I ordered a set of brushed chrome convert header moldings a few years ago. They arrived with the coating all scratched up. The coating looked like nothing but paint that would not adhere to chrome. I also noticed that the box they came in was pretty beat up which I figured was from other people ordering and returning them, as I also did. I called the manufacturer and found that they don't or can't use the robust process the factory did. I still have my old ones on. Perhaps by now a good version is available by now but I doubt it.
No the repops are still crap. The paint comes off if you touch it. They really need redone before you put them on. I got a NOS header and the paint they used seems more like powder coat. Real stiff and hard.
I just spoke to R&D Finishing http://rdfinishing.net/. My uncle sends them a lot of pot metal to restore. They say they do satin and brushed finish all the time.
So do we know what type of finish was on these? Was it a satin finish?
Does some one have a good picture of the 68 finish I can see what it look liked. Did they originally look like the Convertible Sunvisor Bracket?
So your photos shows your original, never replaced ones? I wonder if 68 was the same though. I think Jim I have one original one that is painted with a paint of some type. I also have a NOS one that is painted but with a even thicker paint then the original one. It is like powder coat but don't think it is.
Jimc2002 posted this picture and it did not seem painted. It looked more like a satin finish.
Yup. Mine are the factory header panels. The "coating" or paint changed during the 67-69 years due to NTSB rules. They started using satin finishes to replace chrome due to "glare". You'll see the backside of the review mirror on mine is satin and well as more of the header area is covered with the coating. In the photos I was looking for a paint that would match b/c there are some corrosion places on the headers you cannot see in the pictures. Condensation will collect on the convertible top and corrode the center/top of the header.
They did not have powder coating in the 67-69. I believe that it was a strong epoxy mixed with the Argent Silver base that was used all over the car in those years.
ETA: If they did something else I would assume that they bead blasted those areas. But then it would seem that those areas would rust quickly due to the chrome being blasted away? The transition area on mine appear to be sprayed as it is subtle. I really have no idea? This topic has come up many times over the years and I have yet to find concrete evidence of how they did it. If anyone knows for sure please post it and provide a link.
That picture is the original brushed finish after I had removed some of my silver paint I use to hide the age. I periodically either remove the silver paint I put on it or touch it up when it gets crummy-looking. The original dulling process is very robust. Here's another look at it including the lacquer silver hiding paint. This picture was from 2003.
That picture is the original brushed finish after I had removed some of my silver paint I use to hide the age. I periodically either remove the silver paint I put on it or touch it up when it gets crummy-looking. The original dulling process is very robust. Here's another look at it including the lacquer silver hiding paint. This picture was from 2003.
When I spoke to R&D Finishing that talked like they could match it. If I was to have them re chromed, it would be worth a try I think. So the original finish looks like the review mirror bracket and the sun visor bracket with the top hold downs that was on the 68? Same Finish before they started painting them?
