Dart dashboard plastic chrome

[69DartW250]

Trying to figure out a way to "restore" the finish on the chrome (now yellowed) trim that surrounds the guage cluster and the radio/heater controls. Anyone have a good idea to make it look new? I was thinking of trying the chrome sticky sheet stuff you use on plastic models that simulates the chrome trim on cars, but I don't know how durable it will be.

Any thoughts on exactly what color this piece of trim was originally? Was it all chrome, or was part of it painted and part chromed? I don't think I've ever seen one in real good shape.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
George

[flyboy01]

Originally chrome was vacuum deposited on a clear laquer sprayed on the plastic. The problem, it wears off and deteriorates over time. Originally the whole piece was vaccum plated, then they painted in the black areas. You can send your chrome out and have it restored, but its pretty expensive.

I found an alternative.

There is a company that makes mirrachrome, its a paint that truly looks like chrome, not silver paint. Its expensive, but much cheaper than chrome plating. It won't fool a show judge, but its perfect for a driver. Its also the same paint that people have been painting fiberglass bumpers with.

They have a video here you can watch.
http://www.kustomrides.com/supplies/spray-paint-chrome-kit2.html

[GTS225]

I found an alternative.

*****************************************************************************************************

Flyboy......are you saying you painted that yourself?

Roger

[flyboy01]

No, I didn't paint it myself. That's from the company's website.

But yes, it can look like that. Its a 3 step process, the part has to be painted gloss black, sprayed with the chrome, then seal it with a clear. They sell it in spray cans, its about $110 for a kit. Watch the video from the previous link, they show you how its done.

http://www.alsacorp.com/

[69DartW250]

Well, I just ordered a can of this killer chrome stuff. It cost me almost $50 including shipping. I sure hope this stuff works because my dash chrome looks like crapola!

Thanks for the link!

George

[flyboy01]

I hope you ordered the 3 part kit. It needs a black base, chrome spray, then clear over the top. Dont forget to take before, during, and after pics.

[69DartW250]

I'm living on the edge; I'll use my own black, and clear.   

George

[flyboy01]

You are a wildman.

[demon340v]

You are a wildman.

indeed he is

[69DartW250]

       

[PinkE]

Lots of luck...I bought a pint of this same chrome paint...I did as they said, and it clouded as soon as I put clear over it....Maybe they have improved on it, but it about drove me nuts......Let us know how it works for you.....

[69DartW250]

Lots of luck...I bought a pint of this same chrome paint...I did as they said, and it clouded as soon as I put clear over it....Maybe they have improved on it, but it about drove me nuts......Let us know how it works for you.....

I'll report back PinkE, hopefully with a few pictures.
It had better work like they said for the money they charge.
If my bumpers were straight, I would have purchased enough to do them as well.

I'll keep ya's posted.........

George

[GTSDave]

I bought a quart kit of the Mirror Chrome from Alsa Corp.  Cost me Plenty, but it works if you follow the directions.

I laid a little too much of the mirror chrome paint on these parts, so they started to dull.  I did use their black and clear coats.  The black they sent is some of the blackest black I have ever seen.  You can see colors in it!  Once you mist this stuff on it does look like chrome.  I went ahead and painted the black trim on these and stuck them in the GTS.  Here is what they looked like with the mirror chrome, before I painted the semi gloss black and installed them.

I will be doing the fiberglass bumpers on my Barracuda as well as the dash plastic parts.  I like the stuff, but it is very expensive.

-Dave

['73Dusta]

Looks good.  Maybe for the next project go nostalgia.  Try spraying through the lace table cloth.

Looks great!

[flyboy01]

I betcha this stuff has the plastic chroming guys shaking in their boots. You say its expensive, and it is, but it would cost 3-4 times as much to have them chrome it.

[GTSDave]

Looks good.  Maybe for the next project go nostalgia.  Try spraying through the lace table cloth.

Looks great!

HeHeHe,

  I am building a 68 Barracuda to run Nostalgia Super Stock and it will probably have some lace paint hehehe.  The pic was taken in the kitchen when the wife wasn't looking.  Didn't trust leaving them in the garage!

  I hope to spray the bumpers for the Cuda, and the arm rest bezels for the GTS in the near future.  Right now I have bigger things I need to do.  Once I spray them I will post more pictures.

-Dave

['73Dusta]

Dave, Just playin.  the chrome does look good. I'm old enough to remember the lace and I like it. I figured the wife might not be around when you had those parts on her table.

[GTSDave]

Dave, Just playin.  the chrome does look good. I'm old enough to remember the lace and I like it. I figured the wife might not be around when you had those parts on her table.

She was on the computer not long ago and discovered a picture of some carbs in her dish washer.  I installed a new one last week.  Hehehehe.

-Dave

['73Dusta]

Keep up the good work!

Gene

[smallbigblock]

That really is amazing stuff.  Flyboy is right it cost a small fortune to get that plactic rechromed.

[GTSDave]

For me the true test is going to be when I do my fiberglass bumpers with it.  I have enough with the quart kit to do the bumpers and probably 3 or 4 more dashes.  I will probably run out of the clear, or the black that cam in the kit before the mirror chrome paint.

-Dave

[norway_dartsport]

hi
you just inspired me to get my dash done have a dash from a 74 parts car that i just fiks up and swap later . thanks for good tip

[GTSDave]

Here is another tip for you.  I used Ez-Off oven cleaner to strip the plastic trim.  You need buy the kind that says you don't have to heat the oven up. It is much stronger and will strip the paint and old chrome off of the plastic. Then you have a fresh piece to work with.  Best stuff I have seen for stripping them down.   

Be sure to keep an eye on it, and clean off the Ez-Off with soapy water once it has stripped off the old paint.

-Dave

[flyboy01]

Another tip, 50/50 bleach and water will strip off chrome, as long as there is no paint or sealer on top of it.

[PureGTS]

GTSDave - there are worse things for the wife to catch you at....

['73Dusta]

GTSDave, I hope you don't toss and turn in your sleep .  You could lose an eye or maybe something else of importance.

[GTSDave]

GTSDave - there are worse things for the wife to catch you at....

 

Now that is a good one.

-Dave

[smallbigblock]

 

That's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time

[x360x64dart]

  YEEEAAAHHH!!

[Small Block]

On your dashes if your only doing a line around the edges i had good luck with a Testors paint pen in the Chrome color. I did some fine lines on my 73 duster grill after i painted it flat black. Looks good. They come in all colors at most hobby stores. That chrome paint on the tailite housing looks good.