What is electroplated and can I paint over it?

I'm buying some lower shock plates from DSE and they are electroplated.

Can you just leave it the way it is and it won't rust?

Electroplating is a process where electrical current is used to deposit a thin layer of one metal onto the surface of another. Many different metals can be used.
Chome plating is one, zinc is another (zinc plated steel is called galvanized and is highly rust resistant)
Many time parts are plated with Cadmium. "Cad" leaves a "goldish" color, reasonable corrosion resistance (not as good as zinc) and a reasonably long lasting decent looking finish (not as pretty as chrome.)

The parts you're referring to are most likely cad plated.

I have there plates from the mini-tub kit, I would glassbead them then paint.

Here is a picture of them. They look to be cad plated.

So I guess I can glass bead and paint them black, or just install them the way they are and they won't rust.

What kind of shop can do the glass beading?

Why the heck do they not just send them to you semi gloss black?:confused:




http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g35/johnnyscamaro67/camaros/dseshockplate.jpg

if you just scuffed em up a bit, paint will stick. They plate them for corrosion resistance, tho the cad won't last forever.