The mirrors, door handles (outside are alot worse than inside), and boomerangs...all pitted, but not so bad that they are hopeless. I don't think they can be re-plated, and I know it's more cost effective to just buy new...however, to replace all of it is going to cost me in the neighborhood of $500+, and I'd rather spend that elsewhere on the truck right now.

I'm looking to band-aid the issue for now, and I'll replace with new later.
As the Cheap/Fast/Good rule goes, I'm choosing cheap and good for this project.

I was thinking I could use JBweld for filler and then rattle-can appliance paint or powdercoat them. Just something that looks good from 10 feet away and doesn't feel like 40 grit sandpaper when you touch them.

Any thoughts or opinions?

 

Sounds like a plan to me. Perhaps some chrome paint would work for awhile. In the meantime you might find some used parts on Ebay or in swap meets that are better until you can have your parts redone. Function, reliability, and mechanical safety have to come first so I agree the $500 may be better spent elsewhere at this juncture...

 

I did exactaly the same thing. It works well. Looks good from about 10 feet too.

 

I have sanded filled and refinished potmetal trim with great success. One of my customers had 2 57/chevys that he wanted to paint . One had Ok chrome the other was pitted and very rough. We took the best & put on the one car and refinished and repaired the rough chrome on the other. I painted the rough chrome with a silver mettalic with lots of clear, I had a local pinstriper add highlights on the bumpers and trim , turned out great --- at a distance hard to tell weather its painted or chrome.

Have A Great Day -------- Hotwrench

 

Depending on your time and pocketbook there are several solutions: the previous fill and paint is by far the least costly, if you have large collector car swap meets in TX by all means take the time to attend, buy a parts truck, list specifically items you want on FTE, sell spare parts on FTE however you will need to have entered 20 or 25 comments before you can list in the classifieds. I think you have a F-1 when you mentioned boomerangs but then they are stainless on the F-1 but one of the hood side ornament on the F-100 is referred to as boomerang and is zinc die cast. Have fun, it is all good.

 

I've been buying my chrome pieces over the last few years. When I place a order for parts I try to add parts for the final assembly. In other words spread the spending out. Sometimes if you watch the shipping the shipping is free after a certain amount.
Truck and car Shop ( Chevy Car Parts | Vintage - GMC Car, Classic Truck Parts ) have both exterior door handles for $68 includes push buttons screws and gaskets.(Oval brand) Mirrors 34 dollars each. When you buy from them after 350 dollars the shipping is free.

 

i had some good stainless and some pitted chrome on my 49 f1. i sanded and filled the pitted chrome and steel wooled the stainless. then i primed and painted them. i also did the fiberglass grill and headlight rims to match. i decided for my flatrod II that i wouldn't try to make it look like chrome so i painted everything with rustoleum metallic matte nickel spray paint. i did the stainless also so everything would match. i only had in on the road 10 weeks this fall so don't know about long term, but i'm happy with the look.