Hi group. I got the bumpers off the 66 tonight and all was not bad. They came off with the brackets without any major unspringing which I hope means I have a straight frame and fairly good bumpers. My question is am I better to either have the few dents and dings repaired and have them rechromed or just go with reproductions. If I use reproductions, who out there makes a good set? We use to have one of the premier platers in my area but since they forgot how to do quality work, I am afraid to send them anything. I live in Richmond, Va. and if I do get these repaired, does anyone have a favorite flavor near me and what was the ballpark price?

thanks in advance,
John Weaver

I asked very similar questions recently and most everyone recommended rechroming my orignals. However I was quoted $450.00 to do
both bumpers and I simply could not bring myself to pay more than what I could buy reproductions for. It was my understanding that the price would be the same regardless of the condition of the bumpers. Maybe I don't really know what to look for but the reproductions I wound up buying looked pretty good to me. They were "goodmark" bumpers. I brought "cash" to my supplier and left with 2 new bumpers for $350. They looked and fit well and all my lights etc fit nicely.

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best regards
Importtech

[This message has been edited by Importtech (edited 08-28-2002).]

Do a search on this topic and you will get the answer...though somehow I think everyone will jump in here anyway....

RECHROME...simple. TRICITY in TN.

do the search...you will see.

Mike

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66 MYSTERY CHEVELLE.COM (http://hometown.aol.com/mysterychevelle/66CHEVELLESS.html)

Rechrome, nuf said.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Recently I mounted my reproduction rear bumper. I bought it from Ausleys, but I don't think that there many factories that build them.

The fit is okay, but I think the strength (gauge, quality of the metal ?) is about 60% of the original. Next time I would choose to have the original rechromed.

Rob
Rob.

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www.si.hhs.nl/~rob (http://www.si.hhs.nl/~rob)

I had an old set of mine rechromed actually swapped out. I used J.T.'s Classic Chrome out of California. For the front and rear on my 72 it was $320 + $15.00's to send my cores to them. Its a triple chrome plate and comes with a 2 yr warranty. So I agree that its better to get a rechrome done then buy the repops.

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Deon
72SS454 Clone
Website (http://home.sc.rr.com/deon)

Thanks guys. I will give Tricity a call. I was thinking it would be better to have these rechromed since they are in decent shape for the most part. My body man told me about a car he did a while back and the owner busted the chrome trying to get the bumper on the car. He was not sure where the bumper came from either.

Thanks,
John Weaver

Rechrome. You know the condition of the original. Tell 'em you want the same bumper back.

Isn't there a way to mark your bumper to make sure you get your original back? Maybe stamp some numbers on the backside or something. Otherwise they could easily take your quality original core and give you a piece of junk in return.

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My Web Page (http://www.landry-family.com) (updated 06-21-02)

"Long Live Freedom!"

Chad Landry
TC Member #643
ACES Member #4556
'68 El Camino, 357, L31 Vortec heads, 700R4,
8.2 10-bolt, 3.55 gears, Auburn Pro Posi.

cjlandry,I ended up in a court room one time over that issue!! No kidding, I was having a set of bumpers chromed for a buddies '65 Vette. On that car to make a perfect fit you need to either cut the brackets off and reweld them with the bumper fitting perfect or you shim the bumper to body and you see the shims behind the dang bumper as you look at the car (the bumper brackets are welded to the bumper and the bumper bolts to the frame with the fiberglass body sandwiched in between).

After my buddy spent MANY hours fitting the bumpers we drilled a small 1/8" hole in the brackets so they wouldn't be seen to mark them as ours.

FIRST mistake, we sent them to a chrome shop we knew nothing about, in the 25 years I have been using chrome shops this is only one of two times anything like this has happened.

They came back (there are four bumpers on that Vette)with one of the bumpers not being ours! I stopped payment on the check and the shop sued me. To make a very long story short, we got a lady judge who was clearly a Vette lover and we won. I wish we could have had a video of the precedings, it was very funny what that fool who owned the chrome shop looked like in court.

The moral of the story is, always mark ANYTHING that you are sending out. At the very least document it as best you can.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

Rechrome.

Just got my rear back for my 70 cost 350. I had it down by northstar bumper out of brainernd Minn. The thing looks great, much better then any repro bumper. Norhtstar was great to work with they straightened my bumper first then sent it back to me to see how it fit and if it needed any more tweaking to get the the fit I wanted. Then I sent it back and got it chromed, it cost me no more or less.

Yes mark your bumpers I put several grooves on backside...Eric

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1970 chevelle
1970 chevelle SS455 not a typo its a buick baby
1949 and 1972 chevy trucks
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/sevt_chevelles

I did not have a choice since no one makes repro rear bumpers for a Monte.

I used KNOX CUSTOM CHROME here in Knoxville for rechrome. Noticed that the had bumpers mailed in from all over the US. They did a terrific job for $230/bumper. Livetime warranty.

And yes, I also marked my bumpers....

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71 Monte 454 HO 5-Speed "FULMNTE", 100 HP Nitrous
www.71Monte.com (http://www.71Monte.com)

I don't remember what company it was that did the seminar on plating bumpers at CB'02, but it was an impressive presentation. I'm pretty sure their shop is somewhere in Tennessee. Might be KNOX. Quite a process they go through for show quality chrome. Most impressive.

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My Web Page (http://www.landry-family.com) (updated 06-21-02)

"Long Live Freedom!"

Chad Landry
TC Member #643
ACES Member #4556
'68 El Camino, 357, L31 Vortec heads, 700R4,
8.2 10-bolt, 3.55 gears, Auburn Pro Posi.

It was Advanced Plating in Nashville at CB 02.Their work looked good but their warranty was only 1 or 2 years.TriCity in Elizabethton TN has a lifetime warranty and their work is usually great. www.tricityplating.com (http://www.tricityplating.com)


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John 67ss
ACES #2887
Team Chevelle Gold #127
www.mylegacyforlife.net/67ss (http://www.mylegacyforlife.net/67ss)

Thanks for all the responses. I really want to go with the original bumpers. I talked to Ausleys and they claim that their bumpers are better than you can get your own set refinished because they are done overseas and there are no EPA issues like we have. I am gonna call this week and talk to the places recommended on this site and see how it pans out. I have some time but want to get my duckies in a row.

Thanks again,
John Weaver

Gee, I wonder why Ausley would say that? Maybe b/c rechoming the origs. will not help his wallet http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

Of course they would say that http://www.chevelles.com/forum/rolleyes.gif

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66 MYSTERY CHEVELLE.COM (http://hometown.aol.com/mysterychevelle/66CHEVELLESS.html)

Oh, there could definitely be a sales pitch. I do know from a hands on experience that a local shop we have has really changed in the quality of their chroming. As long as the body and paint budget stay in line, I will keep my originals. And speaking of body and paint and this getting off the beaten path, I did a search on stripping a car and it scares me to death. I started on mine today. Every process is both liked and disliked. I would love to ask a question or 2 about it, but it would surely open up a pandoras box and I am confused enough as it is.

John Weaver

You might as well ask now before you have started then ask later and find yourself in too deep. Alot better to be confused at the beginning of a project then at the middle, just ask!...Eric

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1970 chevelle
1970 chevelle SS455 not a typo its a buick baby
1949 and 1972 chevy trucks
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/sevt_chevelles

While on the subject of Re-chroming... How many of these shops will also offer bumper straightening services too? Do they only take perfect bumpers, or will they fix dended/bent ones too?

Thnx


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Ben Rambow
1970 El Camino SS (http://www.elcaminoclassics.com/code/rambow1.htm)
My old 1969 El Camino (http://www.chevelles.com/feature/july2001.html)
The El Camino Classics Club (http://www.elcaminoclassics.com)
"Whats the matter with the car I'm Driving? Can't ya tell that its out of style..."

Most all them straighten the bumpers before
rechroming. I was told the pricing wouldn't
differ regardless of bumper condition at the
2 places I checked here locally..Might be
wise to ask lst though.


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best regards
Importtech

One thing I can say about the shop we have locally is they use to repair the worst of bumpers. So it would seem to me that if someone puts the effort into where you get your bumpers done, they can fix almost anything. I have a few dents and dings and have not even thought about a shop rejecting them because of that.

John Weaver

I bought repros, front from Year One, rear from Ground up. The front is REALLY crappy being very rippley, (wavy) The rear is better, no waves but you can see grinding marks under the chrome.
ReChrome!
Ron

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70 Chevelle SS396 (427)M21 Before (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70before.jpg) / After (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/70later.jpg)
66 Nova SS 327 M20 (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/toocool66.jpg)
95 Z28 Convertible T56
Aces 3081, TC #54 Gold

Tri-City plating in Elizabethton,Tenn. will do an excellent job of replating.Their number is 1-800-251-7536.

Hi group. I called Tri City today and they are doing the bumpers for 230.00 not including shipping. These guys really seem to have a good reputation and I have read some horror stories about reproduction bumpers since I posted this a while back. It take 4 to 6 weeks right now and the guy said now was a good time to get it done.

Thanks all
John Weaver