1956 Grille surround heliarc repair and aluminum chroming

[Richard M.]

Today I brought the '56 grille surround to my local plating shop along with a few other items I got with the car.

The surround was previously repaired in 3 places. It appears they used aluminum weld to repair. The chrome shop can't chrome it. They say there are different processes for chroming pot metal versus aluminum, and the repair joints would bubble over time.

Any other thoughts about this. It's a shame I can't use it.

Rich

[Roy B.]

Re: 1956 Grille surround heliarc repair and aluminum chroming

I've heard that the new repro's are good so why spend $600 or more repairing and chroming a damaged grill?

[Richard M.]

Re: 1956 Grille surround heliarc repair and aluminum chroming

Yes I may have to go that route. Repros are $850. Looking at other options if any.

I was quoted $360 to rechrome a good core. They said if it was just cracked, they could fill/repair with copper, then rechrome. Would be about $50-$100 more to repair.

Rich

[Gary C.]

Re: 1956 Grille surround heliarc repair and aluminum chroming

Richard, check with Paul's Plating in PA for their price to repair and rechrome. FYI - the current supply of repro's is very limited and have heard they're not going to make any more. Check Gary Pronesti 352-638-5778 to see if he has one. Gary....

[Michael L.]

Re: 1956 Grille surround heliarc repair and aluminum chroming

Rich, I have the same problem you are dealing with. I was quoted $900 to repair a single crack and to plate. I'm looking at one more shop before I buy a repro oval.

I'm not sure I buy the bubbling theory. I was told pot metal must be plated using copper as a first layer of the process. On steel that step can be skipped. I would think if the repair is ground and finished well, that the piece can be plated without issue.

I use three different shops. One will not plate pot metal as he is not set up for the copper step. He told me that pot metal can be dipped in copper until sufficient material is there to grind and polish to a smooth finish, then the nickle and chrome steps are done. You lose detail on small parts, on the oval I don't know if that is an issue.

I may try to fix the crack myself with a pot metal repair kit from "Solder It" Caswell sells it and states you can plate over it... Let me know how your oval works out...