rechrome or not to rechrome

[incoma]

Just curious folks. Of those of you that have restored your trucks, did you have your parts rechromed, or did you buy new?

As some of you may know I'm working on a 70 GMC which has HUGE chrome parts (notably the grill). I brought all of my stuff down to the local plater (who my employer uses daily) and got a price for the following parts:

main grill
top grill bar
both grill "eyebrows"
headlight bezels
steering wheel
inside door chrome trim

He wouldn't touch any of the Sierra Grande emblems or the door vent windows because they were pot metal. He's seen pot metal fall apart in the stripping process and he didn't want to screw something up... Anyway he wanted $600 for the lot. Now, my issue is that my stuff is in really good shape with the exception of some small rust issues in the bottom of the grill. This stuff will most likely leave some light, and I do mean light blemishes under the chrome.

Because it's in such good shape, I think I could sell most of this stuff for $150-200 on here or ebay (based on recent sales). Should I go buy new stuff for say...$900 and sell this stuff, or just get it rechromed? I've never had anything rechromed and I'm scared it won't last the years a new part would, albeit this is a fairly high quality shop who isn't going to piss off a manager at their biggest customer (particularly when we're in a contract negotiation).

As a matter of reference, I asked if we didn't chrome plate the grill, what would the cost be and he said $300 for everything but the grill. Thoughts? I really want someone elses opinion of the best solution. Thanks in advance.

[Randy70C-10]

$300 is cheap but you usually get what you pay for. To get a grill chromed, top-quality chome would be almost $1000. I always buy new parts.

[SuperCheyanne72]

hey, even though its expensive Im about buying new!

[72MARIO]

I like N.O.S only. It fit's every time. No screwing around. I would pay and have the old stuff rechromed.

[68gmcdually]

I bought a re-chromed grille from Bumper Boyz, high quality job by the looks of it and new headlight bezels and eyebrows. I got a few interior pieces rechromed locally and they are slated for delivery next week. I think that alot of the rechroming places do a better job than the chrome job on a reproduction part.

[krue]

My buddy owns a chrome shop and I have seen his work, it looks like new. But he tells me that if you can buy it new, it's gonna be cheaper than having it re-chromed. As far as the rust goes, the chromer should strip it and buff any imperfections out, so that when he gets through with it it should look like new. They spend a lot of time buffing and polishing before it ever hits a vat.

[krue]

BTW a bumper (which is probably comparable to a GMC grill) at the chrome shop in Mobile is $300 with a lifetime warranty on the chrome. So your guys proces aren't out of line.

[69moneypit]

What place gave you the estimates . The places I checked with were higher that that for the grille in my 69 GMC . I bought new bumpers and mirrors but I would prefer to have my own grille rechromed.

[74KDD]

I just did a lot of work on my 1970 GMC last year. Replacing all the chrome was part of the work completed.

I initially would have preferred to have all my original parts rechromed, but unfortunately, my parts were not in real good shape. My front grill was rusted and pitted very bad, and my painted bumpers had several dings & bangs in them. I too checked on the price of rechroming, and was surprised to find out that I could purchase new parts cheaper than to rechrome my original parts.

However, I noticed that my original bumpers were about twice as heavy as those after-market chrome bumpers that I purchased. The after-market front grill & headlight bezels did not really fit correctly. I did choose to go with all new after-market parts -- when all is said & done, they look fantastic -- and I got everything cheaper than rechroming my originals.

I am happy with what I have. But my suggestion would be to keep those original parts (since they are in good shape) -- like 72MARIO states, the original parts fit every time -- and you'll have quality parts.

74kdd

[incoma]

69moneypit - Jackson Plating - 601-362-4623. They're only open 8-4:30 M-F.

I did a bit more research last night after starting this thread. Most places plate with copper / nickel / chromium. This place quoted me bronze / nickel / chromium. The quality guy thinks that the bronze will protect the base material better than the copper, and he said the bronze will be a bit thicker.

I decided to have everything rechromed. It saves me the hassle of selling my stuff, and as 72Mario and 74KDD said, the original stuff will fit back on the truck pretty well. Besides, I'm saving about $300 having it rechromed than buying new.

Thanks for all the input!