Hot Rods Does a Hot Rod absolutely have to have chrome ?

Yup! Chrome or not, you can't beat a healthy "power to weight" ratio.

 

I finally got my quote from John Wright, and as I was told by other shops I talked to ( they told me Wright would be expensive) it was high.
For my little list which really isn't all that extensive, their quote was from $6400- $7400

Good lord, I'm not looking for 24K Gold plating
So since Jose at Ogden chrome was the only one who took the time to call me and discuss my needs they will get my work.
Not the cheapest, but obviously not the most expensive either.

 

An update, my parts are on the way to Ogden Chrome, shipped them out today
Larry

 

Just wrapping up my 32 highboy pu. No chrome, all paint and cad plated bolts. Every ch***is fastener has a castle nut and is cotter pinned. Front is all 32 Ford except the shocks, shackles and spring, rear has a natural finish QC and everything is finished the same way. The frame and suspension are all powder painted.

 

He's about 20 mins away. That's a shop where if you have to ask how much you can't afford it.

 

Good on you!

 

The plan before the build started was to make some of the parts using stainless steel and skip the chrome shop. The only chrome on here are the V8 emblem, front turn signals, and the mirror. The rest is stainless including the spreader bars, grill insert, headlight mounts, headlight bar, and rims, radiator Ford emblem, bat wings and hairpins, spring perchs and shackles, tie rod and drag link, exhaust system, door handles, side nerf bars and tail lights. I cheated and made the windshield frame using aluminum and had the dash insert sand cast in 356 aluminum. Enough bright work for my tastes, and low maintenance to boot!

 

I think so,especially if you are going for a traditional look. HRP

 

My list of parts I sent out goes like this :
1) Front and rear wishbones.
2) Front shock - headlight mounts
3) Radiator support rods and brackets
4) Steering arms
5) Drag link
6) Pitman arm
7) Headlight bar across the front of the grille ( to mount the Y Block emblem )
8) Hinge - tailgate straps

Not an extensive list, but I think enough that it should provide some nice bling and contrast to the dark Washington Blue paint and Wimbledon white firewall and wheels.
Larry

 

Sounds like a good plan to me Larry,it also sounds pricey. HRP

 

Absolutely Danny. I gave up on the budget build concept a long time ago. About the time I sprang for the new Winters QC and then had Rod Tops do the top
It was a little less painful back then when the Canadian $ was worth pretty much the same as the US $.
Right now it stings buying US parts of having US services like my chroming done.

However, I want to drive this thing before I have to give up my licence ( There should be many years before that happens by the grace of God )
Larry

 

Blue one
I think your car is great and will finish out well with what you are having done.
Like Jimmysix, I'm doing a 50's Ford and just had to bite the bullet regarding the chrome work. It's a numbing experience. I told the guy he needs a chair for customers when he tells them the prices. Or a sign saying bendover, here it comes--
I had a bunch (all interior items on a 56 Crown Victoria) done to the tune of about $2100.
My friend has a 52 Merc custom that had the front & rear bumpers done. Rear was in good shape & cost $900.00. Front was damaged & bent (front is at least three pieces with some vertical bars) was $1600.00. That number included the fixing, etc
Work is excellent and was done in Lodi, CA by Superior Plating.
Love to see a pic of the car when you get it all together.
Happy New Year
Jim

 

The first parts turned out beautiful, and I just sent in my windshield frame and posts .

 

Hot rod, no...Street rod, yes......one of the reasons I love hot rods. Thats the way I feel and ya'll cant change my mind.

 

The early hot rods didn't have any. It's a matter of taste.

 

I'm not going to start an argument because you are wrong simple as that.
There are many of examples of early hot rods with plenty of chrome.

 

I'm happy that in the 1950's,when I started building my own hot rod,I didn't need to learn a lot of BS names of types of builds,there was just hot rods,customs and racecars,with sub cat of beaters. All of them had some chrome that I saw. And most got shiny paint. I could not aford to have any chroming done as a teen,but did do as much shiny polished metal stuff as I could,even added some shined up coins,25cent to tie rod ends and 50cent to top of kingpins,an alum covers made an polished amung other stuff. The combo of polished things an a few chrome parts,air scoops an etc. made it all look like I gave it what I did,some love. As time p***ed,I added chrome to headers an even updated to chrome alt. Craftmanship is not just making something bearly work,but making it work well an look real good doing,so YES shiny is a part of that.!

 

Chrome is subjective. To me anyway. Think about what you would do
if chrome was as cheap as powder coat. I like chrome, but I appreciate
a well built vehicle either way. yours looks very good.

 

No they don't all need chrome too look good.

 

Is Ogden Chrome going to bake your steering pieces after plating them to remove the hydrogen? Hydrogen embrittlement is a big concern when plating structural pieces.

 

Done, the only steering pieces I had plated were the 2 steering arms.

 

This hot rod is definitely getting chrome.
As she goes back together it's going to look really nice with the dark Washington blue paint and the shiny stuff.

 

Personally, I don't like shiney stuff on my rods.

Should a hotrod have chrome? Not to me. Maybe a little billet ****. Very little.

Street rod would probably have a ton of shiney **** on it.

It is a matter of choice. I don't care what anyone else thinks.

Sent from my SM-G930T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Of course Dave you are en***led to your opinion, however my RPU is most definitely a hot rod.

 

Lookin' good!

 

Ain't no sucha thang as too much chrome!!

 

i am trying to think of a case where i thought something being chromed looked wrong. i have seen stuff that had no chrome and looked great, but other than one of those crazy chromed/painted bodies i can't remember saying, that would look better if it wasn't chromed.
i am sure someone will post an example.