Ok, I have an urgent parts request and I believe Jim Finn is out of contact for a couple of weeks (per a recent post) so if anyone can help me out I would appreciate it.

Here is my problem: I sent the letters from my tail lamp to be re-plated (new chrome) to an outfit in New York. I very carefully packed the five letters in foam wrap and tripled it over on itself, taped it shut and attached a note to be careful opening the wrap so that no letters were lost. It was then boxed and sent UPS.

Well, you can guess what happened. I got a call 15 minutes ago that they are "missing" the letter U. Translation: we didn't follow the instructions on your note and the stuff flew out everywhere and we lost the U, but we are claiming we never received it since we don't want to be responsible for replacing it.

So now I have an incomplete set of tail lamp letters and I am in need of a letter U. If anyone has one I can buy, it doesn't have to be in good condition finish wise (it will be re-plated) as long as it is not broken or deformed. In fact, I would prefer one with a poor finish so I am not breaking up a clean set. I would like to get this resolved as soon as possible so that I can get the plating work done and put them back on the car.

Please PM me if you have one available. Please note that I will consider buying a set of all 5 letters if necessary.

Thanks in advance,

KDirk

Kevin,
I am home until tomorrow noon and can send a "U".
Let me know where you want it sent and I can mail it out today or tomorrow no charge.
Jim

Jim,

You are a true gentleman. I will owe you a really big favor. Also, when you return I have some other parts requests that I will send via email.

A PM with the mailing address is in your box (or will be very shortly).

Thanks again,

KDirk

So what's it costing you to get the letters re-chromed?

Also, how do you remove the letters without any damage to them or the lens?

The "U" will go out today.
Jim

Gentleman Jim

Don't think you will find a more reliable, more reasonable, and more friendly parts supplier....

Jim is quite a guy... Fair minded in most everything but Packers and Brett Farve. Wouldn't that be a scream if they got him to play for the Vikes?!? The hillbilly from the south leads em to the Super Bowl? I am really looking forward to this season.
Sorry to steal this thread, but it was already stolen to compliment Jim, our inventory specialist from Duluth.

A quick update:

I sent the letters to 21st Century Finishes Inc. in New York to have the plating done. Cost quoted was $200. Yeah, it is a lot but finding a decent set of letters complete in good condition is not easy, nor is it cheap when they do come up. Besides, doing it right is never cheap. Think about the cost of a full repaint, which some here have done. If you want quality, you're gonna pay for it.

The other advantage is that the new chrome job will last a long time. Or at least longer than a clean set with original plating after 17-20 years of exposure, washes etc. Best of all, I am not just discarding the old letters because they were worn, meaning another hard to find part lost to the trash bin. I am of the mindset that it is better to reuse than replace whenever possible.

I discovered that while I originally thought the letters were pot metal, they are in fact plastic. Not sure the particular type, but 21st Century is one of only a handful of places that do real triple chrome plate on plastic. This is not a "vacuum metalizing" process that uses aluminum deposition with a clear coat, it is the real thing.

21st Century Finishes has gotten a lot of "props" for their show quality chrome, so I am hoping they live up to their reputation. A lot of Harley guys use their services, and we know how particular they tend to be.

As far as removing the letters, I found that a dental pick worked very well for pulling them away from the lens without damaging the letters or the lens. Patience is needed, move too quick and the letters may break. Thankfully, the original foam tape adhesive was pretty weak and let go fairly easy.

I will update - with pics - when I have them back. Once I have my tail lamp polished out and the letters reinstalled it will finally be time for me to post some pics of the whole car. I has come a long way from what it looked like when I first picked it up in January, but there is still more to do.

Oh, and I must again thank Jim, and concur with other's comments about him here. He really needs some kind of official honorary title for the service he provides. Collectors of any classic or special interest vehicle should be so lucky to have someone like him willing to keep a bunch of partial vehicles around just so he can fulfill other's parts needs. The fact that he does so quickly and at reasonable cost is almost unbelievable.

KDirk