gtodrive'

It took me years to get two decent 69' NOS ones.
You can find the shorter Catalina ones nos all the time, but the Bonnys are rarely seen. Used ones , or ones that were on a car that spent even a few years in the weather will have some pits.
As off as it sounds, $800 probably isn't a reach or even a poor investment imop to have them redone. I spent about $500 for mine and even they have the "shelf wear" even though they were boxed.
At least they'll gleam if redone.

Good luck, and you never know what's out there!
Mark

No, they're the same bezel Ray.

Bonny = Parisienne, Grande, 2+2,
Catalina = Strato, Laurentian.

I have 1 extra  I thought they were all the same   If my extra is the same as my Strato Chief, its wrong for 2+2  correct?

On looking at the overall value and rarity of your 2+2, the investment needed to get some nice, correct looking bezels in there, is well worth the value imop. What does $800 really get today anyways? I bet the amount of work needed to restore a pitted chrome die cast part is huge. Are they really that badly pitted? I have spares that arn't that bad if that might help.

Let us know how the replating goes if you move forward with it...I'd love to see how they'd turn out.

Tempting as it is...no thanks.  I have had my share of "clones" over the years and I bought this one cause it's the real thing.  I'll spend the money to keep it that way.  Did I just say that? 

Exactly Carl.

But I was just kidding to suggest that be done to the 2+2!

Nothing wrong with wanting the real thing. I just can't spend the kind of money most of them demand. I LOVE looking at and drooling over the expensive stuff.

I too started a GTO clone convert but sold it before I finished it. At current values when it is done it will still likely bring the investment the new owner has in it but you always take a chance doing a clone.

Heck, you always take a chance building any old car. It's still gotta be fun, no matter whether it's real or clone.

You can buy a kit to repair the pitting. There is a link to the company that sells it on here. I'm at work so I don't have time to find it. I think the rods are about $48.00 U.S. All you need is a propane torch (or something similar). You apply flux, heat these rods and they fill the pits. Worth a try- you could save yourself a few hundred bucks.

Todd

69Laurentian wrote:

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You can buy a kit to repair the pitting. There is a link to the company that sells it on here. I'm at work so I don't have time to find it. I think the rods are about $48.00 U.S. All you need is a propane torch (or something similar). You apply flux, heat these rods and they fill the pits. Worth a try- you could save yourself a few hundred bucks.

Todd

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would it do a hood bird ornament thingy. is so i have a pitted one i would like to do up for the beast

 

I have seen this product.  Pot metal melts around 800 degrees F.  The normal flux used to fill the pits melts between 700-750 degrees...a little too close for comfort for a novice.  The trick to this kit is the flux rod they supply melts at a lower temperature (350 degrees) so less chance of destroying the part.  The chrome does have to be stripped and the pits drilled out to get rid of any contaminants.  As you can see, the cost in restoring pot metal is about 70% labor.