'm very proud of my GM generator that came with the truck.
Poor old man's generator chrome look job --- make your own cover out of the bright side of aluminum roof flashing from your local Home Depot or Lowes. Jack E/NJ
The generator is a lot easier to polish and plate than the valve covers. It is also less prominent of a part. The valve covers are thin steel, with the ribbed detail and perimeter flange getting in the way of fast polishing. I think you paid a fair price as long as they are nice. The generator is thicker steel, and essentially a smooth cylinder when disassembled, making for much less polishing time and a lesser likelyhood of not plating nice. Also, they never have hidden dents and dings. I could have a new hire polish a generator housing.
No I realized I was out of my element and quietly declined as I backed out of the door. I'm too poor to play. So if I brought you a stripped generator housing, how much would you estimate it costing?
Could be $30, but it depends on amount of rust pitting, and how high the expected quality is. Most likely $35-45.
Please don't confuse me with an alternator lover. I think that we are in the minority about preferring a generator over an ugly alternator. Every time this comes up we get plenty of recommendations for the GM 1 wire chrome alternators. Cheap and easy. I just recently rebuilt a generator and removed a perfectly good new factory rebuilt Ford alternator. It matters to me. The stepped body GM generators look funny (to me) with the 2 stainless bands for the different diameters. (I am using an NOS Cal custom stainless cover for my Ford generator.) 35-45 seems reasonable enough to me but I always factor the shipping costs into the price.
Yeah shipping can be a killer on a single part. The good news is that any custom plating shop nearby (if any) can plate a generator housing. It's one of the easier parts to run; pretty hard to screw up. If you have the part stripped inside and out and polished to a mirror on the show side, I can do a plate only job on the housing for $15. We do have a $50 minimum, but I can let it slide here and there cuz I'm the owner's son .
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