Vent Window Restoration:

[Captain D]

Hi all,

I was curious to see if anyone has ever had their vent windows powder-coated before w/ a chrome-like finish and if so...How did they turn out, what was the cost, and any place in particular that does a good job? It may be an odd question, but seeing how re-chroming can be pricey, we were just curious to see if there are alternatives, such as powder-coating...

Thank you for any replies,
Aaron

[doctor4766]

I'd just splash out and have them rechromed.
After I'd virtually finished my car and fitted all new chromes pieces everywhere else, the original vent window frames stood out like dogs balls. Shoulda had them done while it was all apart the first time.
And for the sake of the hundred bucks for the new chroming I could have saved the hassle of the removal and refitting again.
I'm unfamiliar with chrome powder coating but if it doesn't fit in with the rest of the shiney bits you'll probably end up wishing you'd done it right in the first place.

[Patronus]

Im about to put my old ones back in. Ones ok, but the passenger side is crap. You say $100/avg. to get em re-done?
I've seen the how-to's...

[Charger-Bodie]

Im about to put my old ones back in. Ones ok, but the passenger side is crap. You say $100/avg. to get em re-done?
I've seen the how-to's...

100.00 $ is a dream!! They cost me 900 for the pair. Some places I checked wanted closer to 1500.00.

[Ghoste]

I'm  almost surprised it isn't a repro'd part yet.

[Captain D]

Thank you gents for the responses - 1HotDaytona is absolutely correct. To get originals re-chromed can run up through the $$ hundreds. I believe the average so far, at least for me locally, have been $700-$800 range.

I've been reading online that powder-coating may not be 100% like actual chrome, but its a cheaper alternative and what I've seen in my searches, the chrome-like finishing looks really good. Places that I've called around advertise that they can supposedly powder-coat just about anything for the automotive industry, etc.. But, when I call them and send them a pic of what I have here, they say that they won't touch vent windows.

So, that's why I was curious to see if anyone here has ever actually found a place that will take on the project. If anyone has any leads, I'm all ears, lol!
All the best,
Aaron

[y3chargerrt]

I spent over $900 at Pauls Chrome a few years back to get my vents rechromed.

[Patronus]

  this is my least favorite thread

[KSChrgr68]

interesting, good info, hoping most of my chrome will pass as is 

[stripedelete]

About $100 a side for me.  First rate job.

[doctor4766]

Man you guys are getting screwed over there for rechroming!!!
Seriously, I paid a hunge to have both the frames, the round hinge bits and the lower channels done.
Oh, and the job was nice to boot!

[68r/t]

Man you guys are getting screwed over there for rechroming!!!
Seriously, I paid a hunge to have both the frames, the round hinge bits and the lower channels done.
Oh, and the job was nice to boot!

Who was that by, Vincies?

[bill440rt]

I think mine ran about $200 - $250 per side.
They were pretty decent cores though. No huge pits, just a lot of peppering.

[doctor4766]

Man you guys are getting screwed over there for rechroming!!!
Seriously, I paid a hunge to have both the frames, the round hinge bits and the lower channels done.
Oh, and the job was nice to boot!

Who was that by, Vincies?

Premier plating.
Vincies are way too expensive.
You in Perth?

[Charger-Bodie]

Man you guys are getting screwed over there for rechroming!!!
Seriously, I paid a hunge to have both the frames, the round hinge bits and the lower channels done.
Oh, and the job was nice to boot!

Who was that by, Vincies?

Premier plating.
Vincies are way too expensive.
You in Perth?

Next time I need any pot metal chromed Im shipping it to you. It would still be cheaper.

[68r/t]

Man you guys are getting screwed over there for rechroming!!!
Seriously, I paid a hunge to have both the frames, the round hinge bits and the lower channels done.
Oh, and the job was nice to boot!

Who was that by, Vincies?

Premier plating.
Vincies are way too expensive.
You in Perth?

Yes I,m in Perth,  I never used Premiers I  used UltraChrome once but  Steve's arrogant attitude lost me after the first job,(rear bumper)  so Vincies got it all after that. Vincies wanted $100 each for the the vent frames.

[Captain D]

Just to double-check for clarification sake: Vincies' charges $100 per side to get re-chromed or was Premier Plating the cheapest?    Still, $200-$250 is a nice quote after the ones that I've heard from. I'm not sure if powder-coating is the way to go or not, especially with those decent prices...best to just get actual chrome done, but a place called back today about the powder-coating. They said that to powder-coat a side would be $50-$75 per side and that includes the blasting, primer, and chrome-like finish.   Its local, so I may just investigate about it tomorrow. Decisions decisions, lol.
Thanks!
Aaron

[The70RT]

The powder coating doesn't have a mirror finish from what I have seen.

[Patronus]

I had a downhill mountain bike frame powder-coated in a chrome type finish once. It came out ok, for about 2 weeks, when the clear coat started peeling off in huge chunks. They said is was tricky as they had to wait until the last minute to clear it before baking it and the two didnt always bond... interesting to see if they can do it now...

[bull]

Guess I'll be shipping my stuff to Australia when the time comes. G'day!

[68r/t]

Just to double-check for clarification sake: Vincies' charges $100 per side to get re-chromed or was Premier Plating the cheapest?    Still, $200-$250 is a nice quote after the ones that I've heard from. I'm not sure if powder-coating is the way to go or not, especially with those decent prices...best to just get actual chrome done, but a place called back today about the powder-coating. They said that to powder-coat a side would be $50-$75 per side and that includes the blasting, primer, and chrome-like finish.   Its local, so I may just investigate about it tomorrow. Decisions decisions, lol.
Thanks!
Aaron

Premiers was the cheapest as Doc got both done for $100.
I always told Vincies that I would pay extra for chroming diecast if they took a  bit more time with the polishing as they tend to get a little heavy handed on the edges,  all my diecast came out great.

[bill440rt]

Just dug up the thread I ran about vent window resto.

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,38431.0.html

Chrome work was $480 for the pair, had it done at a local chrome plater in Newark, NJ.

[Troy]

I have a set that I purchased from an unfinished project. The seller said they cost him $90 each side. I have no idea how long ago that was (I've had them for at least 6 years).

Troy

[doctor4766]

Premiers was the cheapest as Doc got both done for $100.
I always told Vincies that I would pay extra for chroming diecast if they took a  bit more time with the polishing as they tend to get a little heavy handed on the edges,  all my diecast came out great.

The secret I've found when you're getting prices for rechroming is to NOT tell them what sort of car your parts are off.
I know when I was calling around for quotes on my bumpers as soon as the words Dodge and Charger were mentioned the price seemed to double.
Was either Vinci or Ultrachrome that wanted $800 a piece for those!
Instead I just loaded my bumpers into the ute and took them up to Premiers.
Lol I just told them that they'd come off and old Valiant and I only ended up paying a couple of hundred dollars each for them.
The grille chromes were a different story though.
Being bright anodised I could only get those done at Ultrachrome and I paid a small fortune for those.

[stripedelete]

Premiers was the cheapest as Doc got both done for $100.
I always told Vincies that I would pay extra for chroming diecast if they took a  bit more time with the polishing as they tend to get a little heavy handed on the edges,  all my diecast came out great.

The secret I've found when you're getting prices for rechroming is to NOT tell them what sort of car your parts are off.
I know when I was calling around for quotes on my bumpers as soon as the words Dodge and Charger were mentioned the price seemed to double.
Was either Vinci or Ultrachrome that wanted $800 a piece for those!
Instead I just loaded my bumpers into the ute and took them up to Premiers.
Lol I just told them that they'd come off and old Valiant and I only ended up paying a couple of hundred dollars each for them.
The grille chromes were a different story though.
Being bright anodised I could only get those done at Ultrachrome and I paid a small fortune for those.

True Dat!

[Captain D]

Thanks again for the messages - What was the shipping costs to Australia? Was Premier pretty good with turn-a-round times? And, is this the Premier place that you are all referring to that re-chromes vent windows for approximately $100:

Premier Plating Company
59 John St Bentley WA 6102
PO Box 694 Bentley WA 6982
Ph: 08 9451 5688
Fax: 08 9356 1901
http://www.premierplating.com.au/
Email: ppc6@bigpond.net.au

Thanks again!
Aaron

[doctor4766]

Umm there weren't any shipping costs since I'm about 20kms from them.
Where are you located?

[Captain D]

Hi there Doc - I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States. Even though the prices at Premier certainly sound sweet, I was curious to see if anyone here from the States had theirs done at Premier with regards to the international shipping/customs and tax. Seeing how new gaskets alone run approximately $100 from what I've seen on ebay, I'm trying to calculate the restoration of the pieces, new gaskets, and the shipping fees into the equation.

Thanks again,
Aaron

[doctor4766]

I doubt due to the size of the frames it would be feasible to ship them both ways.