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Chrome polish or paint engine parts

Q. Hi my name is Paul and I was trying to get some info about chrome and I ended up at your "forum / website". I recently bought an 87 Shadow vt1100 and the motor was already painted with that heat resistant spray paint stuff. I would like to give a new look to the motor but I don't know how yet! I would like to ask you a couple of things.

Can that motor be easily chromed? If yes how much would it cost me? would you recommend that? is there another kind of finish that would also look good?

I also got many parts in aluminum that also need some work, what do you recommend for that? (any special brand of polishing products?) Does the polished aluminum or chrome have any special maintenance? Do they last the same time shining? Is it safe to paint over chrome?

Thank you for your time

Paulo Rorigues
homeowner - Hillside, New Jersey
2004

Hi Paulo. You can look at a number of other motorcycles to see what parts are traditionally chrome plated vs. polished aluminum. Some aluminum parts on Harleys are chrome plated where other brands might polish the aluminum (e.g., chain guards). Top quality chrome plating is quite doable but terribly expensive (many hundreds of dollars for each piece). Polishing the aluminum is very labor intensive, but is something you can do yourself. Topic 0800 is about polishing aluminum motorcycle parts. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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