Chrome and powdercoating

[zjrog]

I have a chrome pushbar originally for an early Bronco. I'm told. OK, I don't have an EB, so I want to repurpose it for something else. I want to cut off the top bar and change the profile a bit, and change the shape where it would have been against an EB bumper.

Other than the cutting and mods needed for the repurpose, what is needed to get it ready to powdercoat? And how much will coating it cost, roughly... I know chrome isn't normally friendly with repainting.

And by repurpose, I mean, to the front of my Neon...

Mainly as someplace to mount extra lighting. I have been working with cardboard templates to make my own pushbar, but just wondering if the chrome bar would be a better choice for me to work with. Aftermarket lamp housings, HIDs in the projector low beams, 75 watt highs. Relay harness to provide maximum voltage to the lights and provide more current for the HIDs when starting, and to protect the headlight switch. Adding LED spots down low, as well as projector fogs. And the light/push bar will mount a pair of 8" offroad lights. I work in the desert and it can be a dark place with lots of wildlife.

Whether a fabbed pushbar, or the altered chrome one, mounting will be to brackets on top and below the crashbar/bumper. Which seems a lot more sturdy than I expected. So it will be solid enough for lights.

Car is dead, replacing the timing belt later today. I had to remove the front fascia to replace the washer fluid bottle, I'm swapping airhorns in palce of the stock horn. And I needed to fish out the factory fog light wiring for the LED or other fogs...

 

[astroracer]

Do your mods and sandblast the push bar, it will be ready for powder coating after that. The only way to get a price is to take it somewhere and get a quote. I have places local to me that vary by hundreds of dollars to do work like that. One place I use most of the time would probably charge less the 30 bucks for the bar. A couple others might charge 100 to 150...
That Neon is going to look pretty aggressive with that bar strapped on. Keep the pics coming...
Mark

 

[zjrog]

As luck has it, I can blast the thing at work, we have our own cabinet. I pushed for powdercoating as well, but they felt a table top paint booth was sufficient.

OK, so if the chrome bar will place the lights so I don't hit them with the hood opening or closing, I might go that way out of expediency and mark one more project off my list for the winter... I asked the same question above on a local forum where I know a powdercoater looks at, just can't remember his name... So I ought to get an answer on price.

Aggressive wasn't really what I was looking for, but can see it. I was looking at light mounting options and they are damned few. Even the Subaru guys resort to light bars and such, but all the stuff I saw looked flimsy, overpriced and didn't protect the lights... I don't NEED to push things with the Neon, but a gentle nudge here and there shouldn't hurt anything.

My original idea started some months ago, but the current lightbar idea was solidified when my son got police pushbar for his 08 Charger...

 

[Dirtybird103]

Locally there is pilkington metal finishings in magna (not sure if they would do it but maybe they would throw it in line) or unknown coatings here in Herriman. It would be cheaper if you do the blasting.

 

[zjrog]

There's a place on Redwood Rd south of 5400 that works with offroaders. Waiting to hear from him on RME4x4 locally. I'll do the blasting, but want to make sure of any other prep needed. Giving a lot of thought to an LED 15" lightbar instead of the 8" lights I have. I can trim the pushbar down a lot more if I go that route. Guess I need to see whats brighter and throws farther.

 

[muibubbles]

sorry i didnt read everything but just a heads up, chrome powder coat will lookin nothing like actual chrome...

I powder coat and its a reflective silver at best, any friends who have also gotten it powder coated by other people dont like it as well.. to me its more of a pewter?

(i've used 3 different brand chromes)

 

[zjrog]

Should have read. I want to cover chrome, likely black wrinkle. But thanks. Ceramic coated headers and stuff can look shiny, but aren't chrome either. Thanks.

 

[Kevin54]

Just out of curiosity, a pushbar on a Neon? Are you going to do some off road racing, or just going to PIT some assholes in the fast lane.

If you are going to powdercoat over chrome, you will want to etch the chrome, or try some aggressive sandblasting to give the new some tooth to bite into.

It may just be easier to hit the scrapyard and get some materials and not even mess with the chrome bar and build your own. All you are looking at is a couple of plate pieces and two round tubes. Check with a place that does plasma cutting or waterjet and see what it would cost to cut a couple of plates out.

 

[zjrog]

Tempting as it would be, no PIT for the Neon. Not enough mass. I want a place to mount a pair of 8" off road lights. The desert is quite dark.

I had been working on some templates and have a friend that can cut and bend anything I need. I still might go that route. But since I also have the chrome Bronco pushbar, thought that might be easier.

I can blast parts myself. And weld stuff myself. I need to hurry and decide. I'm nearly done with the timing belt change and need to get the front fascia back on the car this week. I can fab and install brackets to mount to before getting the fascia back on. I had looked at products the Subaru guys use. All were pricey and didn't look too solid. But worse, still left their expensive lights vulnerable. I'm a Jeep guy, I hate vulnerable.

 

[CudaChick1968]

zjrog, your question about powder coating over old chrome comes up quite a bit around here.

The thing is you're working with an old Bronco ... and back in those days, chrome jobs were usually very well done with the triple plating of nickel, copper and a few layers of chromium. You'll be at your blast cabinet for hours (or paying someone else to be there forever) trying to get it back down to bare metal where you can prep it for powder.

A faster and more cost-effective alternative would be to take it to a local chrome shop and let them dip it in their stripping chemicals. When it comes back to you, any indicated repairs or mods can be done, all the welds can be roughened up with a wire brush, and then a light blasting and cleaning will be all it'll need.

You CAN powder coat right over the existing chrome but I very rarely recommend that (especially with the crappy chrome jobs they do nowadays that pit, rust and start flaking off within a few months). It'll last a lot longer and be much more durable if the job is done right.

If you get all your lighting fab work done ahead of time even the hardware and bracketry can get coated in the black wrinkle to match and it'll look more factory ... and leave those Subaru guys whispering and shaking their heads wondering where you got it.

I'm always around if you have other questions or if I can help you iron out the details. It's going to be stellar! Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[zjrog]

Leanna, thanks for the info. I do believe I am going to fab my own bar as originally planned. I have templates I'm happy with. And have 3/16" plate thats a little rusty. A friend has offered to plasma cut it on his CNC table, ought to take him up on that. Maybe keep the parts on file if anyone wants a Neon lightbar. Thanks again CudaChick!

 

[CudaChick1968]

Anytime!!! I'm happy to help.