Chrome stock or new wheels?

[vee93]

What's my best bet here---get my stock rims chromed or buy new chromed ones? What's the cost of getting my stock rims chromed compared to the $12-to-$14+ thou I'm seeing for the cost of new ones? And if I choose option #1, who quality-chromes wheels in Mississippi? In a week of looking, I haven't found a shop that does this kind of work. <<<Bad omen that. I'm usually pretty good at finding quality Vette-works.

 

[invinceablevett]

I had mine Polished.It's a bit of a PITA because they tend to fade and need polishing but the shine is worth it.
I paid $300.00 (can.) this past summer to get them real shiny.
I guess chrome is better because there is no need to "re-polish them" after a few years....whichever you choose....important thing is SHINE...

 

[Vettelt193]

What's my best bet here---get my stock rims chromed or buy new chromed ones? What's the cost of getting my stock rims chromed compared to the $12-to-$14+ thou I'm seeing for the cost of new ones? And if I choose option #1, who quality-chromes wheels in Mississippi? In a week of looking, I haven't found a shop that does this kind of work. <<<Bad omen that. I'm usually pretty good at finding quality Vette-works.

Are you looking at the stock 'sawblade' style wheels only?

You can get chrome ZR1 5-spoke wheels for as low as $550 on ebay... $1095 buys 'em with tires. Then you can save your stock wheels for the next buyer, or returning it to stock down the road.

Polishing, at a good deal, will run you $125+ per wheel... A good chrome shop will need to polish the wheel first, then chrome. $250 per wheel to chrome isn't a bad number. And, if chrome is done wrong, it will peel off... then it will cost even more to have re-chromed.

That's why I'm suggesting the aftermarket wheels good luck either way

 

[6 Shooter]

I had mine Polished.It's a bit of a PITA because they tend to fade and need polishing but the shine is worth it.

I've seen several Polished, even thou you have to polish them from time to time I think they are better in the long run, Chrome can degrade then need re-chromed.

Both ways look Great!

Later . . . . . .
6 Shooter

 

[Hrtbeat1]

I'm pretty sure the only shop around that does chroming is over in N.O. ... no telling if they are back up and running yet.

Good luck and let us know what you go with.

 

[Larry's Yellow Rdstr]

Because of EPA Clean Air programs, state and county regulations etc. it is becoming more difficult every day to find a chrome shop, at least in California. Powder coating may eventually see the same fate.
Polishing your rims would be my suggestion, as chrome plating may slightly weaken the rims.

 

[vee93]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. And yeah, I'm referring to my stock rims. They got a bit stained by something and I can't clean it off. And since I haven't found a chrome shop in-state, let alone a reputable one, I guess I'm gonna either have the sawblades polished or try to do the work myself. That way if I goof 'em up, I'll have a legitimate excuse for buying new ones.

 

[Rain]

Id go Chromed Sawblades.
See used sets every now and then on ebay and other Corvette Forums.
But there are shops that will chrome them for you as well. (I will ask around down here- Memphis should have a few shops as well - check the yellow pages)

Rain

 

[vetteboy86]

What kind of stain are you talking about?? Like a dummy I put a cleaner on my rims that wasn't supposed to go on, something about the rims were stripped from when I polished them, and I never clear coated them again. I like to polish them once a month.

I used Wizards metal polish, with a buff on the end of a drill, and the stain came right out.

 

[nyernga]

I did the wheel exchange and a set of OEM chromes cost a little over 600.00 with a 600.00 refundable core charge. Be advised though that the company I used and who was recommended to me has since filed for bankruptcy protection. If you decide to go that route let me know and I'll pm you their name.....

Len

 

[nyernga]

heres a look

 

[vee93]

What kind of stain are you talking about?? Like a dummy I put a cleaner on my rims that wasn't supposed to go on, something about the rims were stripped from when I polished them, and I never clear coated them again. I like to polish them once a month.

I used Wizards metal polish, with a buff on the end of a drill, and the stain came right out.

That's just it..., I'm not really sure what the stains are. There's a splash pattern as if I drove through something--which I didn't. My best guess is run off from washing the car, but that's never happened before. Whatever it was peeled a bit of clearcoat from two and stained a third-which looks kinda like what happens to glassware not quite cleaned after a go in the dishwasher.
I'm taking the high road and blaming myself. I'm trying not to believe someone tossed something on them when the car was left unattended.
My neighbor suggested that the local "tomcat" marked the wheels on one of his nightly rounds. He showed me the rims on his truck where this happened with the neighbor's cat and I have to admit, it looks similar. If this is the case, I better not catch Boo Boo Kitty with his *ss hiked up next to my car!!! That's all I'm gonna say!

 

[vee93]

I did the wheel exchange and a set of OEM chromes cost a little over 600.00 with a 600.00 refundable core charge. Be advised though that the company I used and who was recommended to me has since filed for bankruptcy protection. If you decide to go that route let me know and I'll pm you their name.....

Len

Those are some good looking rims!!! I think though, that I'm gonna go the polished route. Thanks for the info.

 

[nyernga]

Those are some good looking rims!!! I think though, that I'm gonna go the polished route. Thanks for the info.

Have you tried stripping them yourself and THEN polishing? I did that when I first got my vette 5 years ago and they came out great. Alot of work but it was worth it. Either way I'm sure you'll make yourself happy..

Len

 

[vetteboy86]

I stripped mine also, and it wasn't that bad. Alot of work but not hard. They looked 200 % better when I was done. I would still like them shinier. I guess it is that we want better.

You could get good results stripping them and then polishing them, and then if you want, clear them again for protection.

 

[Papa]

Metal polish

I have chrome sawblades on my 95...was told it was a dealer option?...anyway I love em... Saw a new set for $1200 in the MAM catalog. maybe find a set on ebay.. one of mine have one small section where chrome is starting to peel..looks like p.o. may have hit a bad pothole ot curb and chipped it..
My other toy is a Harley...saw some great metal polish demoed at a rally this summer...cant for the life of me recall the name..but someone will know it...want to say green/white palstic bottle...size of a shampoo bottle?...anyway almost zero effort took bottom of beer can to looking chromed in about 2-3 minutes.. no scratches etc..

Good luck either way...
Papa

 

[WhalePirot]

Polish

The chrome I've shopped is guaranteed for 2-3 years, max. It will chip eventually. I do have a card from an Anaheim, CA shop that seems good.

Polish requires a bit of touch-up work every 6-12 months, which is a labor of love for many of us. Only the rims of my Epsilons get (need) Mother(ing) annually and look like chrome for quite a while after.

There are other threads which have more detail about this, including stripping and polishing, should you elect to do it.