help!!!
i've got some misc engine parts that want chromed, but i can't find anyone locally thatt can do it. there's a powdercoat place that can, but the finish will turn colors and you can't rub on it (no cleaning)...so that's out.

i don't want to ship them out (and cross my fingers), so anyone know of a good way to get a metal piece to look like chrome?
i know there's spray paint, but is there a really good kind? i don't mind a "job on a budget", but i still want it to look good and last too.

any ideas?

What parts are you looking to get chromed? Headers with chrome plating turn colors when they get hot, the chrome turns blue and gold. Ceramic coating actually is the best thing to coat headers with. For pretty much any other engine part, powder coating shouldn't turn colors, and it's very durable. People powder coat and even paint TPI intakes all the time, and they don't discolor from heat. However, you can't really get that chrome mirror shine with anything other than chrome plating. With powder coating, you can only get really shiny silver. Any aluminum parts, like a TPI intake, accessory brackets, etc, can be polished to a mirror finish, but it's a lot of work to get it to look good. It is however cheap, just time consuming.

it mostly the accessory items. the headers and tpi are done, no problems there. i would think powdercoat would be ok, but they tell me that it'll turn colors and i won't be able to clean it (buff and rub).

know some good paint? it doesn't need to be perfect chrome, but i would like it to be close. do you known any powdercoat products i could tell the shop about? any ideas?

If you CLEAR coat the Mirror Silver powders you will be fine cleaning them. if you DON'T clear any of the silvers . aka. ALLMOST CHROME, MIRROR SILVERS, ETC. you will mess them up even water spots will.

When you clear cost these colors they do loose a little of the shine.
Clear Coated
http://www.cecoatings.com/images/coa...rome%20TPI.jpg

NOT Cleared yet.
http://www.cecoatings.com/images/coa...mostChrome.jpg

http://www.cecoatings.com/images/coa...images/SLP.jpg

Its a very common color I do If someone doesnt want the price of Chrome Plating
http://www.cecoatings.com/images/coa...blockparts.jpg
http://www.cecoatings.com/images/coa...lockparts2.jpg