Rechrome Cragar S/S Wheels

[mslisaj]

I will certainly keep you guys in the loop. They asked for pictures and also said that "if" they can do it the cost would be about $550 each. Wish me luck!

Lisa

 

[Photon440]

If you want to experiment a bit, you could try dipping in a diluted molasses solution and see how much rust comes off. While not brand new looking, my experiment turned out better than expected:
https://www.forbbodiesonly.com/moparforum/threads/rust-removal-by-using-molasses.36965/page-3

 

[mslisaj]

Interesting idea that I have never heard of before. But in my case it's not the rust it's the flaking off of the chrome.

 

[mslisaj]

Well here is the current update:
Paul's Plating was very nice and after they reviewed the pictures they said the could not do this type of wheel so I'm very disappointed at this point but I have one other source in Stockton, California and we'll just have to wait and see what they will say. They have the capabilities to disassemble and reassemble the wheels. It will be interesting to get their response. Any other idea's are appreciated too but this doesn't seem to be so far one of those projects that if you throw enought money at it, it will get done.

 

[Photon440]

Have you contacted Cragar to ask their opinion on restoring one of their old products?

 

[mslisaj]

Great Idea!!
I'll give this a try also!!
You guys are the best and I appreciate your help.

Lisa

 

[mslisaj]

BINGO!!

Well I found a place on the west coast about 7 hours from me that is familiar with the wheels and the process. On their webpage they have a picture of a Cragar S/S wheel under the "speciality wheels" section. He completely explained the process of cutting the wheels into two pieces and sending them out to another shop to get chromed. I asked about how they avoid bluing the chrome with the heat of the weld in the reassembly and they use water and two guys to keep that from happening (this is probably how Cragar does it). Looking at their website they are in the custom wheel business.

He said that they first check and true the wheels before they cut the centers out. Then another shop does the chrome plate and that is where the time is as anyone that has had any chroming done. It can sometimes take forever for a shop to get your project done. I was told that it could take up to three months. When they get the parts back from the plater they are reassembled in their shop. The total would be in the range of $1000.00 for both wheels which is doable. Now I'm getting jazzed about the project.

Here are some links to their site:

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/index.html

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/specialty.html

Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California

Of course I'll keep you guys in the loop on this project as it moves along.

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

BINGO!!

Well I found a place on the west coast about 7 hours from me that is familiar with the wheels and the process. On their webpage they have a picture of a Cragar S/S wheel under the "speciality wheels" section. He completely explained the process of cutting the wheels into two pieces and sending them out to another shop to get chromed. I asked about how they avoid bluing the chrome with the heat of the weld in the reassembly and they use water and two guys to keep that from happening (this is probably how Cragar does it). Looking at their website they are in the custom wheel business.

He said that they first check and true the wheels before they cut the centers out. Then another shop does the chrome plate and that is where the time is as anyone that has had any chroming done. It can sometimes take forever for a shop to get your project done. I was told that it could take up to three months. When they get the parts back from the plater they are reassembled in their shop. The total would be in the range of $1000.00 for both wheels which is doable. Now I'm getting jazzed about the project.

Here are some links to their site:

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/index.html

http://www.stocktonwheel.com/specialty.html

Stockton Wheel Service in Stockton, California

Of course I'll keep you guys in the loop on this project as it moves along.

Don't you have 4 wheels?

 

[Dipstick]

I have looked at the "new" Cragar S/S wheels and the centers are different from the originals in that the old set have a more rounded spoke and I don't want the "new wheel" look.

Have you checked both S/S series? The 61C series looks to be rounder like the originals and the 08/61 series is the flatter one.

 

[mslisaj]

Don't you have 4 wheels?

Fair question Mike and here's the deal. These two that I need done are the "reversed" wheels and the chrome is coming off as seen in the pictures. But the other two wheels are standard offset and the chrome is like new on those wheels so it's just these deep wheels that look bad.

I was just pricing tires and this is going to be a $1400 project at this rate but it will look good and be old school original.

 

[mslisaj]

Have you checked both S/S series? The 61C series looks to be rounder like the originals and the 08/61 series is the flatter one.

I have looked at them and compared and the wheel design is different as they are not a "reversed" wheel only a deep offset. Plus they are unilug and my wheels are predrilled. So there truly is no easy way to get out of this. The wheels have to match and for old car nuts like myself "we" see the difference in the wheels easily.
But thank you for the suggestion. I appreciate you taking your time to weigh in here with your thoughts.

Lisa

 

[MoparLeo]

The "old school" T/A radial tires with that tread design and tire sizing was also discontinued 45 years ago. You will have better luck posting want adds to find a nice set of original wheels. Those centers will never look "new" again. You can see there is more going on than flaking.
Aluminum oxidation is like a powdery layer and the chrome lifts off the oxidation. You can't put the aluminum back.
Like trying to restore a rusty, pitted pot metal hood medallion. The pitting has to be filled in someway and polished and the chrome layer must form a bond
( by electrolysis )to what ever that ends up being. Not like paint over filler.

 

[mslisaj]

That's a great point about the oxidation that I didn't think about and I'll let the plater make the call. The old chrome has to be stripped off and maybe they will deal with that oxidation that is present at that time.
Trust me I've been looking for a good set of wheels for years it seems and this is kind of my last resort. 14" are hard to come by and even if it's a rough surface of chrome in some places it will look better then they do now and the steel rim will be perfect. I've seen some amazing restorations of old parts and hopefully this is what I'll get at this shop.
Thank you for your advice. I do appreciate it.
Lisa

 

[mslisaj]

Current update:
I delivered the wheels to the Stockton Wheel Works facility and also got a nice tour of their shop. They are definitely in the business. They are very famililar with this wheel and have done this many times before. The only risk that they explained to me is that after they cut the center loose from the wheel on a big lathe sometimes the center gets stuck and they have to be extremely careful to press the center out without breaking it. I was also assured that the shop that does their plating makes these look better then new so I'll probably have to get the rear wheels done when these come back. I'll keep the forum updated with progress as I get it. Wish me luck!

 

[ZR9B]

Good luck...I think it will be better than you hoped for.

 

[MoparLeo]

Anything can be done if you have enough money . Hope they are nice .

 

[mslisaj]

Well gentlemen, I'm excited to report that after five and a half months I got my wheels back and they are better then new. The wheels were disassembled so the aluminum centers could go in one process and the steel wheels would go to another. The quality of the chrome AND the welds is superior!! I could not he happier and they kept to their original estimate of $565 each. I've included a picture of the back side as they polished the rim and chromed it too. The back side did not look like this on the original wheel. The folks that recognize the original old school Cragar S/S will recognize these and be amazed. Thank you all for your support though this project. Just ordered a new set of P245/60R 14 BF Goodrich Radial T/A's.

For those that read this down the line and want to know where I had this done well here is their contact information:
Stockton Wheel Works
648 W. Fremont Street
Stockton, California 95203
800-395-9433

 

[mslisaj]

Anything can be done if you have enough money . Hope they are nice .

Oh yea!! They are better then nice!!

 

[440 PHIXX]

They look beautiful!

 

[MIKESPOLARA]

Well gentlemen, I'm excited to report that after five and a half months I got my wheels back and they are better then new. The wheels were disassembled so the aluminum centers could go in one process and the steel wheels would go to another. The quality of the chrome AND the welds is superior!! I could not he happier and they kept to their original estimate of $565 each. I've included a picture of the back side as they polished the rim and chromed it too. The back side did not look like this on the original wheel. The folks that recognize the original old school Cragar S/S will recognize these and be amazed. Thank you all for your support though this project. Just ordered a new set of P245/60R 14 BF Goodrich Radial T/A's.

For those that read this down the line and want to know where I had this done well here is their contact information:
Stockton Wheel Works
648 W. Fremont Street
Stockton, California 95203
800-395-9433


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Look gorgeous