How much chrome to keep.

[Steve Firebird]

Hey everyone. I am moving my car to a shop next week that should be able to finish up the prep work and get started on painting before too long. Here is my question. I have shaved the door handles locks and gas filler door and removed the emblems. I am trying to decide if I should fill the holes for the chrome wheel well openings and weather or not to install the chrome strip along the bottom of the rockers. I do not plan to reinstall the chrome drip rail moldings. I want a smooth look on this car and wonder if the wheel well moldings and rocker panel chrome will take away from it. My bumpers will stay chrome as well as the window surrounds and rear ¼ window chrome. I plan on painting it one solid color (viper blue) or maybe a two tone blue or blue and silver with no stripes or graphics other than I had the emblems and gills recreated in vinyl which turned out great. I have been looking for pictures of 68 Firebird done in the PT style but not found to many.

[Steve Firebird]

I thought I should tell you its a 68 Firebird also it will have a Super 400 Hood which has a stock look but the scoops are 1.5 inches taller than factory.

[rocketman]

I would go without chrome

[JayR]

I would keep the rocker chrome but ditch the wheelwell chrome. That stuff is just decoration but the rocker chrome is a stylish piece that also protects a little sheetmetal. As for examples of P/T 'Birds, Overhaulin did a 68 so try googling it or going right to their site www.overhaulin.com

[jy211]

why not anodize or powder coat some of the small chrome pieces if you can match the color...not sure if the metal pieces may take it though...

[Speedster]

Hey Steve, haven't talked to you in a while. Sounds like you are moving along on your Bird. There are a few things you discussed that are in this photo - e.g. the Super 400 hood, trim deleted and a PT look. Just figured seeing it may help you out.

[Speedster]

One other thing Steve -
Be prepared to spend a lot of time on the Super 400 hood. The hood is a decent piece but it did not fit on mine very well. Tapered and too wide in the back, and the arch in the hood does not match the fender line. I think there is about 60+ hours into matching the hood correctly. (They had to make a bunch of small slits in the bottom hood supports, de-arch it and then re-fiberglass the supports. The hood hinges also had to have the slots elongated. Just an FYI for you.

[Steve Firebird]

Originally Posted by Speedster

Hey Steve, haven't talked to you in a while. Sounds like you are moving along on your Bird. There are a few things you discussed that are in this photo - e.g. the Super 400 hood, trim deleted and a PT look. Just figured seeing it may help you out.

Wow your concept looks nice I have one of your early drawings as my wall paper looks like I need to update. I really like the clean look of you car. I wish I could see your rendering in Viper blue with the factory bumper/frt end and my rims ( they look like TT2s) and no rear spoiler that would be very close to what I am looking for. Thanks for the pic it makes me think my orignal idea of no wheel well or rocker pannel chome will turn out OK.

[Roger Poirier]

Originally Posted by Steve Firebird

Here is my question. I have shaved the door handles locks and gas filler door and removed the emblems. I am trying to decide if I should fill the holes for the chrome wheel well openings and weather or not to install the chrome strip along the bottom of the rockers. I do not plan to reinstall the chrome drip rail moldings. I want a smooth look on this car and wonder if the wheel well moldings and rocker panel chrome will take away from it. My bumpers will stay chrome as well as the window surrounds and rear ¼ window chrome. I plan on painting it one solid color (viper blue) or maybe a two tone blue or blue and silver with no stripes or graphics other than I had the emblems and gills recreated in vinyl which turned out great. I have been looking for pictures of 68 Firebird done in the PT style but not found to many.

If you decide not to use the wheel well moldings it will look fine. That was one of the last things they put on my car per my request. Without them it will give the car a meaner look to it.

As far as the rocker moldings, unless your going to spend big bucks reworking the metal where the rocker panel moldings go, don't do it. The fit and finish was never a priority from the factory in that area. Major bucks to correct it.

It will look fine as you are using your chrome moldings throughtout the windows, plus your front and rear bumper.

R.P.

[Steve Firebird]

I talked it over with the "new" body shop owner today and pretty much desided to go with out the wheel well trim and will wait and see about the rocker moldings. I can put them on later but I do agree with Rodger that they would need some work to look right. They tend to look like someting stuck on as an after thought and do not really flow with the lines of the car. I feel same way I felt about the door handles. I am leaning toward a two tone Viper blue and silver with light blue accent stripe between them but not 100% sure yet. Viper blue on top with silver on the lower part. I think this would make the car seem lower and accent the body lines if we can place the break between the colors right. Some thing like this picture I copied from the Cars by Kris web site It's not exactly what I want but you can get the general idea.