The chrome plating on both of mine is very pitted (especially on the arms), and overall in bad shape. As the Coach has only 7K miles on it, I'm assuming the coastal marine-layer influence from when it sat for years in San Clemente, Southern California -- was the reason for the deterioration.
Has anyone here ever taken theirs off, disassembled them, and sent them to Ramco for stripping and re-plating? (assuming Ramco even offers such a service).
I'd also thought of seeking-out a regional plating shop, but the environmental-compliance regulations in California have put most of them out of business.
And, I've been knocking the idea around of maybe having them re-plated in black-chrome as part of my quest of making the Coach look more modern.
Any comments appreciated.
Regards,
Michael
Unfortunately, unless things have changed since 2004, according to the archive Ramco doesn't offer re-chroming. But it sounds like they will "refurb" the guts into new housings for some savings over new:
Parts prices (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=965.msg2983#msg2983)
-M
There is an outfit in Chicago Called "Reliable Plating" (312) 421-4747, that does good work and is ISO certified. I would call them and get an estimate. Not cheap to do but would look good in black chrome!
Keith
Would sanding & painting work for you?
Barry,
I don't believe so (not as a long-term solution). The pitting -- in all likelihood is into the actual base metal. You cannot really sand chrome off, you must have it chemically stripped, the surfaces neutralized/ passivated, and then barrier layers of copper and nickel re-deposited before the new chrome top layer.
If you tried just sanding and painting , the remaining corrosive traces in the pits would probably soon lift the paint as would the traces of the substrate layers reacting with the moisture making it's way through the paint (as paint is a permeable coating).
Now -- stripping the old metallic layers off and then powder-coating would be another option, and one I'm also considering. Better than paint, not as good as multi-layer metallic plating.
In any case, considering the size of the job in removing them, disassembling the components, and re-mounting --- I only want to do this particular job once.
Regards,
Michael
Powder Coat them Flat Black
Michael,
Unless the PO had them chrome plated most mirrors were just bare aluminum with a polish on them - just like the wheel rims. I guess even if they were plated, you could sand off the chrome and polish like they were originally.
On our 98 U320 the chrome mirrors are also showing some pitting along w/ discoloration. So we'll be monitoring this thread for ideas also.
BTW, when FOT or Xtreme does a full body paint job what do they typically do w/ the chrome arms and mirror casings?
I had my coach painted at FT......they took off the mirrors and I have them painted white to match my coach...came out great. My mirrors were not pitted but they were dull and lifeless......they sure look better painted to match the coach!!
Mirrors were removed for our paint job and we considered having Xtreme paint our original mirrors. But decided to buy new unpainted bases, arms & mirrors from Ramco. We ended up buying new style taller plastic heads with three motorized & heated mirrors in each head. We added Ramco's center glass turn signal option, but decided against their camera option. Xtreme painted our new mirror parts to match our coach.
Because we now have six mirror motors, we had to add a third dash mirror switch and new wiring for the new switch and turn signals. We did the switch & wiring ourselves as this is not something Xtreme is familiar with.
We had Xtreme paint our mirrors (originally aluminum,) and they look great! For aluminum, they use an epoxy primer under their BASF paint, and it should last as well as the body paint.
After speaking with a buddy that does incredible collectible-car restorations here, and knows of all the best plating shops in the area, I've decided to have them stripped and powder-coated white. He said the guy has at least a dozen different shades of white to choose from. So I'm going to take an access cover off of the side of the Coach and have him match a white to that as close as possible. Then-- I'm going to have him spray a clear onto the powder coat with a heavy U.V. Inhibitor in it - and re-attach the mirrors to the Coach with stainless steel socket flat allen-head bolts.