These stainless repro parts are almost as rusty as the originals. They haven't even been rained on (I keep the car under a carport). This is just the work of Florida humidity. Kinda makes me wonder if there's a point to repro parts at all. Did the originals rust this quickly?

 

Its the salt air, and yes, in that environment they will rust quickly if there is no preventative action. Use some 0000 steel wool and wax the crap out of the chrome before it gets pitted.

 

Use www.autosol.com chrome polish regularly and it will prevent that. The stuff really is magical. I've been using it 30 years and have found nothing better.

 

Ain't no salt air in central Florida. The state IS more than beaches, retirement homes, and Disney.

Waxing the holy shinolies out of it, and often, is recommended. You need a garage. My old man in Winter Park keeps his 71 vette in a garage under a simple cover and has not this issue.

Incidentally, that garage of his, which is 4 car and two story, started as a lowly 2 car carport that then was closed in. You could do the same and run a dehumidifier.

 

Those parts are not stainless. They are chrome plated pot metal. Clearly the quality of the Chinesium plating on the repros is not up to OEM standards.

 

What Joe said...chineasium junk. I think I need to patent that word, Joe.
Always keep plated parts liberally coated with carnauba wax right out of the box to seal the pores. Especially critical for the lesser grade chrome plating. Wax annually or more depending on wash cadence and weather exposure.