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Old 10-28-2025, 03:07 PM
Joog Joog is offline
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Default Has anyone tried powdercoated chrome?

I have a lot of pieces I want to get redone on my car, like bumpers and smaller pieces, but the price of chroming is crazy. There is a powdercoating shop near me and I have seen chrome powdercoating online before. Has anyone done this before? How does it turn out?

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Old 10-28-2025, 09:07 PM
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There is a long-time powder coating business near me. I talked with the owner about the results of the chrome coatings. He told me saw failures after 2 or 3 years of using it, so he quit offering it. He claimed it does not hold up well to UV rays like colors do.

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Old 10-29-2025, 08:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joog View Post
I have a lot of pieces I want to get redone on my car, like bumpers and smaller pieces, but the price of chroming is crazy. There is a powdercoating shop near me and I have seen chrome powdercoating online before. Has anyone done this before? How does it turn out?
Unless your going for a concours restoration, cheaper to get reproductions

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Old 10-29-2025, 10:37 AM
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Unless your going for a concours restoration, cheaper to get reproductions
going on a gasser, don't need it perfect, just something better than sand blasted bare metal. And I don't really dig the paint matched to the body idea whenever I get it painted

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Old 10-29-2025, 11:24 AM
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Would silver ceramic be an option?

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Old 10-29-2025, 12:09 PM
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If it were me, I'd talk to someone that does wraps, and see if they could do a chrome wrap on the bumper. The cars I've seen with either silver or gold wraps look pretty convincing.

Link to video comparing a wrapped bumper to a a plated bumper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hryV3EqRSqo

There are also paint products that mimic chrome, not just silver but closer to a chrome look than just aluminum color.

Link to You tube video that demonstrates a product called Easy Chrome results where he paints a bumper, than compares it to a real chrome bumper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBtdU10PIcE

I doubt anyone at a glance would know that bumper was painted rather than plated.

Two alternatives to plating, hope one will work for your gasser.

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Old 10-30-2025, 12:41 AM
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Is Cosmi-Chrome still in business? The local franchises around me are all gone. I had used them for my Falcon's bumpers a few years ago. They looked great, but only until winter got here, since I drive it year 'round.
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Old 10-30-2025, 03:37 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Joog View Post
going on a gasser, don't need it perfect, just something better than sand blasted bare metal...
Powder coated aluminum color usually looks pretty business-like for a race car.

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Old 10-30-2025, 08:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sirrotica View Post
If it were me, I'd talk to someone that does wraps, and see if they could do a chrome wrap on the bumper. The cars I've seen with either silver or gold wraps look pretty convincing.

Link to video comparing a wrapped bumper to a a plated bumper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hryV3EqRSqo

There are also paint products that mimic chrome, not just silver but closer to a chrome look than just aluminum color.

Link to You tube video that demonstrates a product called Easy Chrome results where he paints a bumper, than compares it to a real chrome bumper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBtdU10PIcE

I doubt anyone at a glance would know that bumper was painted rather than plated.

Two alternatives to plating, hope one will work for your gasser.
I've seen that Easy Chrome a lot. I like the painted color on the Spine Tingler gasser wagon bumpers, I might do that and if I don't like the look, then I think chrome wrap is my cheapest option and I can always peel it off.

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Old 10-30-2025, 09:18 AM
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I’ve had pieces done in the past. Just doesn’t hold up long at all. It will slowly take on a flatter Hazy sheen and then show water spots whenever it gets wet. Having a clear powder coat over the top doesn’t seem to help allot.

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Old 10-30-2025, 10:04 PM
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Rear Cosmo-Chromed bumper (prior to winter salt bath).
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Anybody else on this planet campaign a M/T hemi Pontiac for eleven seasons?
... or has built a record breaking DOHC hemi four cylinder Pontiac?
... or has driven a couple laps of Nuerburgring with Tri-Power Pontiac power?(back in 1967)
... or has a Pontiac born the same year as Jim Wangers? (1926}
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Old 10-31-2025, 05:41 AM
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The front bumper on the LeMans is pitted and faded on the top. I sanded down the whole thing and used chrome spray paint. It looks fair but better than it did. I never thought of chrome wrap and I think that's the path I'll take. Can't afford a $1200 OEM bumper LOL

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Old 11-01-2025, 12:14 AM
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The website shows all sizes of Easy Chrome are sold out except one liter and four liter. The one liter is $1,399.
Also, it is not recommended for outdoor use.

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Anybody else on this planet campaign a M/T hemi Pontiac for eleven seasons?
... or has built a record breaking DOHC hemi four cylinder Pontiac?
... or has driven a couple laps of Nuerburgring with Tri-Power Pontiac power?(back in 1967)
... or has a Pontiac born the same year as Jim Wangers? (1926}
  #14  
Old 11-01-2025, 01:38 AM
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A gasser doesn’t need any bumpers, at least not a front bumper. A lot of racers would replace the rear bumper with a tube filled with shot or cement as ballast.

Back in the day removing the front bumper would put you in a different gas class.

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Old 11-01-2025, 02:35 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by b-man View Post
A gasser doesn’t need any bumpers, at least not a front bumper..
Exactly!

Not many Gassers have them, mine has a front stub kit from Speedway, so it has the tube up front & that's all.

The powdercoated chrome looks pretty good from 10 feet, but yes it does tend to fade over time.

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Old 11-01-2025, 06:17 PM
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Call fini finish, best chrome. Detroit area

  #17  
Old 11-03-2025, 12:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by b-man View Post
A gasser doesn’t need any bumpers, at least not a front bumper. A lot of racers would replace the rear bumper with a tube filled with shot or cement as ballast.

Back in the day removing the front bumper would put you in a different gas class.
I have a 56 star chief, Im not doing the huge bumper up front, but I need the lip on the hood and the little U shaped piece below that to be chromed. Ties up the front end and both weigh next to nothing. And I'd like to have the rear bumpers on there since I have 2 sets of them

  #18  
Old 11-03-2025, 12:44 PM
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I want my front bumper like what Tom Kurak has on his 56 chieftain gasser
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Old 01-02-2026, 04:50 PM
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When I restored my 55 Chevy Sedan Delivery, I had the hood hinges, door catches and other items done in powder coat chrome. If you also clear them in powder coat for UV protection, they turn a dull aluminum color. I left that out since none of it would see much sun and they are still shiny. So, for a bumper that wouldn't work.

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