Thread: To chrome or not to chrome?????

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Originally Posted by rspears

If you're looking at coatings check out JetHot's Sterling Ceramic.

Is that the new one with the super smooth finish that almost looks like chrome???? The guys I use in Iowa did me a set of headers with a black coating that almost looks like "black chrome". Very neat stuff!

Well Dave I agree with Don's thought pattern on the chrome axles but then to read what Richard said and taking into account that you are going for really high horsepower and there is a very high chance of wheels up launches I would differently look into the High Performance Coating,eg that special coating some are doing on their exhaust etc. My inlet manifold was coated HPC chrome /high polished aluminium and looks fantastic,if I must say so myself.

, this 34 spring was chromed , the car has not even been driven yet , its only movement was up and down on a hoist a few times , customer replaced with a painted spring, you can just see another hairline crack appearing above the broken leaf on the 3rd leaf

I would recommend Moore High Performance Coatings in Waverly, Nebraska. Good people to deal with. I have seen their stuff and it looks really nice. Much better than JetHot, I might add.

I've always had chrome axles but my plater always bakes to remove the hydrogen embrittlement, but i know of many that havn't bothered and i've not seen one break yet, just my pennys worth.

Dave with the use and abuse, I vote for safety. The ceramic coatings they are doing for headers look like polished aluminum. If the ceramic coating doesn't affect structural integrity I'd go that route. After watching all the thread posts on accidents here, I'm leary of driving anything I've worked on!

My vote goes against chrome, too; one "oops" would be one too many.

Some of these powder coat jobs today are almost indistinguishable from chrome, and there is some variety to be had, if you're of a mind.

Heck! Just build it out of high quality stainless and polish it. Probably wouldn't cost much different after all is said and done.

I am just curious, about How many axels and chrome suspension parts are out there? What do you think the percentage is? I have been parnoid about this Hydrogen embrittlement issue since I have gotten every thing chrome in the front end. Everything has been forged for execpt the axle. Which was a 5" cast which I am not going to use an am buying a socal chrome forged unit. I am just curious how many people on this board or friend are running chrome axles?

NoNoNo, if you plan to race it you can't chrome nor powdercoat! Bad juju. I wouldn't worry about hydrogen embrittlement, be fine to drive on the street. But at the track the tech guy wants to see suspension pieces, he wants to see if there are cracks and chrome/powdercoat (esp) will hide any problems.

There's a outfit in Florida called Spectrachrome. A process that sprays on chrome like regular paint. I do not know much about it, but looks interesting.

http://www.finishing.com/Chemicals/spectrachrome.shtml

Originally Posted by barnsey

, this 34 spring was chromed , the car has not even been driven yet , its only movement was up and down on a hoist a few times , customer replaced with a painted spring, you can just see another hairline crack appearing above the broken leaf on the 3rd leaf

What brand was this spring and did he have it chromed or bought from them?
Looks like a superslide

Originally Posted by akrateffil

There's a outfit in Florida called Spectrachrome. A process that sprays on chrome like regular paint. I do not know much about it, but looks interesting.

http://www.finishing.com/Chemicals/spectrachrome.shtml

Cool stuff.

I would call them and find out how durable it is. It may be good for valve covers, but suspension stuff takes a beating.

IMO and experience...jethot looks great when you get it....then it goes milky....powder coating is an option....personally, i'd get a heavy wall moly tube just a smooch bigger than what you think you need...chrome it and run it with a smile....i like big power too, i'd also use aluminum blocks and heads to reduce the weight strain on the front for when you do carry that front for 300'