Old style cragar ss vs the new style ss

[whitetop]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Resurrected69ss</div><div class="ubbcode-body">White top what's the name of the shop you used in California for the correct chrome? </div></div>

Give me a day or two to dig it out. Pauls Chrome gave me their number.

[Resurrected69ss]

I just want to say thanks again for the great replies and info on this subject! Made it that much easier to find the correct wheel for that era! Especially whitetop for all the knowledge on this! Thanks guys!

[68ys8030]

I thought the older ones had a different hoop ! Thanks whitetop !

[PxTx]

I've seen several (okay- at least 3) different hoops on the straight lug wheels. Both these below are 14x6 wheels. One is a 12/66 wheel and the other is 8/71 I guess.





Though these two are the same offset, I suspect there were a variety based on offset.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 68ys8030</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I thought the older ones had a different hoop ! Thanks whitetop ! </div></div>

[Day2_69Z]

Wow..Whitetop is on Top of It.

I just compared my New Cragars to my NOS Bumper and my Rechromed bumper (by M&amp;P) and the Cragars are Super Brite, a whitish clear cast , the NOS. darker and without depth, the rechrome seems Deep, brite and yet not as whiteish....... The wheels and rechrome look great... the NOS is asking to be Rechromed !

[markinnaples]

Just a side note: Paul's Chrome was started by my business partner's good friend. I guess Paul sold the business but kept the building and name and continues to get rent and other income from Paul's Chrome nowadays. Interesting that they don't do that bright white chrome. So, which looks best, today's current brand new Cragars that have the bright white chrome or older ones that are rechromed? Or, does it depend on how well the chroming process is done on the older ones?

[whitetop]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: markinnaples</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just a side note: Paul's Chrome was started by my business partner's good friend. I guess Paul sold the business but kept the building and name and continues to get rent and other income from Paul's Chrome nowadays. Interesting that they don't do that bright white chrome. So, which looks best, today's current brand new Cragars that have the bright white chrome or older ones that are rechromed? Or, does it depend on how well the chroming process is done on the older ones? </div></div>

The 15x4's I had above are the correct Cragar hexevelant chrome and match the current Cragar chrome---though I should say factory Cragar chrome was thin and not as shiny as the current Cragar chrome. I would suspect Cragar is having their chrome done offshore and the wheels are welded together in the US.

I know Paul told me only a handful of chrome co's were still doing hexavelant chrome and this was 8-10 years ago.

[TheNovaMan]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: whitetop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would suspect Cragar is having their chrome done offshore and the wheels are welded together in the US.</div></div> In 2006, Cragar started casting their aluminum centers and wheels &quot;offshore&quot; but welding the centers into the rims in the USA. However, they are now switching back to all made in USA (if the scuttlebutt I've heard is correct).


I called Stockton Wheel Service (Stockton, CA) in early 2010 about re-chroming a pair of Cragars, and IIRC they were still using the hexavalent chroming process at that time. That was almost 5 years ago, so they may have switched to trivalent by now.

When you re-chrome a Cragar, do you have to cut the center out of the rim shell before chroming?

[whitetop]

I tried to find the name of the co that did the hexevalent but could not find it..though they may have a new name.. From google it appears hexavalent has all but been banned in CA. I have the co's name at home somewhere. Yes you have to cut out the center and after chroming have it welded back together.

I had mine lathed out by a competant shop and then had the steel on the spokes built up by weld and then machined back down for a tight fit but not too tight-slightly snug. make sure you have the chroming co cover the steel tabs or the two pieces will never go back together and they can't make the chrome on the rim to thick. on one wheel I had to grind down the chrome on the backside of the steel rim to make it fit but you would never see this once on the car.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TheNovaMan</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: whitetop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I would suspect Cragar is having their chrome done offshore and the wheels are welded together in the US.</div></div> In 2006, Cragar started casting their aluminum centers and wheels &quot;offshore&quot; but welding the centers into the rims in the USA. However, they are now switching back to all made in USA (if the scuttlebutt I've heard is correct).


I called Stockton Wheel Service (Stockton, CA) in early 2010 about re-chroming a pair of Cragars, and IIRC they were still using the hexavalent chroming process at that time. That was almost 5 years ago, so they may have switched to trivalent by now.

When you re-chrome a Cragar, do you have to cut the center out of the rim shell before chroming? </div></div>

[whitetop]

Here is the co that did these in hexevalant:
Impressions Plating &amp; Polishing
1223 N. Batavia St
Orange CA 92867
714-639-1371

They replated the wheels I had done by Pauls. I think it was $250-275 per wheel but all they did was strip off the chrome but kept Pauls underlying copper and nickel so not much buffing or prep work. I liked their work but by the cap they buffed the nickel down a tad too much and the copper was slightly showing through ..maybe a 1/4 x 1/4 area so no biggie.



Again NOTHING wrong with Pauls..I have had many items done by him.outstanding work but it is not Cragar chrome. Pauls shipped the wheels to me and as soon as I opened the box my heart sank because of the brownish tint.