Chrome platers

[jcoppa]

I am getting back a bunch of pieces from the chrome shop for my FED tomorrow. The one piece they couldn't do is the drag link long section because it is 10' long. Their tank (Cal bumper in LB) is 9' and supposedly the largest in Ca. They are going to try another idea but just in case does anyone know of a shop that can handle it?

thanks, Joe

[chassisman]

Western Chrome in Fresno used to do complete frames!...not sure if they are even still in business.

[jcoppa]

Thanks for that tip, they seem to be in business but no one answered the phone? Thier web site looks current. I picked up all of my other stuff today from cal bumper and luckily the owner was there and said he would do it (diagonal) by itself for $180. Not a lot of chrome just labor and it will hawg the tank.

[Dave Tuttle]

I used to take all my stuff to Steve's Plating in Burbank. 818 842-2184 They're on San Fernando Road, a 1/2 block south of Hollywood Way. Between Hollywood Way and Buena Vista.
They're speciality is Furnature Racks & Displays but if the prep is decent, the end results are the same and the price is way cheaper than you'll find anywhere else in LA. They're also the only plater in the Valley I know of with 10 foot tanks.

A couple of things you should know before you go to assemble your car again after getting that stuff chromed.

It's very improtant that you neutralize the acids used in the plating process, especially everything thats threaded. What I do is run a tap through all the threaded rods with some decent cutting fluid or oil. (something heavier than WD-40) If you don't, the acid residue will eat through the plating on all your rod ends and rust them in place! Next time you go to adjust anything, you'll strip them out or snap them off!! Trust me!
The other thing is to wipe everything down with Chrome Polish. (Like Turtle Wax Chrome Polish) This will remove any surface residue and keep it from rusting right through the plating.
Don't worry about Hydrogen Embrittlement. Some people will tell you that baking it in an oven for several hours @ 350* will help, but I've never seen anything break after being Chromed in my 40+ years at this job.

Good Luck !!
Dave Tuttle

[jcoppa]

Thanks for the advise Dave, much appreciated.

[Dragster Jeff]

Dave IS THE MAN.......I love riding on his DAD's pipe with Dave's upgrades...... 2007 ANRA NE/2 CHAMPION...... 1968 Tuttle FED.
Thanks Dave,

Dragster Jeff Crider

[jcoppa]

I picked up my long drag link from the plater last week and all they ended up doing was buffing it. It turned out as shiny as chrome, in fact you can't tell the difference. I guess the only difference would be plating would sort of smooth areas around the welds. He said to keep a coat of caranuba on it. What a difference compared to the oxidization it had before.

Now just the wheelie bars, trans tin cover, a tail light and the ANRA opener.