>From: MGTD2@aol.com
>To: rgt3000@fuse.net, mg-t@autox.team.net
>Subject: Re: MG TD Grill Surround
When it comes to body parts and big chrome parts it is always preferable to
restore rather than replace unless the part in question is too far gone.
Restoration is almost always more expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Having gone the route of a replacement shroud I can say the metal was more
flimsy than the original, the tolerances were not as tight, and it was only
single plated.
In the end I sent it back and sent my original to a place in Alabama that
had been recommended to me by a guy in my local club. At $750 in '99 for
thriple plating and some major repair work it was expensive but the results
speak for itself.
You can also expect a month or two wait for your part as all the platers I
know of have more work than they can handle, and the plating itself is a
time consuming process.
Lastly if you're interested a search of the internet says the number for
Graves Plating is 256-764-9487.
Good luck,
Scott Allen
52 TD
74 1/2 BGT
>Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2003 16:45:31 -0400
>
>Hi Rick.
>My experience with this was that a good plater that does antique auto parts
>should be able to steer you to a "tin smith" who can hammer out dents, fill
>holes, mend tears, and otherwise do magic on your radiator shell. The
>plater I used (23 years ago) sent my shell to the smith first, then again
>after the copper plating so it could be detailed, and only then did he put
>the chrome plating on. It looked like hell when I took it in, and it came
>back optically straight along the side panels-- which is a pleasure to gaze
>at even now. But that was from the *third* plater I tried. Caveat emptor!
> Even some of the high priced send-away places can do poor work. Try to
>see the product first hand, check some references among demanding clientele
>(like AACA resto freaks), and ask him how many times he'll re-do the job if
>there are grinder marks or polishing swirls in the finished part.
>John Deikis
>Chelsea, Michigan
>
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