The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop hood ornament repair ??

Today, I was putting the hood back on my 1940 pickup. In the process, I managed to break my beautiful original hood ornament. Please don't ask me how, I'm sick enough over it. On this model, the ornament is used to support the front of the hood, and provides a pivot point for it. My question now is: Is it practical to try to repair it. I feel pretty sure that it can't be welded, I'm wondering about brazing, silver solder, or JB weld. I dont know what kind of metal these were made of. My guess is it's only slightly above pot metal. Anyway, your help or advice will be very appreciated.

Sorry about your breakage. I looked on eBay and saw one there. Hopefully yours can be salvaged.

It depends on where it's broken how much success you might have in fixing it. If it's in a low stress point, JB Weld might do the trick, but likely not if it's in a higher stress point. Drilling a couple small holes in each piece so they match at the break and using a couple of steel wire pins with the JB might do the trick.

Thanks, I figured that a pin or two would add a lot of strength. I guess at this point, I don't have much to loose. Plus salvaging things that appear to be unsalvagable is one of my favorite things to do. We'll see how it goes.

A picture of the part is worth a thousand words.
JB weld has gotten me out of some serous binds. It is the only viable way to repair pot metal. Welding, soldering, brazing, soldering are out of the question.
Pictures of your broken part and a description of where the stresses on the part will be would be helpful for coming up with a plan of action to fix it.

The only problem with JB Weld would be that you couldn't have the part chrome plated.

I was going to repair my eagle ornament base but found another one. I researched Muggy Weld products.

Wow, I just looked at Muggy weld.
From soldering pot metal , and lots of other things.
Very interesting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOovzoNxpcQ

Does it work on pot metal and does it take chrome plating?

I don't want to hijack this thread, but there seem to be very few 1940 trucks among the Stovebolters.
So, while several folks are seeing this thread, I would like to ask if anyone has experience with the various reproduction hood ornaments for the 1940 pickup?
There are some that are "paintable" for under $200 and the chrome units are around $400 and up.
How is the quality?
Were all of the originals chrome?
Are the 1939 and 1940 truck ornaments the same?
Thanks!

Factory chrome plated them. Hot-rodders paint them.

Even plastic can be chrome plated, but it's probably beyond the average chrome shop's capabilities.

@52Carl, according to the Muggy Weld video, their pot metal welding (soldering?) rod can be chrome plated. Looks interesting.

I'm aware of the chromed plastic but don't know of a place that does it or that I would trust to do it.

I have experience with Muggy Welding and it is perfect for pot metal. I don't have firsthand knowledge of a Muggy repair being chrome plated but Muggy claims that it can be chrome plated if the repair was made with Alloy 1 low temp solder.

By the time you go through all of that expense and rigmarole however, you may as well just cough up the dough for one of the reproduction hood ornaments.

Nick, I do rebuilding and restoring of mostly 1936 and older GMC radiator caps, I have a few restored caps that rang in price from $400 to $1000 and rebuilt ones from $300. Since I can't control chrome plating costs nor the cost of aquireing a cap, I price them to at least break even.

I had no idea there was any way to fix pot metal. I once tried and failed to solder it.. good to know!

Instrument Specialties in Rhode Island “chrome plates” plastic and has been doing it forever. It’s a vacuum type of process, very different than plating metal. You can trust them.

Can they "chrome" 3D- printed emblems, ornaments, etc? Actually been wondering about this for a while now as that specialty has taken off.

I guess it's the same as the so-called chrome trim on modern vehicles. It's really a mylar type product that is glued to the plastic grill and assorted trim pieces.

My guess is yes. Give them a phone call and ask.