Rebody Oh no. It's not another 507 Rebody. Oh yes it is!

[Pond]

Needs bigger/taller wheels to fill them arches

Why don't you just get some Eibach lowering springs? Maybe I missed the reason elsewhere, but seems the logical thing, rather than messing with wheel and tyre circumferences.

Although, as it's a 1960s tribute, the gaps are not bad IMO. Cars in them days had HUGE arch gaps and wheels sat inboard of the bodywork and no-one cared (or knew any better).

 

[10stb]

P****** down with rain? No shortage of that. You'll have those chrome bits finished in no time then.

 

[Duncodin]

Why don't you just get some Eibach lowering springs? Maybe I missed the reason elsewhere, but seems the logical thing, rather than messing with wheel and tyre circumferences.

Although, as it's a 1960s tribute, the gaps are not bad IMO. Cars in them days had HUGE arch gaps and wheels sat inboard of the bodywork and no-one cared (or knew any better).

When I look at a wheel arch gap, the distance between tyre and wheel arche, I like it when the gap is the same all round. So in front of and behind as well as above are all the same. Lowering the car would not reduce the gap in front/behind. Just one of my OCD things I guess.

 

[Pond]

When I look at a wheel arch gap, the distance between tyre and wheel arche, I like it when the gap is the same all round. So in front of and behind as well as above are all the same. Lowering the car would not reduce the gap in front/behind. Just one of my OCD things I guess.

Ah, I see what you mean. The wheels don't 'fit' in the opening, either forward, aft, or up?
Have you thought about making some temporary spacers to see if pulling the wheels out would reduce the 'forward and aft' gaps?

The problem with increasing the size of the wheels/ tyres is that half of the increase will result in the car being raised off the ground by that amount. It could look like a 'monster truck'. And you can't go 'borrowing' wheels/ tyres of different sizes to see. It would become a very expensive research hobby.

 

[Duncodin]

Ah, I see what you mean. The wheels don't 'fit' in the opening, either forward, aft, or up?
Have you thought about making some temporary spacers to see if pulling the wheels out would reduce the 'forward and aft' gaps?

The problem with increasing the size of the wheels/ tyres is that half of the increase will result in the car being raised off the ground by that amount. It could look like a 'monster truck'. And you can't go 'borrowing' wheels/ tyres of different sizes to see. It would become a very expensive research hobby.

I have fitted coilovers. The reason for the coilover isn't for lowering. It's the front strut. The OEM springs are quite wide and the spring seat is big overhanging the tyre. If the tyre was taller it will touch the spring seat. OEM spring seat is so big that even with spacers the tyre would touch the spring seat. But front coilover isn't as wide so tyre can be much taller without ever touching.

Anyway. To cut a long story short. The coilover on the front has still lowered the car around 35mm even though its setup as high as it'll go. So a taller tyre would, as you said, raise the car a bit. But I wouldn't mind raising it an inch anyway.

 

[John_B]

I think for now I'll just paint my bumpers silver till I decide what to do.

Have you looked into any of the chrome spray paints? I thought it was a gag when I saw it, but it is legit! I haven't tried it yet myself, but it's on my to-do list to get a can and try it on something in the near future (not on the car!)

 

[Pond]

Have you looked into any of the chrome spray paints? I thought it was a gag when I saw it, but it is legit! I haven't tried it yet myself, but it's on my to-do list to get a can and try it on something in the near future (not on the car!)

I got one to spray the overflow surrounds on my basins. Not only did it not look like chrome, it didn't look much like silver, either. More a dull grey. Absolute waste of time and money.
I should have known when there was a sticker on the can lid (which was a lovely shiny chrome finish) saying "results may not look the same as this lid". That was definitely correct.

 

[10stb]

I got one to spray the overflow surrounds on my basins. Not only did it not look like chrome, it didn't look much like silver, either. More a dull grey. Absolute waste of time and money.
I should have known when there was a sticker on the can lid (which was a lovely shiny chrome finish) saying "results may not look the same as this lid". That was definitely correct.

My philosophy is that if a guy who spends thousands to buy the hydrochome equipment and does it for a living can't get it right......spray can isn't going to do it.

I agree with you....they usually end up grey, matt and crap.

Deffo a waste of money for spray cans.

Toying with spraying it body coloured (arctic silver) but not convinced yet.

 

[Pond]

My philosophy is that if a guy who spends thousands to buy the hydrochome equipment and does it for a living can't get it right......spray can isn't going to do it.

It would seem that there are only two ways to get a proper 'chrome' shiny finish that will last...
Chrome plating, which is getting rarer to find as it is being phased out or
Mirror finish stainless, which is very expensive and has to be made to fit.

It made me laugh when my bodyshop guy came to look a my car the other week. I had the rear bumper fitted and he said "that's good chroming on there". It is mirror finish stainless which cost much more than chroming.

 

[John_B]

My philosophy is that if a guy who spends thousands to buy the hydrochome equipment and does it for a living can't get it right......spray can isn't going to do it.

Fair point!

 

[t-tony]

It depends on the make up of the paints (coatings) involved. And, for approx. a tenner for an aerosol can, to me, its worth a try. Hypercote do one for instance.

Tony.

 

[Duncodin]

If you look on utube you'll find comparisons of various chrome paints. Different shades of chrome?

I have a tin made by simoniz or whoever they are. It is difficult to apply. It's very very thin/runny and doesn't cover well so you need to apply many very thin coats. It says it's quick drying but you have to wait half an hour or more between coats otherwise it pools. I never managed to paint anything with it.

 

[Dxbolton]

Chrome paint done properly is excellent if done well. Mine wasn’t and water got under the top coat so it peeled off.
second attempt by a different person is Ok, and heavily coated with clear paint.
finding a person who can supply quality work is nigh on impossible

 

[10stb]

Chrome paint done properly is excellent if done well. Mine wasn’t and water got under the top coat so it peeled off.
second attempt by a different person is Ok, and heavily coated with clear paint.
finding a person who can supply quality work is nigh on impossible

Same guy....2 different results. Mine is awful

 

[Park Jong Hyuk]

I also went through a lot of trial and error. The bumper is a wrap and the grill is a $30 canned spray (420ml). Before using the canned spray, I made sure to completely dry the 3-component black urethane and then used the canned spray. This gave me much better results.

 

[Duncodin]

Same guy....2 different results. Mine is awful

What. you had yours painted buy the same guy as @Dxbolton ? Using the same materials?

 

[Duncodin]

I also went through a lot of trial and error. The bumper is a wrap and the grill is a $30 canned spray (420ml). Before using the canned spray, I made sure to completely dry the 3-component black urethane and then used the canned spray. This gave me much better results.

Your bumper. there's joins. How many pieces is your wrap? I tried doing it in one piece but it really didn't want to stretch that much. I'm reluctant to do it in multiple pieces. I'm thinking now that I might do the top in one piece and another on the bottom and then put a rubber strip around the middle to cover the join. But I also found that using the soft felt covered spreading tool on the vinyl left marks and light scratches that don't polish out. So I'm beginning to think that wrap might not be a longer term solution.

 

[Duncodin]

This is Simoniz chrome spray paint. Compare the bumper to the boot lid handle.

When it goes on it looks a bit more like chrome but when it's dry it actually looks quite grey. I think the 'Wheel Silver' paint from the same company looks better.

 

[10stb]

What. you had yours painted buy the same guy as @Dxbolton ? Using the same materials?

Yep

 

[Duncodin]

Yep

Cool. Does the painter have any explanation?