TeriAnn: I appreciate the feedback, but let me give you an example of where
a chrome substitute would be a reasonable alternative.
I currently have three small-mouth TR3s. All have grilles which would not
be suitable for a high-quality restoration. I recently took one to two
chrome shops and both said the grilles did not lend themselves to
rechroming. Don't ask me why, but it was something to do with all the
surfaces and angles making it difficult to strip and then re-chrome.
A new grille costs around $250 from the usual sources but the fit is
terrible. Given the difficulty of altering the grille without damaging the
chrome, one then has to reconfigure the nosepiece (something I'd hate to do
to a well-preserved front clip). If there was something I could do to
restore these old grilles, I'd definitely go for it - and the responses to
my question have contained many good suggestions.
Andrew
-----Original Message-----
From: Triumphs [mailto:triumphs-bounces@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of TeriAnn
J. Wakeman
Sent: Thursday, September 01, 2016 9:50 AM
To: Triumph List
Subject: Re: [TR] chrome paint
Chrome paint???? How could you guys be seriously discussing painting the
chrome bits of a half century old (give or take) Triumph? It is something I
would imagine a kid might do with a rusty old car that had one foot in the
wrecking yard and the other almost there. That is so tacky. A race to the
bottom of the resale value.
When I was living on the coast rust spots would appear on brand new Moss
chrome bumpers within a couple months of new. I finally solved the problem
with stainless steel bumper & bumperettes. I got mine off ebay from a guy
that was retailing them there. They were a product of Mexico with a very
high quality finish on a stainless alloy that looks identical to chrome.
About 10 years later they still look like new and even close up they look
like chrome. 20 years ago when I rebuilt my TR I removed all the smaller
chrome bits and took them to a local Harley Davidson shop that specialized
in creating custom Harleys. I figured they would have the highest quality
chrome work done and were plugged into the best chrome shop they could find.
The parts came back perfect and have never picked up a spot of rust.
Paint the chrome bits? geesh
TeriAnn
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