I just got a pair of front and rear fiberglass bumpers for my 1971 Chevelle. I would like to have these look close to stock with a chrome-like finish or shiny silver color. I do not have any experience with paint work. Is this even possible? Any info or input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You would spray them with a silver base and then airbrush detail onto them to look like chrome. Basically you paint the reflection that the chrome would mirror. Go out and find a chrome bumper like yours and take a real good picture of it out in the sun. Get the picture in front of you and airbrush what you see in the picture. Kind of a paint by numbers with out any lines. You might want to omit your own reflection out of the picture on your bumper.

would it be possible to plate them as you would a plastic piece? kind of like the way you would on some of the interior trim. maybe the plating could be done thicker for a bit more durability, since the stuff on the interior wouldn't stand up too well to exterior abuse. i'd look aorund at different types of chrome-like plating, and see if there is anything compatible with plastic/fiberglass

Vacuum metalizing is used on interior plastic but will NOT hold up to long-term UV. Chrome plating is usually done on "chrome platable" ABS plastic. I second the paint idea.

just an idea.... i figured it probably wouldn't work, but tossed it out there in case there was something similar that would work better along those lines

Is there any type of chrome like paint, other than the spray can crap, that could be used?

This company might have something you can use:

http://www.caswellplating.com/

Ive heard humors just humors that my friendly neighbors to the north use DUCT TAPE to similate the look of chrome. We call it down there in Iowa...MINN chrome :D

That company that Olle pointed out looks like they have some nice stuff that should work for me. And I have seen the chrome duct tape that they sell at Wal Mart. That will be Plan B. Thanks for all the help.

I have been to that web site many times, but the only thing I have bought so far is their plating manual. Would be cool to try to chrome over that conductive paint, wouldn't it? Have also thought about getting something to refinish nuts and bolts, it should save you a lot of money if you cleaned up and recoated your fasteners instead of buying new ones. Shouldn't be a big deal at all if you use a tumbler to clean them, and as you do it yourself you can "do it as you go", a few bolts now and then when needed. Lots of interesting stuff on that site.

I dont know if I will try to chrome plate over the conductive paint or just use their silvachrome system. The silvachrome system has a whole series of chemicals that are applied to simulate the look of a plated finish. I think this may be the most cost effective method.

You can also try a search for Alclad (think it's called Alclad II now). Couldn't find any good pictures on their web site, but I have seen it on other sites and it looks great. It's made for models, so I don't know if it would work on a car, but it's worth a try. Comes in spray cans too.

I like 67shovel's idea but I would spray the bumpers black first. Then over reduce the silver base making it transparent. Spray to not quite full hiding. Then air brush. (BMW uses a technique like this on the wheels of the M3) graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Originally posted by 67shovel:
You might want to omit your own reflection out of the picture on your bumper. For some reason, I found this halarious. :D

This here bumper is so shiny, you can see myself. ;)

I think that someone would get suspicious if the reflection that they saw in the bumper was not their own.