Painting chrome window trim black, how?
 

Its all pitted, scratched, dull and nasty. What should I use and how should I do it?
I'm on a low budget, I need an inexpensive solution.

There are some self etching flat black paint but you need to remove to blast the pitting etc out. If you remove it you may as well get is power coated, lasts longer and will not chip.

Here's a pic of mine powder coated, I had to order the rear (already flat black because I didn't have any trim in back. Unfortunately our host does (check again) not sell because trouble with shipping. Performance does sell it.

Cliffhttp://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1246944641.jpg

I had my set powder coated for $130.00. If you go that route make sure they have experience with AL, My trim already has chips and it not even in the car yet. I don't believe it was prepped properly. Just my $.02.

Cliff,
I assume your car is white. Mine's white w/black trim too, so I made yours look whiter (very nice, btw):

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1246961824.jpg

Sherwood

If it is really the chrome and not just faded black (I cant remember if you could get chrome on a 79???) there is a good market for it for back daters, you might be able to trade it for some black?

I believe it's almost impossible to paint over chrome, certainly not without first totally roughening the surface.

It's actually bright anodized, not chrome. I don't know if that makes it easier to paint.

I painted the BMW trim black last year. I can't find the thread about it, though. We had a good discussion on prep and products. It was a PIA.:(

Porsche used both, bright anodized aluminum, and on some cars chrome plated steel (which is much heavier!)

The chrome on the chrome plated steel version is very, very tough.

I agree with the poster above, though. There is a ton of black trim out there, and an ever growing demand for backdating to the early, chrome style.

This is perfect timing. i was coming to the same question as my chrome trim looks like it was polished with a wire brush....or rocks!

i will soon be looking to turn mine black!

I found the thread I posted over at Bimmerfest.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=338076&highlight=

here is another from BF that describes some techniques.
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=341045&highlight=

"I believe it's almost impossible to paint over chrome, certainly not without first totally roughening the surface."

True. One needs to remove the chrome or use an aggressive epoxy primer for long service life.

"It's actually bright anodized, not chrome. I don't know if that makes it easier to paint."

It could be either one, depending on the MY.

"Porsche used both, bright anodized aluminum, and on some cars chrome plated steel (which is much heavier!)"

The chrome on the chrome plated steel version is very, very tough."

The chrome plated versions (~'67) were chrome plated over brass. The later versions (post '67), bright aluminum, were indeed polished and anodized.

More accurate MY vehicle applications on the Early 911S Registry website forum.

Sherwood

There's nothing wrong with chrome, and it makes a P-car look backdated. I think a re-chrome is in order.

ALSO: do a google search on "black chrome". It's a plating method that's been used in the custom motorcycle industry, has a very nice look. Might be a bit "blingy" on our cars, but worth a look.

If you do not have a PC shop close by, I used an orbital with fine sand paper; I then used self- etch primer (green and has zinc in it) and then used black trim paint found at kragen. My car is in a garage but it still looks great after 8 or so years. I even did the door handles this way.

Black to chrome.
 

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The chrome trim is valuable. I would sell or trade for black.

Not to thread****, but I have often wondered if anybody has painted the window trim in body colour?--It works,of course , with black cars/black trim and white cars /shiny trim , but how about all the other colours?

IMHO, that's getting into bling territory, but I'm open to visual examples.

Sherwood

Sherwood,

I had the trim rechromed on my '78SC coupe, which I bought from the original owner and was an all original car.

The window trim (and door handles) was definitely chrome plated. I believe it was over brass or brass plated steel, because you could see some of the brass coming through where the chrome was wearing thin.

Plus, the chrome plating shop that rechromed them told me they were chromed, not polished or anodized aluminum.

When I took the trim off the car, it was much heavier than the standard black aluminum door trim that I have handled on many occasions.

Just a data point.

for Powdercoat, most I deal with prefer chrome as a base.

On an early 70's model, the rear pop out windows, door window frames, front and rear window seal trim was aluminum. I just took mine from black back to silver. The rear window pop out latches and door handles were chrome. These were re-chromed along with the H4 trim.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1247014667.jpg

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