Rally Center Caps

[BamaDave]

Has anyone used the chrome covered plastic ones you can buy just about anywhere. I have a set of oe, but I don't know if I can polish them up enough to my liking and I want some that look good without paying through the nose for some. I am wondering how the plastic ones hold up.

[rwhit57]

You probably know this, but if you strip the paint off the OEM ones there is good chrome under that. I have done several sets this way and it really makes them stand out.

[BamaDave]

no i didn't know that! learn something new every day. I am talking about the part that is chrome from the factory though.

[motornut]

these?
the greyish area?

[silvereagle07]

BamaDave, I had a set of the chromed plastic caps on my 84 for a while. They started turning green and the finish was popping off. I just found a set from a newer burb and removed the paint like the previous poster suggested. IMO the plastic versions are junk.

[BamaDave]

the gray part is fine, its the chrome part that on mine i don't know if it will polish out

[rwhit57]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

the gray part is fine, its the chrome part that on mine i don't know if it will polish out

It's really hard to find a nice set, I went through probably 15-20 last time I was looking for some. I just wanted to mention about stripping the paint. It is the flat gray area around the lugnuts, they were plated then painted. If you take some aerosol paint stripper it will take that right off and you have a 100% chrome cap. Never use anything abrasive on chrome. I know this doesn't help you find good ones. just thought I'd mention it.

[motornut]

lol i've got 3 sets,thanks to some drunks
using the best i got,pitted but would look better that way thanks try that later

[rwhit57]

I grabbed an old ugly one off the shelf and spent a few minutes to show the guys that haven't seen this. Several passes with the aerosol stripper and a soft cloth. Clean with reducer or thinner, and polish. I used a permanent marker on the logo. Not great, but good enough for a daily driver and the better the cap the better the results, this one is rough.

[RandyP]

Lacquer thinner takes the gray off with ease, no need for stripper. Use 00 or 000 steelwool to clean the chrome. Steelwool is awesome for cleaning up anything that is real chrome (ie not plastic chrome). Takes bugs off your bumper quickly and leaves a nice shiny behind.

[BamaDave]

wow RandyP, I think I will try that on mine, those look good.

[rwhit57]

Originally Posted by RandyP

Lacquer thinner takes the gray off with ease, no need for stripper. Use 00 or 000 steelwool to clean the chrome. Steelwool is awesome for cleaning up anything that is real chrome (ie not plastic chrome). Takes bugs off your bumper quickly and leaves a nice shiny behind.

Glad to know thinner takes that right off. The steel wool works good on old chrome and small surfaces like the caps, but even 0000 steel wool will leave minor scratches on the surface of chrome, much like cob webbing in paint. You may not see it, but in certain lighting it will show up.