 DHMelton
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 259
Loc: Central Arizona
Reg: 04-10-22
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09-18-23 09:07 PM - Post#2862657
Whoever did my car did a superb job, but one thing i noticed right off was the instrument bezel was worn.
Over the years, places on the chrome had been "cleaned' such so that black spots showed here and there.
I didn't want to tear down the dash and wait 8-10 weeks to get it refinished, so i bought an unbroken one from a place in North Dakota. it wasn't broken, but weather (or someone) had taken a toll, almost no chrome or silver paint was left, it was just mostly black. (I don't know if the back side was originally chrome or black)
I sent it off to Instrument Specialties in RI and had them restore it.
It came back today, probably better that new.
The entire piece was vacuum metalized chromed, inside and out, front back, etc, and they then masked and painted the argent silver to correct shade where it supposed to be painted, and also the proper recessed areas painted black. The surface had to be prepped before vacuum metalizing so it would be mirror shiny, and they did an excellent job of it. Cost was about $800 including shipping to get the bezel redone.
I will make some time after the next car show in October to install it, along with the Aurora conversion AM/FM Delco radio I have back already.
I will see about getting pic of the bezel in the next day or two.
I also picked up another project: A 1988 Jag XJS Hess and Eisenhardt convertible conversion that needs some love and will be the home for the new 479 CI BBC Chev I have been looking for a proper host for.
I had initially been looking a for '66 SS Impala that needed a motor to put the 479 in, but the Impala I ended up getting was too correct to mess up, thus the Jag, and it was cheap.
A previous owner got creative with the hood, probably trying to solve cooling issue with the V12
Doug
Edited by DHMelton on 09-18-23 09:10 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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DHMelton
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 259
Loc: Central Arizona
Reg: 04-10-22
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09-19-23 08:48 AM - Post#2862667
In response to DHMelton
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Brickwhite
Contributor
Posts: 340
Loc: Colorado, Denver
Reg: 09-05-19
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09-19-23 09:32 AM - Post#2862669
In response to DHMelton
Looks great, but $800 ugh...
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DHMelton
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 259
Loc: Central Arizona
Reg: 04-10-22
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09-19-23 01:02 PM - Post#2862679
In response to Brickwhite
Yes, it was pricey.
Had the rest of the car not been so perfect, I probably just would have either left as is, or removed and painted two diff shades of silver.
It's only money, and you can't take it with you.
Doug
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 toro455
"8th Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 1090
Loc: Western NY
Reg: 06-15-02
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09-20-23 04:00 PM - Post#2862700
In response to DHMelton
Doug,
Considering there aren't tons of places vacuum metalizing parts for individual customers plus the prep for the paint after, even though it's a big number for a bezel, it was probably still a fair price. We get "conditioned" by the cost of things which companies are able to take advantage of volume pricing. Some of our parts are not supported and they're basically unique to the place restoring them. That makes it essentially a one-off job which they may not repeat for a long time.
Scott
Edited by toro455 on 09-20-23 04:02 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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 Rick Dorion
"9th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 391
Loc: Accord, NY
Reg: 09-21-12
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09-22-23 03:49 AM - Post#2862745
In response to toro455
Nice. Bet it makes you feel good!
I'm 75 and if I want something I buy it. So true about not taking it with you.
This is all about having fun!
| 1967 Belair - LM7 5.3, Autogear M23Z, Global West, C5 brakes and rims. |
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Brickwhite
Contributor
Posts: 340
Loc: Colorado, Denver
Reg: 09-05-19
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09-22-23 08:32 AM - Post#2862753
In response to Rick Dorion
how long did it take to get back?
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DHMelton
"2nd Year" Silver Supporting Member
Posts: 259
Loc: Central Arizona
Reg: 04-10-22
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09-24-23 09:06 PM - Post#2862820
In response to Brickwhite
About 2 months, door to door.
That why i bought one to get refurbed so my car wouldn't be down for 2 months.
probably sell my much nicer one (compared to what i bought), that is in the car now.
The one I bought looked like hell, but it wasn't broken, all the ones I saw on ebay prior to getting the replacement piece had chunks missing here and there, many were hacked up for aftermarket stereos
Doug
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