69 Charger Tail light Chrome surround restoration prices

[Jake]

Got a quote of $500 bucks to restore the chrome 69 Charger tail light surrounds. It is pot metal with some pitting, not much. How does this price fair with what others have found? I have had the same shop do all of my stainless restoration over the years but never pot metal work. Thoughts on pricing?

Thanks in advance.

[richRTSE]

I had mine done 10 yrs ago and don't remember what I paid. I think with pot metal pieces, the more pitted they are, the  more labor involved before they can rechrome them. I don't know how well they fit, but B/E&A sell new ones for $375/set...

[twodko]

Hi Jake,

I looked into having set of taillight trim rings rechromed too and was floored! $400-500 easy. I have 2 or 3 sets and the best pair with minimal pitting (good driver quality) would have cost me $275 EACH! As much as I wanted to stay with the OEM trim I bought a pair from BE&A. They fit well just not as perfect as OEM ones. If you need some driver quality trim rings or entire tail light assemblies PM me. Good luck.

[lexxman]

Something to think about,do you have more stuff to re do?Generally there is a flat rate or min charge with that kind of stuff.So if you give them more parts it might bring the price down.

[Skull-1]

I got a set from a guy in El Paso I think.  Repro.  They were gorgeous.  I am having a brain cramp on the name of the guy but I will post when I remember.  Hopefully someone beats me to it.


Gunslinger, maybe???

[bill440rt]

There's only one company repopping them, and that's B/EA. PG might also carry them as well as Gunslinger, but they are selling B/EA's product.

I too got a quote to have a nice original set rechromed. No pitting at all, just some pepper spots. Price was right around $500 - $600 thru Paul's Chrome. Other companies wanted similar money. I already had a so-so set destroyed by a local "bargain" chromer, so I wasn't about to go down that road again.
The problem is that the bezels are so fragile that they can't use a machine for the necessary pit removal & polishing in between plating steps. Everything must be done by hand to avoid breakage. So, you pay for that in labor costs.

In the end, I got a good price on a set of repros. The chrome isn't all out show chrome, but it is on par what you would find on a NOS or original part. Very correct looking bezels, nice for the money.

[grizparker]

Noticed on a gunslingers website today that their bezels were much less expensive than everyone else...$160 + ship for pair.  I've got an email into them with more questions about them...
It would be nice to see parts coming down for a change.

[Silver R/T]

Noticed on a gunslingers website today that their bezels were much less expensive than everyone else...$160 + ship for pair.  I've got an email into them with more questions about them...
It would be nice to see parts coming down for a change.

What is their website address?

[grizparker]

http://www.gunslingershifters.com/69chargertaillightchromesurround.htm

Now I understand that these "tail light chrome surrounds" may not be the bezels, but rather the other chrome that goes around the rear tail panel.  I'd like to be sure though...

[elacruze]

I spent some time discussing the particular problems with pot metal with a chromer in Romulus, Michigan that specialized in 'unobtainium parts' restorations. Their prices were astounding, but the skill and care demanded not to ruin potmetal parts is high, and if there are any imperfections they have to fill them with braze or some special stuff before finishing which is another rare high-priced skill in addition.

[sanders7981]

Is there any reason that someone hasn't reproduced a non-potmetal versio of these?  Wouldn't it be cheaper just to have it stamped out in stainless trim?  I know this is not what the "Concours" resto guys would want to hear or even see, but for those of us that don't want to drop 300 - 500 bucks on a trim piece would be all over it if they could get the price under a $100. 

[grizparker]

http://www.gunslingershifters.com/69chargertaillightchromesurround.htm

Now I understand that these "tail light chrome surrounds" may not be the bezels, but rather the other chrome that goes around the rear tail panel.  I'd like to be sure though...

Confirmed.  I just got an email from Jason "Gunslinger Dude" and he sent a picture of the part...which he has named "tail panel extensions" on the picture.

[twodko]

Well hell! That's a very good price compared to the $275 I paid BEA.

[bill440rt]

Is there any reason that someone hasn't reproduced a non-potmetal versio of these?  Wouldn't it be cheaper just to have it stamped out in stainless trim?  I know this is not what the "Concours" resto guys would want to hear or even see, but for those of us that don't want to drop 300 - 500 bucks on a trim piece would be all over it if they could get the price under a $100. 

I "think" someone not too long ago was reproducing them in chromed plastic. Haven't seen them in a long time, I think they fell off the map.
The repros are still expensive, but still a lower cost alternative than the average cost of rechroming them.

Also, be careful with those repro "L" tail panel moldings. I went back & forth with about 5-6 sets before I finally got a set that actually matched the contour of the tail panel. Had to send the seller tracings of my originals for him to match them up. I think their actually being repro'd by Supercar Collectibles. He was GREAT to deal with, very patient & worked well with me to make sure I got a good set. He had a bad batch for a while.

[Ghoste]

I spent some time discussing the particular problems with pot metal with a chromer in Romulus, Michigan that specialized in 'unobtainium parts' restorations. Their prices were astounding, but the skill and care demanded not to ruin potmetal parts is high, and if there are any imperfections they have to fill them with braze or some special stuff before finishing which is another rare high-priced skill in addition.

Absolutely true and difficult to find a place that can offer those skills.  There are some places that claim to but in reality they just know what the skill sets are, not how to appply them.

[Cooter]

I used to be the guy complaining about the price of repro parts...I was right there with you guys complaining here. in fact, I used to be THE GUY complaining THE LOUDEST....




Until......One repro vendor challenged me to repro the same exact part for less....This was an exhaust manifold...We have been working on this thing for over 2 years, and STILL HAVEN'T gotten them ready to sell...

The price for EVERYTHING, including the CNC machining of mold maker, molds(Which had to be a minimum run of 25), Core Boxes, Price to pour each one, Chrysler's cut (Part numbers 'ya know!), etc...?


Try $10,000.00 and we haven't even gotten them machined...Machining will be another $500.00 EACH!!

So, the next time YOU can't afford a repro part, remember, the person/persons that has tried and successfully brought that part to production has paid out the ASS for it, and HAS TO CHARGE what they need to satisfy their investors. I had NO IDEA it takes about Fifty-seven different companies just to make ONE FREAKIN' PART!

Now, I don't Nay say anymore..Lesson learned the hard way, and yes, I did apologize to that guy for not understanding...

As for Chrome plating?
Ever looked into what the wonderful EPA has charged Chromers for disposal of chemicals? Regulation tanks/equipment?? I talked with a well known chromer in PA about this and was enlightened to say the least.

[Dino]

One of the first jobs I learned restoring cars was reviving pot metal.  Sand it, acid dip it, braze fill, sand, polish.  The chroming part is easy enough but the prep is nuts.  It's a lot of tedious work to get those parets looking good again. 

Mine are starting to look 'peppered' as well but I really can't see myself spending that amount of money for something nobody can hardly see.  Eventually I may end up doing the prep myself and have the shop just chrome it but they may not go for it.  Lot of these places will only do the work start to finish and I can understand that. 

I wonder how hard it would be to duplicate the trim in stainless steel.  Bend, weld and polish.

[Dmichels]

For the vent window frames and related parts I paid $1600 They wanted $200 eack for the door handles so I bought repros Very Very epensive
Dave

[twodko]

I searched and searched for a reputable rechrome shop to refinish some tail light bezels. Found a number of top shops happy to take it on. Ultimately the $275 I gave BEA for a repop pair was a bargain.