Who needs chrome? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 02:07 AM

With my old chrome headlight bezels faded and pitted, I needed a new look. While I didn't wanna dish out the money for a set of NOS chrome bezels, which go pretty expensive sometimes, and despising cheap plastic chrome, I decided to paint mine.

Since chrome can often be an unsavory surface to paint, and make it stick longterm, I etched it with POR-15 Metal Ready first to give it a good surface to adhere to.

After I did the bezels themselves, I noticed a problem. The chrome strips above and below the grille. They looked out of place, top and bottom in horizontal fashion. I also noticed the faded paint behind the bezels and the crappy rusting headlight rings were highlighted by the freshly painted black bezels. Well, that just wouldn't work for me, so I etched the chrome pieces and painted them too. Also the chrome headlight rings, and painted the fading area behind the bezels. Looks much better now.

guardianfyre · 08-10-2007, 02:26 AM

Looks alot better than my truck's front end. But then, my fiance didn't run your truck into a deer.

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 03:26 AM

You know, I'm particularly interested in how my front end would hold up if I hit a deer. What did it damage? How fast was she going? Sorry to hear, though.

guardianfyre · 08-10-2007, 03:38 AM

He was going about 65 mph around a sweeping blind curve on a back road and slammed into it's side as it was crossing the road. Direct hit to the center of my bumper with a full grown white tail doe. I'll have to post a pic later, I don't have any right now, but the damage is surprisingly little for how hard it hit. I'll need to replace the grill, the bumper, and the chrome part of the headlight setup. My radiator has not a mark on it. The hood, while rusty, is still in one piece. The engine and everything else still works great. The headlights are still aligned properly and so is my steering. Does that cover everything?

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 06:11 AM

Yes it does, thanks. Sorry about the mix-up, too. Heh.

Ivan D. · 08-10-2007, 12:20 PM

And that would be why you run something like those:

The truck one is kinda low, but it's a trailer hitch after all, however notice my car's front end in the background, lol

Ivan D. · 08-10-2007, 12:21 PM

D-Day, what's that massive black thing in the middle of yer bumper - a snowplow mounting plate, or a winch? Truck looks awesome by the way

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 01:29 PM

That'd be a Mile Marker 10,500lb hydraulic winch, mounted with Hummer mounting plate. Didn't have the money for a custom winch bumper (expensive and hard to find for my year), so I picked up some heavy stock steel and had a guy I know weld it directly to the frame.

After it was done, right after Katrina hit in August '05:

POR-15'd:

Finished (before plate was properly mounted):

My truck has changed appearance a little in the past couple years.

Rc 415 · 08-10-2007, 01:32 PM

I need chrome...

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 01:34 PM

Which reminds me, I have some pics of my winch in action assisting in cutting down part of a large downed tree at a relative's.

My truck was basically pulling the cable around the cut log to try and lift/roll it over the crushed building. My truck weighs three tons, but that tree was giving Albatross a good game of tug of war.

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rc 415

I need chrome...

Clean chrome is good, faded and pitted chrome like mine is crappy.

Rc 415 · 08-10-2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Day

Clean chrome is good, faded and pitted chrome like mine is crappy.

I agree, I had the same problem with some of my front moldings, tried painting it, but it didn't really do it for me.

Prerunner1982 · 08-10-2007, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Day

How fast was she going? Sorry to hear, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by guardianfyre

He was going about 65 mph around

I dont know why but I find this really funny.. D-day supprised you didnt get a

for assuming it was a girl that wrecked the truck.

Prerunner1982 · 08-10-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Day

Which reminds me, I have some pics of my winch in action assisting in cutting down part of a large downed tree at a relative's.

My truck was basically pulling the cable around the cut log to try and lift/roll it over the crushed building. My truck weighs three tons, but that tree was giving Albatross a good game of tug of war.

WOOOH... dude please get the correct equipment, that is hard on a winch cable

The painted front end looks good though.

D-Day · 08-10-2007, 09:28 PM

Yeah, didn't have the proper equipment on hand. I know it's not good for steel cable. I'd like to switch to synthetic rope.

Ivan D. · 08-11-2007, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Day

That'd be a Mile Marker 10,500lb hydraulic winch, mounted with Hummer mounting plate. Didn't have the money for a custom winch bumper (expensive and hard to find for my year), so I picked up some heavy stock steel and had a guy I know weld it directly to the frame.

It's a nice setup, I may wanna do something like that when I get my hands one a good winch. But I got a question, does hydraulic winch require a pump mounted to the engine?

D-Day · 08-11-2007, 01:42 AM

Actually, it runs off your power steering pump. All you need are the adapter fittings from Mile Marker (and the hoses that come with the winch), and that's it. I had the Hummer ones, so my project was delayed until I ordered them. The hoses connect to the power steering pump, and run that way. After it's hooked up, your power steering fluid will now circulate through the winch hoses and back to the pump (even if the winch isn't being used), instead of directly before the winch was installed.

The benefit of hydraulic winches is that they are unstoppable as long as you have gas to run your engine. They can run full load without problems for as long as you need it. Electrics can burn up, stress your battery to the breaking point, and also need breaks in between serious pulling; lest you burn the motor up.

The only, and I mean only advantage to an electric winch is if your truck is in water and can't run to power the steering pump - but, even then, if you're that much under water, it's likely the water can damage the electric winch (whereas it can't the hydraulic), and if your truck can't run, your battery will be dead by the time you get done pulling - IF you can get it out of water, and if the winch doesn't burn up or kill the battery in the process.

A hydraulic winch might require a little more to rig up, but it's far superior to electric winches. I'm surprised more people don't use them.

Ivan D. · 08-11-2007, 02:37 AM

Hm, cool stuff then, that'd be the type of winch I look for. But how well will it work with my hydroboost, or it don't care about it?

D-Day · 08-11-2007, 04:14 AM

What's it do? Does it interfere or connect to the power steering pump in any way?

Mr79C10 · 08-11-2007, 07:23 AM

Ivan D. · 08-11-2007, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Day

What's it do? Does it interfere or connect to the power steering pump in any way?

You have a vacuum brake booster I take it? Hydroboost is this:

If you look at the gydraulinc lines you'll notice one fattie coming from the power steering and going to the hydroboost, and another fattie coming down from the hydroboost to the steering box, then there's also the hydroboost return line and the steering box return line that T-ee together and then go back to the pump. Really the pressure from the pump goes first through the hydroboost and then through the steering vs. directly to the steering like the stock setup, so I think it's something similar to what the hydraulic winch does. I'm very pleased with the system, much more powerful and responsive than any vacuum-assist I've ever driven.

D-Day · 08-11-2007, 02:47 PM

Hmm, interesting. I'm not sure how that would work...you might just be able to run them both through the pump, since you won't be using the brakes at the same time as the winch, usually. Might wanna ask Mile Marker first, though.

08-10-2007, 02:07 AM	#1
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Who needs chrome? With my old chrome headlight bezels faded and pitted, I needed a new look. While I didn't wanna dish out the money for a set of NOS chrome bezels, which go pretty expensive sometimes, and despising cheap plastic chrome, I decided to paint mine. Since chrome can often be an unsavory surface to paint, and make it stick longterm, I etched it with POR-15 Metal Ready first to give it a good surface to adhere to. After I did the bezels themselves, I noticed a problem. The chrome strips above and below the grille. They looked out of place, top and bottom in horizontal fashion. I also noticed the faded paint behind the bezels and the crappy rusting headlight rings were highlighted by the freshly painted black bezels. Well, that just wouldn't work for me, so I etched the chrome pieces and painted them too. Also the chrome headlight rings, and painted the fading area behind the bezels. Looks much better now. Last edited by D-Day; 08-10-2007 at 02:09 AM.

08-10-2007, 02:26 AM	#2
guardianfyre Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cedar Hill, MO Posts: 8	Re: Who needs chrome? Looks alot better than my truck's front end. But then, my fiance didn't run your truck into a deer. __________________ '79 Chevy 1/2 ton currently: trying to trace an oil leak

08-10-2007, 03:26 AM	#3
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? You know, I'm particularly interested in how my front end would hold up if I hit a deer. What did it damage? How fast was she going? Sorry to hear, though.

08-10-2007, 03:38 AM	#4
guardianfyre Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cedar Hill, MO Posts: 8	Re: Who needs chrome? He was going about 65 mph around a sweeping blind curve on a back road and slammed into it's side as it was crossing the road. Direct hit to the center of my bumper with a full grown white tail doe. I'll have to post a pic later, I don't have any right now, but the damage is surprisingly little for how hard it hit. I'll need to replace the grill, the bumper, and the chrome part of the headlight setup. My radiator has not a mark on it. The hood, while rusty, is still in one piece. The engine and everything else still works great. The headlights are still aligned properly and so is my steering. Does that cover everything? __________________ '79 Chevy 1/2 ton currently: trying to trace an oil leak

08-10-2007, 06:11 AM	#5
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? Yes it does, thanks. Sorry about the mix-up, too. Heh.

08-10-2007, 12:20 PM	#6
Ivan D. glamoros piece o' lowlife Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Redford, MI Posts: 1,164	Re: Who needs chrome? And that would be why you run something like those: The truck one is kinda low, but it's a trailer hitch after all, however notice my car's front end in the background, lol __________________ The more I drink, the more I drink, the more I drink... diesel, reg cab, long bed, 4 across the rear, single stack, wooden stakes, and lotsa lights - the Hay Express

08-10-2007, 12:21 PM	#7
Ivan D. glamoros piece o' lowlife Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Redford, MI Posts: 1,164	Re: Who needs chrome? D-Day, what's that massive black thing in the middle of yer bumper - a snowplow mounting plate, or a winch? Truck looks awesome by the way __________________ The more I drink, the more I drink, the more I drink... diesel, reg cab, long bed, 4 across the rear, single stack, wooden stakes, and lotsa lights - the Hay Express Last edited by Ivan D.; 08-10-2007 at 12:22 PM.

08-10-2007, 01:29 PM	#8
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? That'd be a Mile Marker 10,500lb hydraulic winch, mounted with Hummer mounting plate. Didn't have the money for a custom winch bumper (expensive and hard to find for my year), so I picked up some heavy stock steel and had a guy I know weld it directly to the frame. After it was done, right after Katrina hit in August '05: POR-15'd: Finished (before plate was properly mounted): My truck has changed appearance a little in the past couple years. Last edited by D-Day; 08-10-2007 at 01:31 PM.

08-10-2007, 01:32 PM	#9
Rc 415 Flat Black, & Chrome! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 852	Re: Who needs chrome? I need chrome... __________________ 1983 Chevy C10 Stepside Sold http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/rc_415/

08-10-2007, 01:34 PM	#10
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? Which reminds me, I have some pics of my winch in action assisting in cutting down part of a large downed tree at a relative's. My truck was basically pulling the cable around the cut log to try and lift/roll it over the crushed building. My truck weighs three tons, but that tree was giving Albatross a good game of tug of war. Last edited by D-Day; 08-10-2007 at 01:35 PM.

08-10-2007, 09:28 PM	#15
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? Yeah, didn't have the proper equipment on hand. I know it's not good for steel cable. I'd like to switch to synthetic rope.

08-11-2007, 01:42 AM	#17
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? Actually, it runs off your power steering pump. All you need are the adapter fittings from Mile Marker (and the hoses that come with the winch), and that's it. I had the Hummer ones, so my project was delayed until I ordered them. The hoses connect to the power steering pump, and run that way. After it's hooked up, your power steering fluid will now circulate through the winch hoses and back to the pump (even if the winch isn't being used), instead of directly before the winch was installed. The benefit of hydraulic winches is that they are unstoppable as long as you have gas to run your engine. They can run full load without problems for as long as you need it. Electrics can burn up, stress your battery to the breaking point, and also need breaks in between serious pulling; lest you burn the motor up. The only, and I mean only advantage to an electric winch is if your truck is in water and can't run to power the steering pump - but, even then, if you're that much under water, it's likely the water can damage the electric winch (whereas it can't the hydraulic), and if your truck can't run, your battery will be dead by the time you get done pulling - IF you can get it out of water, and if the winch doesn't burn up or kill the battery in the process. A hydraulic winch might require a little more to rig up, but it's far superior to electric winches. I'm surprised more people don't use them. Last edited by D-Day; 08-11-2007 at 01:43 AM.

08-11-2007, 02:37 AM	#18
Ivan D. glamoros piece o' lowlife Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Redford, MI Posts: 1,164	Re: Who needs chrome? Hm, cool stuff then, that'd be the type of winch I look for. But how well will it work with my hydroboost, or it don't care about it? __________________ The more I drink, the more I drink, the more I drink... diesel, reg cab, long bed, 4 across the rear, single stack, wooden stakes, and lotsa lights - the Hay Express

08-11-2007, 04:14 AM	#19
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? What's it do? Does it interfere or connect to the power steering pump in any way? Last edited by D-Day; 08-11-2007 at 04:14 AM.

08-11-2007, 07:23 AM	#20
Mr79C10 It Is What It Is,,,, Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Gun Shine StateFlorida* Posts: 1,765	Re: Who needs chrome? __________________ 79 C10 Short Box ST8 6 bang'r Lowered w/ 3" Control arms, 2" Lower Coils and 4" shackles and hangers W/ FLIP KIT __--__* 79 C-10 project* .........................__ ..............._____ l __\___ ..............\|_(O)_ \|___(O) ] FAQ INDEX Thread The Kulture My Rat Den



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08-11-2007, 02:47 PM	#22
D-Day Live fast, die young Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 293	Re: Who needs chrome? Hmm, interesting. I'm not sure how that would work...you might just be able to run them both through the pump, since you won't be using the brakes at the same time as the winch, usually. Might wanna ask Mile Marker first, though.

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