Lead castings?

RL Chilton

I just recently have been told that some of the outside trim parts made by Hudson for stepdowns are sometimes:



1) Pot Metal (usually)

2) Lead or a lead alloy



This is surprising, as all the cast parts I have are of the pot metal variety. I've probably laid my eyes on lead ones and not realized what they were.

It is my understanding that the lead castings will hold the chrome plating for 15 years or so under good conditions before it begins to flake off. But, a plus for the lead is that it never pits, unlike the pot metal counterparts (which contain a lack of Zinc), which pit like crazy after a few decades, if left to the elements.



Anyone come across this and care to comment on the pros and cons of lead castings? Is it worth seeking out the lead castings? Or maybe they were year-specific due to the Korean conflict?



Enlighten me, as I've yet to read anything about this, interesting, but yet-another-Hudson-idiosyncracy.

ski4life65

I have a pair of 51 hood ornaments (one lead, one pot metal). The lead one is original, and looks nearly as good as the re-chromed pot metal piece, except the chrome is starting to peel at one of the edges. If you are leaving your car exposed to the elements, than I guess the lead would be better, but I don't think you are leaving your Hudson outside are you?

I also think the lead piece would be much cheaper to get plated, since their are no pits to fill.



Don

Huddy42

I have for 1946-7 Hudson two sets of headlamp doors ( I think you guys call them)

One set is pot metal the other set lead, they have lead stamped on the inside of the rim and are much heavier.