Hot Rods Chromed or polished engine blocks?

That falls under the cl***ification of, fun to look at, but I would never throw away the money to do one.

 

Or she couldn't cook.

 

I used chrome powder coat on some of the brackets, etc. on my race car. The example above with the MII suspension pieces is about what I got. I was happy with the results, and think they look good. I believe that if you think of chrome powder coat as just another type of finish (as opposed to paint chrome, rubber, etc.) that we use on our cars, it stands on it's own. I have had no durability problems, but then the car spends most of it's time inside on a trailer. If I had a big enough oven, I'd try an engine block, just for fun.

 

HOT DAMN!

 

Nope, it's not even close. At best you'll get a 'milky' polished aluminum look (like it's been cleared with milk) without a protective clear coat, otherwise it's just silver. It photographs better than it appears in person. And it damages easier than cheap 'chrome' paint unless you do clear-coat it...

 

they would put it in a oven and cook it out as its part of the process , one of the local harley guys had this done , no problems with machining and running the motor ( other than cooling problems from the chrome not transfering heat too well as he found out . )

 

My Dad had his whole engine chromed in his 27 roadster Satan's Chariot in 62 even the valve springs and retainers were chromed

 

Thanks,
That's what I'd heard about the heat. It reminds me of a set of headers that are chrome... BLISTERING HOT!!!

 

This is understood, but Jim said "chromed or polished". My thinking is/was the powder chrome would look like a polished block and be a little more "user friendly". I guess I'm having trouble getting my head around anyone having the dabloons to spend on a chrome engine. I have 4 old chrome slots I'd like to use on my '56 when the time comes. I'm getting quotes of $2,400.00 to $3,200.00 to replate them. What would an engine cost? 10, 12, 14 grand?

 

Powder coat and heat do not mix.... especially around exhaust ports.......
One must also note that nowhere in the ***le did it say.... need cheap alternative for......or need way to look "like" chrome....... so why is there even a discussion of powder coat?

If a person wants something...... and can pay the tab.... and is happy with the results.... it doesn't matter what the cost is or the reason why someone would do it........

 

There's one process that hasn't come up... Aluminizing. Used to see this, not so much anymore. I do recall seeing a car where the owner had smoothed the OEM cast iron exhaust manifolds, had them heavily aluminized, then polished them. Nice polished aluminum finish, have no idea if it held up or how much maintenance was needed.

 

As we appear to be opening things up to anything "shiny"...cost effective solution!

 

My OT 1994 Ford truck has a "chrome" covered plastic grill. It looks just exactly like the real chrome on the bumper. I can't tell the difference unless i knock on it.

There has got to be a way to cover our old steel parts in plastic and then cover that with whatever Ford used on my grill.

Someone needs to figure that out and become rich.

 

It looks like chrome because it is chrome..... Ford (and other OEMs) use a process where they 'spray' vaporized copper onto the plastic, then simply plated the now-metal-surface part. This process dates at least back to the mid-'60s, as Ford used this for the chrome lever 'knobs' on the shifter and turn signal levers into at least the '70s. One downside to the process is if the plastic has a much different heat expansion rate compared to the plating, the plating will crack and/or peel, which limited it use on exterior parts until they got better plastics.

 

Try the "BUMPER BOYS" out of California. They usually have a semi load at the swap meets.

Performance Coatings does the best Hot Coatings for pipes and manifolds that I've seen. It might work on blocks and heads. Terry is a good friend of mine. Check them out. http://www.headercoatings.com/pages/Motor_Sports

 

Hey Wex, thanks a lot now I gotta figger out how to get tapioca pudding outta my keyboard.

 

What about some of the ceramic coatings used on exhaust manifolds? Some of those polish up fairly nice. I think those are shake-n-bake, but I don't know how much heat they use. Probably wouldn't make a difference on an unmachined block as long as they were careful to cool the block slowly.
I had a bunch of 215s once upon a time, thought about polishing one, then anodizing it gold. (wouldn't work with the sleeves in it)

 

This is why I am asking. I'm going to have it polished. My pockets aren't deep enough for the chroming, but it sure looks cool.

 

I think I'm doing good. Then I see a chrome, blown, olds motor and realize I am weak and worthless...

 

jim,

that thing is gonna be drop-dead gorgeous when you get it done. patiently awaiting pix...

 

How about a polished aluminum Ardun....

Polishing an aluminum block has got to be much easier then chroming a cast iron one, but there is absolutley nothing cheap about either option if you want to get it right.

 

I saw a set of chrome 392 heads at a local swap meet pretty cheap 5 or so years ago.... Kinda kicking myself now.

As for price, the reason i filed and hand sanded my 283 block, bell, and heads smooth for my roadster is because i was out of work, the only cost was abrasives, but you'd be supprised how fast you can burn up Nicholson files on cast iron, hell at the peak i was burning one every 2 days, i probably killed 8 or 9

 

I would think you'd have to build a tank specifically for chroming an engine block, especially a block that had been used before, to avoid contamination and to get the plating to "throw" correctly. Back in the anything-goes days of the 50's and 60's that probably wasn't a big deal since they were just dumping the used chemicals down the drain but it would be a super expensive endeavor today.

Having worked at a chrome shop, the amount of time and skill to prep a part like a grille is staggering, much more than some people would probably realize, I can't even imagine the time and effort it took to chrome the engines shown above. That takes a mastery of skills and patience. Truly impressive. I wouldn't want to be the guy who had to do the work or the guy who foots the bill, but I'll certainly admire their workmanship.

 

This was done 100% with time that's normally waisted. few mins here and there. It took 2-1/2 months off the colander but this is the product of that waisted time. I swear some guys think my thread is just about this Trans case lol but its in there if you wanna see it.

 

Bling gold chain.
That engine would be perfect on a 60's type custom.
But thats about it in my opinion.
Can you imagine trying to keep something like that clean on a daily driver.
no no no...

 

Jim how do you intend to stop it rusting, I smoothed my cadillac block off and it really isn't that hard to get it to a decent finish.

 

A fellow BMW tech had a Dodge slant 6, aluminum block. It went it his nice steel '24 T roadster. He asked about polishing the block, but another 'tech' nixed it, proclaiming that the porous cast finish aided in cooling..."Don't do it! Model airplane engines and motorcycle engines have heated themselves to death after polishing!"
I chuckled, and pointed out that the engine was water cooled...

 

only good for hats that some wear ...