Chroming the sidepipes

Tampa427Cobra · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2014, 05:26 PM

I have the dull gray, powder coated side-pipes the A&C comes with. Anyone know the approximate price to get them chromed?

Paul F · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2014, 08:48 PM

I'd say don't bother. Steel pipes rust out pretty quickly. Go with stainless pipes. Stainless aren't quite as 'silver' as chrome, but they are easy to maintain and keep looking good. If chrome gets scratched you can't rub it out very easily. The same goes if something gets melted on it. Stainless can easily be rubbed out and polished back to its original shine.

But if you want to chrome them, it depends if you want to go local or if you don't mind shipping them out. My local chrome shops do terrible work. So I have shipped to LA and Sacramento in the past to get chrome work done.

It would help if you said where you are located so people with local experience can advise you.

undy · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2014, 04:52 AM

Chrome will blue and rust, not looking too good in a relatively short time.

windy · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2014, 02:45 PM

My headers were dull gray as well. I spent $12 on polishing compound and a buffer to fit on my drill. I polished them myself in a few hours. I was amazed at the shine. It is not quite chrome, but it is clean and I can see my reflection in it.

RedEye · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2014, 02:56 PM

Chroming because of its environmental issues is very expensive these days. I have a custom twin roll bar set up and it cost $650 for the chroming (after the cost of materials and fab shop to weld).

My pipes are silver aluminum ceramic, and the best part is that they dissipate the heat so efficiently I have never had even a near burn from touching the 4:1 combination point or further back. Ceramic is the way to go.

dont · #6 (**permalink**) 03-13-2014, 05:46 PM

If your dull grey pipes are ceramic coated you can polish them. Try grade#0000 steel wool and aluminum polish.

BAsque1 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2014, 05:14 AM

Contact Ron Roberts at Firefly Firefly Stainless Steel performance pipes have been designed

You will not be disappointed look at mine, ceramic coated
Lou

smccobra · #8 (**permalink**) 03-22-2014, 09:16 AM

Classic chrome platers is across from the Clearwater airport and their work is quite good.
I have had motorcycle parts chromed there. We have a Cobra whose sidepipes were done in 97 and the chrome is still nice and not blued.