VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Chrome

Has anyone had a grille re-chromed recently? Just curious what it costs. Need to have mine done (35 Chevy Standard) and don't want to get screwed.

You're going to be SHOCKED!

Shocked? You will probably be electrocuted!

So what is a ballpark number?

Will probably be a lot cheaper to buy a replacement stainless steel one.

Holy crap

Here is a sample on Ebay for sale! Chevrolet Chevy GMC Truck Grille / Grill Insert Assembly Stainless 1934-1935 US $1,092.50
Plus don't forget you will get points deducted from the Chevrolet Car show for not being ORIGINAL!!!
Rory

PeterV,

I think the ball-park figure would be somewhere between a grand and a grand and a half. ($1,000 - $1,500.)

The cheaper bids will more than likely less professionally done. You may check some bids out but remember you pay for what you get.

A recrhrome done with consciencious and journeyman lever work will far outlast a mediaocre job. The troublie is that, at first, they both look good. But last as well? They don't.

My advice is to dig deep and go for a company like TRI-City or Pauls. Both have websites and both have great workers and products. There are others as well.

I use Paul's and highly recommend them. They are not cheap but among the best out there.

Good luck,

Charlie

I've heard Paul's is good but expensive. I was thinking of Tri City but the reviews were so so. I am using R&D Plating near Tri City for my pot metal stuff, (radiator cap, door handles, window cranks) because they specialize in pot metal. Estimate is over $2,000. There isn't much chrome on a 35 Standard other than bumpers and grille. The bumpers are going to be $400 each and the grille at that price brings me over $2000 again. I was going to get them done a little more local to me as I live in MA. so I could save on the shipping back and forth of the big bulky stuff. That's almost $5000 for chrome. I wasn't planning on that much. Holy crap!

You can ship your bumpers to R&D and then pick them up in Hershey if you want. I can even bring them back to MA if you want for NC. I see Rick at Hershey every year I go anyway. If it makes you feel any better, I have $23k in chrome work on my 32’ Olds. To rechrome a closed car 31’ Chevy these days runs about $6000. Add another $6k for a Cabriolet and that’s buying new bumpers and new door handles.

I've priced a few things out and seem to be about 20% cheaper in Canada and that's in Canadian dollars. With US dollars in your pocket that will shave another 20%+ off.

It's usually us running cross border for items that are less taxed but this may be something you want to price somewhere close to you in Canada. Can't hurt to make some calls. No clue who to recommend out that way.

Thanks for the info and the offer. I was hoping to get them done by spring. There are a couple of places in RI and CT I have hears about. I'm going to check them out first. My radiator cap needs some repair and when I mentioned that to a couple of places they said, Yeah we could probably do that. Not a lot of confidence in their voice. Tri City does not do pot metal at all. R&D specializes in pot metal repair and re-chrome so I will go with them for that. Shipping shouldn't be too much for a small box of handles, cranks, and a radiator cap. My brother had bumpers done in CT and they came out really nice. I might just go there and avoid shipping all together.

Jim Carter Truck parts is the source for the above mentioned stainless reproduction truck grille. I believe he offers a plain stainless screen that can be cut to fit a passenger application that is smaller in size. Call there and ask for Jim, himself, if you are interested.
While stainless is not "correct" for these vehicles, once installed with the background properly painted black, I doubt it would ever be noticed in judging.

Mike

I have sometimes seen re chromed grills where there appears to be a nickel sheen in areas where the chrome has not taken properly. I have used 3 stainless meshes that are made here by a local company and about to use a 4th. At about $350 locally I would not bother getting an original re chromed. Only the sharpest eye would pick a very minor difference.

At $350 I wouldn't even hesitate. What do you think the cost would be to ship to Massachusetts in the states? Probably enough to bring the cost up to getting one locally I imagine.

Jim Carter only does truck parts. Although some parts are the same as the autos the grille isn't one of them. At under $900 for a grille it isn't bad though.

Up until very recently someone was advertising them on ebay in the USA for I am pretty sure $300.

When was working on our 30 sport coupe, discussed with Chip in NC, he indicated would not be satisfied unless the chrome was "show quality".
Got a quote from Shop in Erie Pa and was shocked, my gut said go with him, however, a local parts shop arranged to have bumpers done, his comment was "know the guy".....
well Chip was correct.
They are on the car, they are not show quality, I know were the spots are. Each time go by the car, reminded what Chip said...…..
Dave

As I stated in my earlier post, Jim carter has a polished stainless truck grille screen that I believe is large enough to be cut down to fit a '34/'35 Standard. This screen does not have the perimeter reinforcement of the factory truck grille, like the picture from the eBay auction in a previous post. It has a raw edge. I think I remember my car grille screen also having this raw edge.
Try this link to a picture of this grille screen.

www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/product.asp?prodid=FP213&i

There are 2 of these screens, FP 213 for '34/'35 trucks and FP 215 for '36 trucks. The FP 215 is 32 inches tall and 19 1/2 inches wide. I do not have the size of the FP 213. His price is $540.00.

Link below

www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/product.asp?prodid=FP213&i

Peter V,

From the responses to your thread and your conclusions, it may strike some that you may have made your mind up before posing the questions about a plater we could recommend. Including me and I may be the only. I didn't run a poll.

No? Then I apologize. Do too.

Best,

Charlie

Charlie,
I have not made up my mind yet. Still have my stuff. Just stated that I have done some checking and have a couple that I am interested in. I have never had anything plated so I can only go by recommendations. Always looking for positive comments about a plater. I also am looking for one that is somewhat local. My research brought me to Tri City and R&D Plating. They seemed good according to their reviews. A couple on here also recommended them so I'm leaning that way. Always looking for suggestions from others that have had some plating done as I haven't had any done before.

Check out the post by Roara regarding Chrome on the East Coast. Most of the professional shops that I am familiar with recommend and use Pauls and I have never heard a complaint about the quality-price is a different matter. I've had chroming done in Canada and at the time the $$ was favorable so the cost was much less. The plating is good but the detail finish was not and some items (inner door handles and cranks) look good but all the splines snapped off when installed. New England Chrome in Connecticut did a 51 grille and the pot metal fender spears for me and they did an excellent job at a fair price.

PeterV,

I had some plating done in Canada also. Place went out of business owing to the death of a partner. I never recovered two 41 fender spears that they were re-plating for me at the time. I liked the partner who died and didn't want to cause her any concern about the items so I never asked for them back.

Anyway, Paul's sits right kitty-corner across from me at Hershey. Pieces that they bring to show their work is just plain unbelievably excellent. I have used then for 41 bumper ends ($150.00 each) and the rear window frame the project cabriolet project car. Only trouble on that item was that they chromed both sides.

I would highly recommend them. Excellent work and relatively near you. Evanston, PA (Check spelling(

Best regards and another apology for being a bit skeptical or your intent

Always go for the best job you can when it comes to something you can't do yourself. A relative few bucks more and you know you have the best job money can buy. That doesn't work for everything in life but it does when it comes to the missus , medical attention and chroming.

Best and sincere wishes for good luck with your chroming,

Charlie

Steve,
I looked into New England Chrome and they seem pretty good. I heard they were reasonable too. I'll have to check on their pot metal work. R&D states that they specialize in pot metal work, so they peaked my interest. The 51 grille looks like some heavy pieces, almost like the bumper. My 35 grille is those delicate vertical ribs which are a pain to chrome and polish without bending them. I have only heard good stuff about Paul's, but he is a little on the expensive side. I know you get what you pay for.

Thanks for the info. Have to weigh all the factors.