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MG TD TF 1500 - Re-chrome

With only a few months to go before I can retire to my new home in the sunny south, I have decided that the first project to tackle with my new found time is to "freshen up" the TD. The radiator shell has become quite dull. I realize prices can vary considerably, but I was wondering what a good budget number would be to have it rechromed?
Bob McLeod TD 5618

bob, i had mine done at AIH chrome in dubuque, ia. several years ago for 350. steve is the owner, michelle was working the phones the last time i was there. good people. regards, tom


AIH Chrome
2400 Kerper Blvd, Ste 4
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
(563) 582-8235
tom peterson

Thanks Tom... I'll have to find a shop when I get to North Carolina. I had no idea what the pricing might be for plating. That number sounds very reasonable.
Bob McLeod TD 5618

That is the best price I have ever seen. Most times the shell cost is in the 1000 range or better. Keep us posted on what you find.
TOM Maine

Hi Bob,
Where are you moving to in NC? I'm in New Bern, there's a small plater here that has reasonable prices, compared to what I've heard elsewhere. They did some nice work for me 2 yrs ago. I don't remember specific prices, but good. I understand there's one in Fayetteville, but have heard high prices.
Al
54TF "Emma"
A W Parker

Thanks AL. I'm 100 miles south of New Bern in Wilmington and 90 miles from Fayetteville. Looks like a road trip.
Bob McLeod TD 5618

Hi again Bob,
OK, not a bad trip, up rt 17. Good car group down there. Let me know if I can help any.
anchor at ec.rr.com
Al
A W Parker

The price to re-chrome will depend on the overall condition of the shell....My shell was estimated to cost $900+ to take the dings and depressions out, and re-chrome. Most chrome shops will not re-chrome a "wavy" or dented shell without repairing it....
I ended up buying a replacement, since I wasn't willing to risk throwing "good money after bad"...
The replacement was already re-chromed...Not perfect, but very nice...
Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

Paul's Chrome is about a grand, and it will be perfect. Whoever you use, make sure you have the false nose done at the same time, and that the shop makes sure it fits. Also repair any loose/missing threaded studs, and the shop protects them from chroming (or the nuts won't fit).
George Butz

I've just had mine done at Paul's as well. It IS perfect and about a grand is spot-on. Mine had several dents and a hole chaffed through.

J E Carroll

Thanks guys. I have no dents or imprefections, just "dull"
Bob McLeod TD 5618

A breakdown of the charges on mine was $800 for the basic plating and an additional $200 for the repairs.

Considering the extent of the dents, the additional charges were reasonable.
J E Carroll

Check out Electroplating of El Paso. $325 TF grill surround (and they took out 3 dents); $30 TF false nose, and $37 false radiator cap, all done in "show" chrome quality (triple chrome). Pretty reasonable and pretty good looking work.The grill slats are new from Moss (photo). Tyler


C.T. Irwin

the prices you quote tyler are comparable to AIH. last time i checked AIH had done the chrome on the previous 10 pebble beach winners. regards, tom
tom peterson

Used Rod Graves in Florence, Alabama on my project. Recommended by the Auburn - Cord guys and the wooden boat restorers. Nice work - think the shell was about 800. Good folks to work with. Dan
Dan Craig

I used Paul's to do the headlights on the TD. One headlight had a very small ding in it, and the chrome was to too bad. The other headlight was smashed, cracked and one side had deep road rash on it. I did not think it was repairable. Paul's did an amazing job fixing it. The real surprise was the smashed headlight was only $75 more than the simple re chrome on the other headlight. The bulk of the cost is simply the actual plating.
-David
D. Sander

I just sent a all my chrome to Paul's last week. Before deciding which plater is going to do my work I spent a lot of time using the archives in this forum as well as several classic car forums to see who people are using. Based on what I read there are a lot of horror stories out there of bad service, broken promises of when the time would get completed, and lost parts! I chose Paul's because of his reputation I gathered. His prices are not the cheapest but based on the responses in this thread, I think I made the right choice.

Frank
Frank Cronin

This thread was discussed between 21/02/2013 and 24/02/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

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