Chroming a generator, advice needed please

I want to chrome my gm generator, and there are some things inside I cannot remove. Was thinking about taking it to a generator shop, and seeing what they say I should do, but I'm wondering if anyone here has done it and could offer some advice. Any help much appreciated! Thanks

 

Jtust have them remove the pieces that you cannot, you should have no problem getting the GM down to a bare case.

 

Check the swap meets.JC Whitney used to sell a cover you could put on it. Maybe someone on here has one.

 

"Some things inside" is rather vague but if you are talking about the field coils and the screws that hold them in use put a screw driver blade (or whatever other shape it takes) in the chuck of a drill press and use the drill press to hold the tool into the head while you turn it. If I missed it, please define "some things inside".

Charlie Stephens

 

I think he really just wanted to tell us he is chroming his generator case or he would have let us know what he couldn't remove and not informed us that he was going to the generator shop.

 

I asked for advice. I havent done it before, and wanted to here from someone that has, thought that was what the hamb was for. I didn't ask to be put down or criticized. If you can't say anything nice, please don't say anything at all.

 

Yeah thats what i remember , chrome the pulley put a cover on & paint the rest. If your genny ****s its self you can just dress up another one.

 

Unless you seal the unit by making covers for all the openings, it's a bad plan to plate the unit partially ***embled.

Per what other have said, a plated or polished stainless cover would be a better option to plating anything other than the bare dissembled parts.

 

Exactly what I was going to say. I had a chrome cover and chrome pulley on the generator of a 71 VW that I built years ago. The cover and the pulley covered enough of the generator that it didn't even need to be painted. And when I had to replace the generator, I just swapped the chrome onto the new one. Given the choice, I'd deffinately do it that way again.

 

The cover and the chrome pulley/fan is the way to go because generators go out. If you cant find a cover, you could probably make one out of some polished thin stainless sheet. I think chroming the actual housing would hold in heat and make it fail sooner than usual.

 

d.scott, if you are goin g to be on the hamb you better toughen up some.you havent even seen "ridin your ***" yet. lOl

 

The wrap around covers look exactly like wrap around covers! Take it to a generator shop, have them inspect it while it is together, that way they can determine if fields and armature, bushings, bearings are ok. Then I would have them take it all apart, you sen the entire case with end plates and thru screws to the players. IMHO it will be sweet looking that way...if the generator ****s the bed later, just have it rebuilt but keep all the chromed parts, it is the internals that fail,NOT the case and end plates etc. don't worry about the jack***es on here, there are some grouchy *******s here that think they have to spread some sourness on a daily basis. I too, have asked for simple plain advice and got more than I asked for.....oh well. Glad I don't live in their shoes!

 

D Scott don't give up,there are a lot **** heads on here.Sumfuncomet gave you sum good advice.

 

"put a screw driver blade (or whatever other shape it takes) in the chuck of a drill press and use the drill press to hold the tool into the head while you turn it"

Thats a great idea. Many times it is almost imposable to hold something and push down hard enough so that the screwdrived doesn't pop up from the slot when you try to turn it.

Together with the drillpress vice, and positive down pressure with the help of the depth lock, you can easily put a wrench on the screwdriver and turn away.

Bravo for the sugestion.

 

I'm an auto electrician, and the best way to loosen the field shoe screws is with a hand held impact driver and a FBH. A little Penetrene or similar helps also.

 

Buy a Power House alternator from Speedway. They have painted and stainless steel. They look like a generator and some are built for Chevy engines. Cheaper than chrome and not near the work.

 

My truck came with a chromed GM stepped body generator. They did make stainless covers for the GM style but they look stupid to my eye due to the paint needed between the 2 different size bands.

Generator shops have special tools for removing the bolts that hold the field windings without ******ing them up.Not an easy task for a home builder. For a one time build I'd take it to a dedicated shop with the proper tools. Putting it back together is not that big of a deal.



My Ford generator is all one size and I found an old stainless cover from back in the day. I like them both for different reasons. The biggest reason being the price at today's costs. Just say no to the chromed 1 wire GM alternators and you'll be fine.

 

the chrome cover is the way to go.

 

I'm for the chrome or polished stainless cover route.... With all the epa rules, the chrome jobs aren't nearly as great as it used to be. Other than that, ditto have a gen. shop check and dis***emble it, have it chroned, and they can re ***emble and test it.... Won't be cheap, though.........

4TTRUK