Hello.

I am new to this so forgive me if this question has been posted before.

I will be needing to have the Windshield Posts and Tail Light housings on my rough old 54 XK120 OTC re-chromed. I have been told that, over and above the usual quality issues with any re-plating job, the fact that these are aluminum castings raises a number of issues. Is this true? Are there particular vendors who have shown proven success with these parts for any of you?

Thanks for the help!

Eric

Submitted by mcfoo@columbus… on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 23:57

Aluminum can be plated, but the aluminum in the early Jags was contaminated, perhaps by iron, causing bubbles in the casting. So, if you stripped the original chrome plate and began polishing, the bubbles would appear and cause streaks. These could be filled by multiple copper platings and polishing, but is not worth the effort. It will cost more than a replacement, usually made from brass or bronze, much heavier than the original, but they fit and look good.

Submitted by SC38-21185J on Tue, 01/15/2008 - 07:36

Yes, you need to call a quality plater about this. I am no expert, but I do know that tail light housings can be re-chromed, and are known as "pot metal". Perhaps they have a bit of tin in the metal that allows for triple plating. Typically, there are pits in the pot metal and have to be filled with nickle before the final chrome. You might be better off by saving the originals and buying repros that are ready to go (assuming the new ones fit worth a darn).

I just took an aluminum cast bracket to a plater last week and he said they don't chrome aluminum. (I knew that; I had brought the piece in for polishing) So on your windshiled posts, you'll have to have them polished to a bright finish. But again, I think you'll be okay on the tail lights.

Patrick McLoad
JC Houston