Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

[Brandon T.]

Ok I had the original valve covers, air lid and shielding re-chromed, I even had them to re-chrome the original wing nuts and some peices I have no clue where it goes. I went ahead and had it triple plated to cover the minor flaws that the original pieces had.


Hard to tell by pictures I know but I think it turned out pretty good. What I am most pleased with is how I had them tape out the bottom side of the air cleaner lid to protect the original silk screening..this was the only place who would do that. All the people at carlisle I talked to about chroming wouldn't tape it out to preserve it. Not sure why not? These guys acted like it wasn't a big deal.


Looks like they left the inside of all the pieces natural like underside of the valve covers and shielding is that correct?




one thing I wasn't happy with is on the under side of the shielding is a piece of plastic they took off and looks like they messed it up a little on one of the holes. They said they couldn't find replacements for the plastic spacers or something that went on the underside? what have you guys used for this after having that part re-chromed?


I took them this piece but I have NO clue where it goes, anyone know?

[Jean C.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

Brandon, although I am not certain about your unknown piece, I would say it is to serve as connectivety between the distributor cover and the air cleaner metal base. '64 SB has such a feature. Check your AIM.
Best regards,

[Michael W.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

Very nice show chrome. Good to know that there's still some shops around that can do this type of work and follow customer's instructions.

Are you using this hardware on a street rod?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

...Looks like they left the inside of all the pieces natural like underside of the valve covers and shielding is that correct?...

It's typical for plated parts to have insignificant plating on the interior surfaces for a couple of reasons: (1) the surfaces are hidden from view, and plating is not necessary, and (2) since electroplating requires the "throwing" of the plating ions from the electrode to the surface, the plating of interior surfaces would require a specially designed anode to reach up inside the closed surface. It would be more costly to plate the interior surfaces and it serves no purpose.

...one thing I wasn't happy with is on the under side of the shielding is a piece of plastic they took off and looks like they messed it up a little on one of the holes. They said they couldn't find replacements for the plastic spacers or something that went on the underside? what have you guys used for this after having that part re-chromed?...

I'm thinking those were actually not spacers, but clear plastic rivets that are friction peened to attach the inner plastic part to the shielding. Those rivets may be available in reproduction, but I haven't scoped reproduction parts in a long time...Try Paragon.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

It's typical for plated parts to have insignificant plating on the interior surfaces for a couple of reasons: (1) the surfaces are hidden from view, and plating is not necessary, and (2) since electroplating requires the "throwing" of the plating ions from the electrode to the surface, the plating of interior surfaces would require a specially designed anode to reach up inside the closed surface. It would be more costly to plate the interior surfaces and it serves no purpose.

I'm thinking those were actually not spacers, but clear plastic rivets that are friction peened to attach the inner plastic part to the shielding. Those rivets may be available in reproduction, but I haven't scoped reproduction parts in a long time...Try Paragon.

Yes, rivets is a better name for them.

I only questioned the inside being natural because looks like to me it will cause the pieces to rust quick/heavy where the natural parts are. Obviously the inside of the valve covers will have oil on them though.

to compare what I paid for this what would you guys a good price would have been to chrome these pieces? I think I did ok price wise just curious of your thoughts though.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

Very nice show chrome. Good to know that there's still some shops around that can do this type of work and follow customer's instructions.

Are you using this hardware on a street rod?

It will go on my 68 which is an original car that I'm keeping a very nice original driver.

I don't plan on having it judged that why I went ahead and had the peices triple plated. One valve cover was in great shape but the other had flaked off some and had a little surface rust on it so I was afraid the flash chrome might show that too much.

[Michael M.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

Branden,
The plastic on the underside of the distributor cover is held in place with clear plastic rivets on my 71. When I had it chromed I cut them off with a razor blade. I cut them off on the back side. Then I kept the halves taped together. When the shield was returned I reinstalled the mylar insulation on the underside. Then I installed the top half of the rivet and superglued th matching half to the backside. Making sure that the pieces were allined properly.
This is after the fact for you but may help others.

Mike

[Brandon T.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

Branden,
The plastic on the underside of the distributor cover is held in place with clear plastic rivets on my 71. When I had it chromed I cut them off with a razor blade. I cut them off on the back side. Then I kept the halves taped together. When the shield was returned I reinstalled the mylar insulation on the underside. Then I installed the top half of the rivet and superglued th matching half to the backside. Making sure that the pieces were allined properly.
This is after the fact for you but may help others.

Mike

Yeah, I wish I had looked and noticed the rivets and the plastic like shield to take off MYSELF. Now I don't know what exactly the rivets look like etc to order them or exactly how they were on there. As you can see from the picture they messed the plastic sheet of sheilding up some getting it off looks like.

[Terry M.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

I have noted on the reproduction shielding those plastic rivets are white and not translucent like the originals -- even aged yellow-colored originals.

One of my fellow Illinois Chapter members runs a plastic molding plant and he insists that nylon can not be made clear like the originals. Nylon turns the white color, like the replacements.

Since plastics is not my field -- I can just pass on to you what I have observed.

I would start looking for plastic rods at a hobby shop. I'm not sure one of the national chains would have them, but if you can find a real hobby shop that caters to craftsman you might have some joy. If you found the proper rod you could, with a little experimentation, fabricate better than a fair facsimile of those rivets.

Edit add: If you live in a metropolitan area there are plastic supply shops that might be helpful -- many people understand car collectors even though they may think us a little off kilter. Cadillac Plastics is one national source that comes to mind, although I haven't dealt with them in years.

[Mark D.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

This guy is making, what I consider, beautiful reproduction plastic rivets. As a matter of fact, I used his on my GM service piece. I had an original top with the original plastic shield so, I only needed correct rivets as my originals were in poor condition. A buddy of mine, who I'm not going to mention his name (Stan Falenski ), installed them on my service piece. I will have it in FL if anyone wants to check it out.

Regards,

Mark

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ic-rivets.html

[Brandon T.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

This guy is making, what I consider, beautiful reproduction plastic rivets. As a matter of fact, I used his on my GM service piece. I had an original top with the original plastic shield so, I only needed correct rivets as my originals were in poor condition. A buddy of mine, who I'm not going to mention his name (Stan Falenski ), installed them on my service piece. I will have it in FL if anyone wants to check it out.

Regards,

Mark

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...ic-rivets.html

Thanks! thats a great post learned a lot.

[Brandon T.]

Re: Got my engine bay chrome back for my 68 bb, few questions

I paid $285 for the work, I was quoted $375 over the phone but got there and found out I knew the guy from way way back and he cut me a deal.

thats why I was curious what that job would have normally ran.