[Jakes_69Chevelle]

Hey Guys!

So i got my original front and rear bumpers off the car and trying to buff them up... They feel somewhat smooth but have lots of tiny pits and lines of pits (maybe fine cracks in the chrome?). But anyway, I'm not happy with them so I called a few re-chrome companies in the area... boy I was kind of shocked to get ballpark estimates between $600 to $1000 per bumper!!! :surprise:

It's not a frame off restoration or anything but I want nice bumpers as I feel that is the first thing you see when approaching the car.
My question for anyone who has been through this... I see bumpers on ebay from Golden Star, GoodMark, AMD and others.

Has anyone purchased any of these and were you happy with them for the money? It seems you can get them shipped for about $300 each. Please let me know if you had good luck with a specific brand.

Thanks for your input as always,
Jake

 

[NickeyChevelle]

The reproduction bumpers have better chrome than originals (not re-chromed originals, just originals). I bought a reproduction front bumper, and I was surprised at the difference in weight. At first I was bummed, but then I thought a weight savings was a good thing. The bumper looks great, AND it saves weight. Spend the money to get a good triple plated reproduction.

When you consider the man hours that go into stripping off the old chrome etc., cleaning, and then re-chroming the bumpers (not to mention all the HazMat materials involved...) and the cost is realistic.

 

[cheveslakr]

Tri City plating in TN will run you around $450 shipped back to you if you cover the shipping to them.

 

[Jakes_69Chevelle]

Gentlemen!

Thanks for the replies, it's been a few days now and I'm over the immediate shock... if I didn't have bumpers or mine were bent and in really bad shape I'd definitely consider the reproduction bumpers.

I think mine are very good candidates for a re-chrome so I'm going to go with the company that quoted $600-800 per bumper.... ugh.

I have nice paint and nice trim so i think the bumpers need to be nice too... what the hell it's only money, right?!?!?

Cheers! :beers:

 

[Chevelle_Nut]

Tri City plating in TN will run you around $450 shipped back to you if you cover the shipping to them.

:thumbsup:

Super nice people at TriCity! I sold them 2 69 bumpers a couple of months ago when I had my 72's bumpers redone. Repop bumpers are fine but the steel in the old bumpers can't be beat. Behind their shop is a sea of chrome bumpers.

 

[Cal Malibu]

I send My bumpers to Try City as well, they do a great job.

 

[von]

I send mine to Tri City as well. They take out the dings and dents and rechrome to perfection. Many of the finest restored Chevelles (and other classic cars too) in the country sport bumpers chromed by them. I had my '69 front bumper done by them a year ago and it looks like a mirror. Cost me around $500 including return shipping. Plus it cost me $55 via Fed Ex to get it there. Tip: Fex Ex is cheaper than UPS. Took about 6 weeks. Just wrap the bumper in cardboard and take it to the nearest Fed Ex shipping store. I've tried the route of local chromers who overcharged and did shoddy work. With Tri City you're not taking that risk.

 

[Jakes_69Chevelle]

Interesting... lots of Tri City fans here - I can reconsider, I was thinking local because of the shipping. $50-60 to ship there doesn't sound too bad. Should I call them first and talk to them? Can you tell me a little more about the process of sending your bumpers to them?

Thanks again!

 

[von]

Interesting... lots of Tri City fans here - I can reconsider, I was thinking local because of the shipping. $50-60 to ship there doesn't sound too bad. Should I call them first and talk to them? Can you tell me a little more about the process of sending your bumpers to them?

Thanks again!

Call them, tell them what you have and they'll give you a price and estimated time frame. Then just wrap your bumper in cardboard and duct tape ( just for good measure I circled the dings and scratches with a Sharpie), and take it to a Fex Ex shipping place. Put your name, address, phone no., etc., on paper in the bumper.

 

[blm]

Jake,
Tri City is a must for redoing bumpers. That is all they do. Just bumpers. They dont rechrome anything else. Most resonably priced and top quality work.

 

[BlueSS454]

Tri City Plating has been doing my bumpers for years.

 

[von]

Forgot to add: When it's done they'll call you and you you give them your credit card number and they ship it back. Bing, bang, boom.

 

[Jakes_69Chevelle]

Thanks Guys! Tri City it is! I saw some of their bumpers on their ebay store and they really look great! They had a 72 Chevelle rear bumper is anyone is interested. I'm super excited now, nice bumpers make the car and thanks to you guys for recommending them, I'm gonna get some super nice bumpers from Tri City.

 

[cheveslakr]

Just have to add. While I've had a few bumpers in the past done by TriCitys and they came out fantastic. The 2 I've unwrapped most recently have a transparent look on the top, revealing some scratches and copper haze beneath the chrome. I haven't contacted them but doubt it's worth the aggravation of having them rechromed, reship etc. Upon noticing these issues, I looked again at the other bumpers previously done by them and no issues at all.
You may want to discuss this when ordering.

 

[Wheelhop]

As far as I know they offer a lifetime guarantee, so I don't know why you wouldn't send them back.

 

[cheveslakr]

Actually talked to them today about the issue. They couldn't quite understand how this happened but assured me they'd make it right. These guys have had my business for a dozen bumpers or so and I see no reason to look elsewhere. Tricities rocks!

 

[SS Chad]

I used Tri City for both bumpers. Easy peasy and Porter is great to work with! :thumbsup:

Plus, whatever Jerry says is right...:wink2:

 

[streetperf]

for what's it's worth. I had my 69 El Camino bumpers and a rear 65 2 door wagon bumper rechromed at Tri City and they did not disappoint. They look great.
Closer to you there use to be rechrome shop in Tucson, AZ. that did great work. They did my Camino bumpers in the early 80's and the chrome held up really well.