I need my chrome valve covers rechromed. They have a lot of surface rust. Can anyone recommend a good shop to make them look original? I'm in MA, but these can be easily shipped. Thanks!

unless you want to keep the origionals, I would just call Ground Up and order new ones.
Recroming is very expensive, I just had my 68 Bumpers done only because I wanted the origionals, BIG DOLLARS.

I would splurge to get the originals redone, they will look spectacular. You said you don't mind shipping, so here's who I use:

www.custom-chrome.com (http://www.custom-chrome.com)

He ain't cheap, but he's really good.

I'm at the same point, rechrome originals or buy new ones. I use http://www.newenglandchrome.com/ located in East Hartford, Conn. for rechroming. They also do a great job. My originals are rusting and are very thin. However, I would not buy $100 valve covers. May look good but I hear they do not fit well. Modern and some others sell USA covers. Rechroming runs $300/pair, new ones $460/pair. May have to wait until my birthday!

I've never seen repop valve covers that are correct. If somebody's got em, I'd like to have a set or 3. Supposedly D. Crane does em for Corvettes that are right, but his prices are ridiculous on everything he sells.

All that having been said, it's VERY hard to find a rechromer that doesn't over-do valve covers. I've yet to have a set done that didn't lose the detail of the dripper spot welds.

All that having been said, it's VERY hard to find a rechromer that doesn't over-do valve covers. I've yet to have a set done that didn't lose the detail of the dripper spot welds.

I had an original set redone in 1993 by a place called The Plating House in Concord, Ontario. He let me choose if I wanted the dripper " dings " left in or not. I chose to have them smoothed. It was just one of those factory nuances that I chose not to duplicate.

I think as well that the dings may get less defined as a quality triple chroming process would be a little thicker than the factory flash chroming. JMO.

Many people confuse "flash chroming" with triple plating chroming. Bumpers and other bright metal items are triple plated. The base metal is stripped, prepped and copper plated. The copper is buffed or polished and then nickel plated. The nickel is buffed and then chrome plated and then the chrome is buffed and polished. Thus the term triple plated (copper, nickel, chromium).

Valve covers were flash chromed. The triple plating and labor intensive polishing between the copper/nickel/chromium was eliminated. Instead, in the case of valve covers, copper was laid down on the raw stamping without the benefit of polishing and chrome was applied to the copper base coat without the benefit of the nickel intermediate step. The end result produced a reasonably attractive finish without a lot of expense. Thus, the finish on your valve covers just doesn't look quite as good as the finish on your bumpers.

If you talk to a lot of chrome platers nowadays, don't be too surprised if they don't even recognize the term "flash chroming". It served its purpose back in the day, but apparently doesn't have a high demand in today's market.

Thanks for the responses and opinions. This is helpful. I don't necessarily want the valve cover chrome to look too thick - that's just me. I want them to look original. I'll get in touch with some of these rechroming shops and see what they say. Thanks again!

I went with a set from Cranes for my 66, has the year specific dimple on the drivers side and isn't over chromed:noway:... but yes... they are pricy.;)

I went with Paul's. Pricey, but excellent work.

Who is "Cranes" and who is "Pauls"?

Crane= http://www.cranescorvette.com/
Pauls= http://www.paulschrome.com/
Bill Rose put Crane valve covers on his '68 and they are beautiful (and for the price, they oughta be!)

BillL

I just put a set from Ground Up on my 69 and they look just fine to me.
The only thing they dont have correct on them is the little temp sensor wire clip or the TCS clip for the passenger side if your car has that, so I made my own and they look just like the originals and us a spot of JB weld to glue it on.:yes: They even have the spot weld just like the original and also dipped in black rubberized coating.
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Valve%20Cover%20Temp%20Clip/th_P1010161.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Valve%20Cover%20Temp%20Clip/?action=view&current=P1010161.jpg)

I just put a set from Ground Up on my 69 and they look just fine to me.
The only thing they dont have correct on them is the little temp sensor wire clip or the TCS clip for the passenger side if your car has that, so I made my own and they look just like the originals and us a spot of JB weld to glue it on.:yes: They even have the spot weld just like the original and also dipped in black rubberized coating.
http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Valve%20Cover%20Temp%20Clip/th_P1010161.jpg
(http://s193.photobucket.com/albums/z238/1badss396/Valve%20Cover%20Temp%20Clip/?action=view&current=P1010161.jpg)


You at the still again!!! You forgot to put the wire in the clip!!! Minus 2 points!!!!l:) Put your badge on before they take it away!!!!!

John,

Crane's makes a beautiful reproduction. For 69's anyway, they are exact; as GM should have made them. They are going to set you back a few bucks though. I like what Brad did with his. I don't know what year you are working on, but widely available repops with drippers today are very nice and usually for less than $100. Brad glued the temp wire holder on and it looks fine to me. Most folks will never know.

Good luck.

Woj.

Bill, thanks for Crane's and Paul's websites. I knew about Paul's chrome but wasn't sure that was the Paul's everyone was talking about. I'm not at the same level as Bill Rose but I also can not buy offshore valve covers when USA ones are available. Getting my originals rechromed does not sound like a good idea either since the flash chromed look is covered up. Oh well, another birthday gift.

I do have the Cranes on my 68, and now I need another set for my ElCamino. They will/should be on the motor, hopefully, sometime before the season starts.

Something to keep in mind when ordering Cranes for a 68. The 68 big block valve covers, didn't have the temp wire clip like the 69's. I had to inform Crane of this, and they had to make a set, without the clip. They were selling 68's and 69's as the same valve cover, and thats incorrect. You just have to tell them it's for a 68, and loose the clip.

The temp wire on a 68 SS comes from the area by the left side alternator, so it doesn't need the clip.

Brad, nice job!

Woj, I have a '70 with a 454. Who else besides Ground Up has repros for under $100?

Thanks for the information.

Bill, I checked Crane's website and they have a picture of late 68 chevelle covers and they do not look like mine. The corner bump is different. Did you get V68-9P? Is your 68 early or late build? Mine is late. I have the original covers so I email them pictures when I order (this week). Thanks for the heads up on the temp wire clip.

As long as they're for a '68 model, build date shouldn't matter on valve covers. Pics of originals--
BillL