[ahuguley]

I have many parts on my Nova that I'm considering replacing just so I can get a chrome finish throughout. A good portion of them are still in good, working condition. So...I'm just wondering if chrome paint can compare to buying an item that is already finished.

[OddRodder]

The chrome paints don't hold their finish very long, even under perfect conditions! I think that you will just be disappointed and out some time and money. Even cheap chrome parts would be $$ ahead! Be careful though, alot of the cheap stuff have fit and finish issues!

[ahuguley]

Thanks for the heads up. I had a feeling that the paint would chip easily.

[bullheimer]

never mind the chipping, chrome paint looks like poop. even factory color paint is 1000 tiimes better. there are far better alternatives

[ahuguley]

Ah. I once saw a car that was painted completely with spray paint. It was not a pretty sight.

I'm kind of torn between whether I should use chrome parts or standard. There are some custom Chevy items (like valve covers, air cleaner, etc) that are availble in chrome and black crinkle finish (from Classic Industries).

[fat50]

Got a chrome plater in your area? Call them and get some prices....


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[masterblaster51]

I do alot of powder coatingand I have an application called almost chrome.It looks like polished aluminum, and with a clear coat of the powder coat it looks Quit nice. cost effective if you have working parts and a powdercoating shop in your area. It's worth looking into!

[hotwheels55]

I agree with the powdercoating suggestion. There are so many colors (and some textures) available now. On my current car I wanted to avoid extensive use of billet and chrome that I'd used in the past.
I used chromium with clear coat on my valve covers, fan and pulleys. Here's an example of what can be accomplished with a combination of finishes that compliment each other.
http://myweb.cableone.net/rottie3054/DSC00009.JPG
The costs to powdercoat are not much ($65.00 in my case). The turn around time is quick compared to having chrome plating done. The only maintenace is an occasional wipe off with diluted WINDEX or instant detailer.

[fat50]

Eastwood sell a home kit and a rainbow of colors, Bakes in an electric oven. Anyone ever try it? Any boo's/cheers?



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[hotwheels55]

I've heard that for the do-it-yourselfer, they provide everything you need and produce some pretty good results. The cost of equipment and supplies isn't cheap, so you'd have to use it alot to justify the expense in my opinion.
It'd be cheaper to have a professional shop do it just from that standpoint...plus, using your wifes kitchen oven may not go over well.

[GypsyR]

Chrome paint does have it's uses but it is NO substitute for chrome. Nothing is really.
I keep some around for a variety of reasons. It's also sold in paint bottles. You can use it for touch up work, like a chrome chip on a bumper that will rust if you don't do something. The paint won't fix it but will make it a lot less noticeable than a big rust spot.
Chrome paint is based on aluminum and tends to oxidize just like aluminum. This means that what looks bright when you paint it will look more like bright aluminum in about a month. I've discovered this is perfect for touching up the "bright" paint trim on some 70's (more or less) vehicles. I've found it to end up being almost a perfect match for touching up the dash trim on my 82 F150 XLT. A buddy reports nice results doing the same thing on his 69 Camaro.
I discovered accidentally that chrome paint darkens to an "argent" color if you top coat it with clear polyurethane before it has fully dried. This happens as soon as the clear hits it. I used this technique to repaint a set of steel wheels that were argent from the factory (Ford). I once parked the truck next to another that had "correct" wheels and was able to compare. They were almost identical but mine were glossier. I like them. The paint has proved to be surprisingly durable for spray can stuff, still looks good after 3 years of parts hauling duty.
I wouldn't use it to touch up "shiny chrome" interior parts, such as the speedo bezel on my 67 Mustang. It will dull over time and probably look even worse than what you started with. Nor would I try to repaint an entire bumper or anything with it.