Replating pot metal

[Deleted User]

As I get my "got to do"list in order, I've got some questions about the trim on my 51 Commodore. My pot metal is in lousy shape. Hood ornament, fender spears, headlight bezels, parking lights, in fact, everything except door handles are pretty badly pitted. My question(s): should I have my stuff redone or find better used stuff? I'm not looking for show quality, just fairly nice looking trim for a driver. Next, If redoing my stuff, what is a best guess as far as cost? Is there anything I can do to get ready for a replate that will temper the expense? Any and all estimates/opinions are appreciated. Once I have a ballpark figure, I can plan how to get the job done and search for a reasonable source. Thanks for any input.



Joe

Unknown

Hey Joe, Whaddaya Know,



You'll be happier in the end if you find better cores to have replated. Reason being, the best shops will just about charge for every pit they have to drill and fill. Lesser shops will knock down the pits and replate. Then, instead of convex pits, they'll be concave. Another solution would be to inquire of people in the club who may have good original pieces. Although there's always ebay, buying sight unseen can be risky. Just to give you some idea of what you might expect to pay, I had a key cover and rear center bumper done at for $40.00 and $350.00, respectively. Bottom line, you get what you pay for. Make sure your plater uses copper, nickle and chrome. I've seen some shops skip the copper. The end result was plating failure in a few years.

mars55

One way to reduce the cost is do the pit repair yourself. Here is a thread on that subject.



http://www.classiccar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3635&highlight=pot+metal

EssexAdv

Call Stu Coleman. He has a good supply of western pot metal, It is all very nice wiht few if any pits. The better the core the better the finished job.... pits cost MONEY!!!

Unknown

All of the stuff for your car is out there. It is readily available, either NOS, rechromed, nice early takeoff, etc.... I would hunt out NOS, or nice early takeoff, before rechromed, but that's my opinion...



you will find a hundred commodore 8 side emblems, you should be able to buy a pair for $20-30 NOS, and nice.



Too bad you don't have a super 8, there are more of those side emblems around, than there are cars.



Probably the most difficult item may be the taillight bezels, they are popular, and turn up, but finding a reasonable set, reasonable priced, can be difficult.



Porkchops for the side are kinda hard to find, but I was lucky enough to get a pair NOS in the wrappers for about $100 at a national meet.



Oh.. the trunk spear (same for 50-51) are not real easy to find nice. Trunk handle might be sorta tough....



Door handles are out there, I got a set and a half for mine, NOS, with the sticky coating they put on them, and tags, I think I paid $15 per handle for the set. I got an extra pair of rear handles, that I paid $10 each for, NOS



grille bars, hood ornament, headlight rims, are all available from dealers in the WTN. Actually, I might even have a real nice core (almost useable as-is for a driver..) for my 50 that I would part with. Should be the same as 51 commodore... Let me know!



I got a set of headlight rims, rechromed, from Robbie Williams, way back in 04, at Pittsburg, I think I paid $120. They are real nice, but not completely perfect, but will be good enough for my car someday.



Parking light bezels in the front are 51 only, I think, but even they seem to be locateable.



Bumpers are shared for several years, with minor differences, be careful, rear bumper center should be 50-53, deluxe car (not pacemaker) ends are all the same (I think) guards are different per model, but yours should eb the same as commodore. Yoiu can find all of this stuff at a hudson meet, reasonable.



If you have not done so already, join the HET, it will offer you a valuable resource of parts.



Also, seeing you're from Tennessee, why don't you hit the swap meet at the eastern regional, coming up on the 13th of May? I guarantee, if it does not rain, you will find at least a few of the items you are looking for.



If you get there, and see a real tall kid walking around with a camera or two, come up and say hi to hudsonkid!



Good Luck!



Rick