WAJ
member
Reged: Jul 09 2006
Loc: Utah
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All of the DODGE and CORONET lettering on my 67 Coronet needs to be restored/rechromed. Any good vendors out there in Mopar Land that restores Pot Metal? Thanks!
p.s. I'd also consider repops but I can't find them anywhere.
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RP's R/T's
enthusiast
Reged: Jul 15 2005
Loc: SE Wisconsin, USA
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Based on the parts I've had done, and I've seen others have done, rechroming pot metal parts yields a part that is only OK at best. The material is soft and usually pitted. Stripping off the old plating, polishing and replating softens most (if not all) of the crisp edges.
Especially on letters (I doubt anyone would even sign-up for that) that are so small.
Iverson states he can do this, but I wouldn't trust him with anything of mine.
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hemi68charger
the not-so-famous HemiCharger
Reged: Aug 27 2003
Loc: Houston, Tx
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These guys did the original door handles, vinyl-top checkmark moulding and rear taillamp panel trim for my '68 Charger R/T. The outcome was great and on original parts. I posed the question about repair and replating of pewter/potmetal components. They said they could do it. They specialize in a lot of older classics that had heavy chrome accents...
http://www.superiorchrome.com/
Hope this helps....
Troy
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Troy
Houston Mopar Connection Club
'69 Charger Daytona 440 - auto
'69 Charger 500 440 - auto
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mopar rookie
Toast
Reged: Feb 20 2008
Loc: central ohio
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I had Customchrome Plating in Grafton Oh do mine. I just picked them up today. They look good.
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68Cbarge
Dropping anchor in a port near you!!
Reged: Jan 14 2006
Loc: Canuckville
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All the potmetal on my 68 Newport is junk.
There is nobody around here (in Canada) that can do potmetal.Depending on its condition,it may dissolve in the tank!!
I got my hood lettering used from a California car and is not pitted.
Also a good friend in Arizona shipped me some really nice trim from a car he parted out.(Thanks Chris!  )
I have located on E-bay the rest of the trim I needed in new old stock.
It is not easy tracking down NOS parts for a one year only and one model only part.
Especially when it is a C body.
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'68 Newport Custom Barge on a Budget project
1987 Dippy daily grinder
2006 300C Brilliant Black HEMI!
Barge on a Budget!! http://moparfins.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66
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72N96RR
Kingpin
Reged: Jul 20 2005
Loc: SHELBY TWP,,MICHIGAN
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Fini Finish in Warren Michigan does a nice job but you better have deep pockets...Pot metal sucks to restore..
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1972 Road Runner N96 4 SPEED V21/V25 AND NOW A 72 GTX 440 4 Speed Dana Car....All B5...
Note to self.....Must keep from robbing restored parts from the RR to put on the GTX..
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340SIX
Buzz Killington
Reged: Jan 19 2003
Loc: Mardi Gras-Land
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Quote:
Based on the parts I've had done, and I've seen others have done, rechroming pot metal parts yields a part that is only OK at best. The material is soft and usually pitted. Stripping off the old plating, polishing and replating softens most (if not all) of the crisp edges.
Especially on letters (I doubt anyone would even sign-up for that) that are so small.
Iverson states he can do this, but I wouldn't trust him with anything of mine.
What happens is:
The chrome is striped, then copper is plated onto the part, then the copper is sanded shaped and if needed it is done muti times.
After done a differant copper is plated on it followed by nickel and the chrome is done like clear over the nickel{triple plated}
A good shop{and high dollar} like Pauls will take the time and the part will be done right, and not look differant than it should. retain all the lines and shape. Someone who realy knows his job and is skilled must do it for a good job.
This is a long process even if done wrong and cost 
The place in Tenn. does nice work as well "Advance"
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VP of the MPM in New Orleans
73 Dart Sport 340/ 70 challenger vert. that will never get built
Edited by 340SIX (Sat Nov 21 2009 12:04 PM)
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Neil
Taternator
Reged: Jan 19 2003
Loc: Eagle, Idaho
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Advanced Plating and Powdercoating in Nashville does pot metal work, but they are super expensive. The work is top notch though.
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75RoadRunner
enthusiast
Reged: Jun 16 2006
Loc: Southern Indiana
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Quote:
Advanced Plating and Powdercoating in Nashville does pot metal work, but they are super expensive. The work is top notch though.
Advanced Plating does do pot metal work, they are super expensive, but they are no way top notch. I am going to try Paul's the next time around.
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GOLDENCOMMANDO
%$#@!
Reged: Sep 11 2006
Loc: South Dakota
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http://iversonautomotive.com
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CraigRTSE
Heres To You Mr. Moparts Jingle Writer
Reged: Jun 30 2004
Loc: ation
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Quote:
http://iversonautomotive.com
He polished all my trim and restored my pot metal tail light bezels. Did great work.
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440-4, 4spd, 3.54 Dana, 1 of 142
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qACNIBfhe0E
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ScottSmith_Harms
Doc Bug
Reged: Jan 20 2003
Loc: Spokane Washington
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I've seen Iversons work as well as the other highly reccomended vendors here, any one of them is capable of fantastic work, however I've also seen examples of parts done by all of them that I wouldn't use simply because the parts in question fell below what I'd consider acceptable for an OE level car.
No matter who you use or what you pay, the results are likely to vary even from the same vendor as no two used parts are the same. Sometimes the parts condition simply leaves too little to work with in getting exacting results when compared to mint NOS. It's not always the vendors fault, some of the final expected results are simply beyond any vendors capability in trying to perfect a repair due to the parts intricate shape or extremely poor condition.
Pot Metal restoration is expensive because it's very tedious, and usually very time consuming work. It demands a HUGE attention to detail because even the smallest flaws or differences can easily show.
At any rate, plan on spending some big dollars, don't plan on perfection because you'll likey get let down at least a little, and if it were me, I'd get the best quality used examples to start with and I'd entrust my parts with Iverson.
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65PaceCar
super gas
Reged: Dec 23 2003
Loc: KY
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Iverson does incredible work, he has restored several rare parts for me and they come back perfect in most cases, even some really rough stuff that I had came back nearly perfect and would pass any Concourse judging. Pretty expensive, but worth it.
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Iverson
member
Reged: Jan 25 2010
Loc: Minneapolis, Minnesota
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Pot metal is very difficult and in most cases expensive to restore. There are a few people who know how to do it and many who do not. Not all pot metal can be restored and some pot metal that can be restored can't be brought back to 100%. Find someone who will drill out the pits and fill them with silver solder before plating. Many companies will try to grind out the pits and this is how you lose all of the detail, round off the edges and get trim back that is all wavey. One's own expectations may not be realistic when it comes to pot metal restoration. It is not like restoring bumpers or chrome steel, it is very labor intensive and if a part is a 1 ot 2 on the 10 scale it probably will never make it past a 6 after restoration. Start with the best pieces you can and if your trim is really bad and you can't fine better pieces then you have to be realistic about the outcome.
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Sixpak
master
Reged: Jan 20 2003
Loc: The Swamp
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I've had work done by two firms who, at best, cut corners by trying to do some of the fill in detail work by excessive copper plating, thereby softening the edges and corners. One couldn't get the chemistry right in the tank, and had decent plating ruined by off-gassing and bubbling lifted the plating. They ended up eating up a 69 GTX trunk bezel and never compensating me for it. So stay away from Nu Chrome in Fall River, Mass.
Good Pot Metal work is a lot like doing quality body work. The earlier line about drilling and filling is right on. The tough part is keeping the sharp edges - they get lost in the repeated buffing and replating of the copper coat.
If you can find NOS - PAY FOR IT. Otherwise, find the absolute best cores you can get. And then when choosing a plater, send them one or two pieces and test them out - don't give them your best or rarest pieces first.
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