vent window frame reproduction?

[eagleone1983]

I thought I remember seeing somewhere that the front arm of the vent window frame was being reproduced and now that I'm trying to find out I can't find anything.

Just thought I see how much those are going for and the quality of them. I just dropped my pieces off to get chromed and just about fell over but it needs to be done so I pulled the trigger. Damn potmetal is expensive to rechrome! Anyway if I can get any info and these are actually being repro'd I'll call my plater and have him just do the other parts of the vent window assembly that aren't being produced.

 

[Pistol Pete]

I think Mike ross (B/E & A) was working on them but they haven't been released yet. Also, I think MCB has an exchange program on those as well. I have a set in need of replating myself, so just out of curiosity, what were you quoted ?

 

[snakeoil24]

Mcb?

I think Mike ross (B/E & A) was working on them but they haven't been released yet. Also, I think MCB has an exchange program on those as well. I have a set in need of replating myself, so just out of curiosity, what were you quoted ?

Who is mCB i need 1/4 windows too

 

[Pistol Pete]

Who is mCB i need 1/4 windows too

http://www.tuffwheelrestoration.com/

Here you go

 

[eagleone1983]

Are you sitting down...Okay good. $750 for the front frame piece, the piece that the window sits in, the little paddle looking piece that screws to the window, and the handle pieces that shut and lock the door. All of it is potmetal and the shop that does my chrome work is top quality show chrome. I know I can get it done cheaper from another shop around here but they don't do anything with any imperfections. I had them chrome a few pieces and they came back with little divots because they didn't take the time to fill them in and make it smooth.

 

[MoparMitch]

Are you sitting down...Okay good. $750 for the front frame piece, the piece that the window sits in, the little paddle looking piece that screws to the window, and the handle pieces that shut and lock the door. All of it is potmetal and the shop that does my chrome work is top quality show chrome. I know I can get it done cheaper from another shop around here but they don't do anything with any imperfections. I had them chrome a few pieces and they came back with little divots because they didn't take the time to fill them in and make it smooth.

Had all my same pieces done by M and P Plating in Jeanette Pa. Cost me $620 and they did a great job fixing filling divots etc. They are in my resto thread The Golden Rotiserrie Chicken. Get a look at thier work.

 

[Pistol Pete]

Are you sitting down...Okay good. $750 for the front frame piece, the piece that the window sits in, the little paddle looking piece that screws to the window, and the handle pieces that shut and lock the door. All of it is potmetal and the shop that does my chrome work is top quality show chrome. I know I can get it done cheaper from another shop around here but they don't do anything with any imperfections. I had them chrome a few pieces and they came back with little divots because they didn't take the time to fill them in and make it smooth.

Good Lord man ! I know chrome is not cheap by any means, but geez.

 

[eagleone1983]

Yeah it's all the work involved with doing the pot metal. I had the same company do my bumper and it only was $300

 

[zyzzyx]

pot metal

O.K., I'm in the same boat too! So does anyone really know the procedure for stripping the chrome and actually filling the pot metal "pits" ? What do you fill the pits with, Tin based babbit or solder??? Then you could have them plated and cut the cost by alot. Labor seems to be killing this process. The chroming process is probably expensive because of the cost of materials and the cost of disposing of the hazardous chem-waste. WOW!

 

[Photon440]

According to an in-depth article I once read in Hemmings, the pits are drilled out to clean metal and then soldered. They showed several examples in steering wheel horn ring repairs, and the results looked great.

 

[eagleone1983]

Yeah I whole heartedly believe there is just that much work to justify the price, I just wish it weren't true. You get what you pay for and I don't mind that a craftsmen local to me get's paid for this stuff. I'm sure these guys don't work cheap for quality, I wonder though just how many man hours go into this.

 

[Photon440]

Here is one plater's guide to different methods of repairing pitted zinc castings:
http://iversonautomotive.com/potmetal.htm

It sure does look like a lot of time and labour involved Maybe that's why restored pieces often look like they're smoother and have higher shine than the factory originals.

-=Photon440=-

 

[eagleone1983]

Nice article, thanks Photon. That is pretty much how my plater explained it to me. He didn't mention that the type of solder used was based off silver, this would have easily justified the cost more to me from the get go since I've seen the market for silver has done nothing but go up.

 

[2059]

Nothing is cheap anymore (especially plating) and if you want good/great results you have to write the check. I read the article on Ierson's site and will be calling them to get a quote on plating my chrome parts.

 

[tddawson]

Vent Window re-plating

I am having mine done at J & D Custom Plating, Minneapolis MN. (no website, but ph:651-251-7400 or [email protected], ask for Gary DuBois) They quoted me $200 a side, but that includes disassembly, plating the forward support, polishing the stainless channel to 'mirror-finish; and even plating the hinge-clamp-whatever-you-call-it. (the small pieces that hold the glass in place and allow it to swing out.) Turnaround time is supposed to be less than a week, and as soon as I have them, I'll let you know how they turned out!

Gary (the shop owner) has a sweet 67 GTX, he's a Mopar fanatic!

 

[tddawson]

Iverson's does nice work, if you can be patient

Here is one plater's guide to different methods of repairing pitted zinc castings:
http://iversonautomotive.com/potmetal.htm

It sure does look like a lot of time and labour involved Maybe that's why restored pieces often look like they're smoother and have higher shine than the factory originals.

-=Photon440=-

I had my rear armrest handle and the dash trim collar around the steering column done by Iverson Automotive. they turned out beautifully, but his turnaround time was almost 2 months for those 2 small parts.

 

[kev]

I'm settling with some lightly pitted ones that I found. Couldn't bring myself to put out so much cash for chroming.

 

[eagleone1983]

My vent window assemblies turned out awesome, except when they chromed them they removed the little handle to chrome seperately and didn't keep the pin or wavy washer so now I'll need to find something that will work. I know the wavy washer won't be a problem but I'm not so sure about the pin.

I did have to take one of the assemblies back to get rechromed because of a tiny bit of discoloration but they did that with no extra charge and turned it around in a few days. I think I'll be much happier having gone this route and now I won't have to rebreakdown my door to do it later.

 

[tddawson]

Mine turned out great, too. They did manage to save all the small parts, so I got lucky there. The die-cast piece looks like new - or maybe even better than it was 46 years ago. I was surprised at how shiny the stainless steel turned out - it really IS like a mirror. The small parts look perfect, and they didn't break my vent glass.

I opted to let them do the disassembly - they have the experience that I don't have - however, it's up to me to put it all back together. Does anyone have any recommendations for reattaching the forward die-cast piece to the metal frame? I'm afraid to start drilling screw-holes into my shiny new parts, but I suspect that is the best way to go - unless anyone else has some proven method?

The total for all the parts (dies-cast post, stainless steel, lower pivot frame and all the hardware//handles/latches) was $540.00. I have the benefit of being local, so I didn't have to pay shipping - just dropped 'em off and picked 'em up the following week. I am very satisfied, and would recommend checking out J & Custom Plating.

 

[citadel]

Can you post picks of the work? Was the cost above for driver and passenger sides?