Chrome and Paint Question

[ARAMP1]

I've got some old cast aluminum valve covers that I want to dress up a little. I'd like to have them chrome with the raised design on them painted. What's the best way to do this? Should I have the covers chromed and then scuff what I want to paint before painting? Or, is there a way to have only certain parts chromed?

[Tom Vogel]

I beleive that chroming and then scuffing is your only option.

[N2TRUX]

You will have to start by taking the valve covers to a quality plater and asking if they will chrome them. It depends on the quality of the cast aluminum. If it is rather porous, they will not chrome them.

If they do feel that they are dense enough to be plated, the first step in chrome plating is the caustic tank. It strips all contaminates from the surface before the plating process starts. As you can see, painting them first would not be an option.

[ARAMP1]

Thanks for the replys. That's what I figured. Okay I have another question. On one side, the's a decent size chunk that was scratched out of the valve cover. It looks like someone took a dremel tool to it. I was thinking about filling it in with something, but I guess the chrome plating won't stick to bondo. Is there anything that is aluminum based that I can fill the gouge with? (This is assuming the aluminum is good enough to be chromed in the first place).

[cdowns]

to chrome aluminium is very expensive probally around $300-$400 for a pair of valve covers. you'dd be alot cheaper if you just spent $100 or so to have them polished thats what i did on these
as for the gouges they can be tig or mig welded with aluminium filler rod

[Premium72]

chrome em first then just put em on theyll look better with out the paint. or go get you some polishing wheels and shine em up your self

[piecesparts]

Painting and then chroming will not work. You will have to do the chrome work, then sand the raised area and paint that area.