I could have left them plain zinc without any problems, but wanted the plates to look more 'neat & discreet' with the exception of the red one which I wanted to make a statement with! :DBCDelica wrote:Wow those look great....Could you even have left them plain zinc?
Clear zinc plate also tends to 'dull' after a while - the chrome effect doesn't last that long and although it doesn't rust....it looks a bit faded and matt after a year or so of wet weather. :( Painted finish looks better and lasts longer when it has a rust preventing zinc coat under it....
If you look at the first two pictures, you'll see that there is a hole in the metal. I think something had been mounted there by the Japanese owner and then removed (air horns maybe??) the area had badly rusted and looked a bit of a mess.BCDelica wrote:Also did you change the lower radiator plate? In the last picture there are two arrows showing in the black paint that don't appear in the previous pictures (or on my vans)
I flattened it out with a hammer before having it plated then when it was plated, I bonded a plastic panel over it to hide the hole. In order to keep things looking neater and more even, I added one to the other side to match. While I was cutting the panels, I thought it would be good to put some sort of logo into it to add more of a subtle 'feature' that only I would know is there! :D I engraved the arrows to 'symbolise' the air direction over the panel into the rad....
Hope that makes sense?? You probably all think I'm mad now! :lol: :lol:
Didn't think it was needed and liked the look of it without!BCDelica wrote:I noticed too that you didn't replace that rubber leading edge trim on that plate, I have knocked both of mine off already!
If I was going to put it back on, I was going to fit a new rubber strip, slightly deeper and cut in a series of triangles to look like teeth! :lol:
Glad the info on the wheels has helped - I've got some more info about 31's that I found out today while playing with my new L300....but will save that for another time! (got to get the photos sorted for French Boy before he throws a paddy again! :lol: )
Regards,
Bruce.