fixing chrome bumpers

[jmp]

Hey there!

My front chrome bumper and bumper guard are not in the greatest of shapes -- the chrome is cracking and peeling off. So, should I replace the pieces or can they be repaired (rechromed)?

The cost to replace would be about $470US but I don't know about the cost to repair.

Thanks!

 

[Chas]

i had some plating done and it looked great.....but it wasnt for my vette.
i would find a good plating company in your area and take them to the shop. go to the side door and ask some workers for their opinion on how the bumpers you have would look and if it will take the plating.
i have to believe it would be less expensive to re-chrome , but you may be happier in the long run replacing them. my opinion.good luck.

 

[BBB454]

I just had the bumpers re-chromed on mine and it was less $ than new ones, but not by much. I don't have the receipt with me, but if you want to know the exact price I'll post it when I get home. Don't forget to include the cost of shipping both ways in the equation if you can't find a local place.

Mine did turn out pretty good, though.

Barb

 

[jmp]

I haven't looked it up yet, but if I had to guess, chroming would be cheaper for me in particular:

- parts are in US$, which is roughly 1.55 more than my CDN$
- shipping to Canada is expensive. I recently ordered $300US worth of stuff from Ecklers. The order weighed 5lbs. Shipping costs were and extra $80US.

If goods and services are available in Canada, it is almost always cheaper -- unless the goods have to be shipped from the US (I could have gotten my local 'vette shop to get me the parts I bought from Ecklers, but since the shop just orders the stuff from Corvette America, it would have been more expensive, esp. when including local tax -- 14.5%).

Like I said, I still have to verify...

But is rechroming just as good as replacing? If a replacement is going to last twice as long as a rechrome and cost just a little more, then I might just replace.

 

[resto75]

Usually it cost just about as much to rechrome a item then it cost to buy a new one. By the time the chrome shop cleans and polishes your old piece and then triple chromes it (three step process) you can buy a new one that isn't 25 years old already.

I use to get parts for motorcycles rechromed but found it was a waste of money. I can buy a new piece cheaper then getting the old pitted one rechromed. I fact I wouldn't even think of rechroming anything if I can buy it new. You just need to look up the new prices and then dragg what you have to the chrome shop for a WRITTEN estimate, but I think new is the way to go.

 

[smurfvet]

I did just what resto75 did. I had a part rechromed, and the work it took to get the surface "right" was almost what a new part would have been. I suggest the same thing he says- get a new price, then take it to a GOOD chrome shop. It all depends on the condition of the bumper- pits, dents, etc. all have to be removed (filled with copper, I think).

 

[norms72]

I'll be in the same boat when that phase of of my restoration comes around. I need the rear bumpers, front grilles and the front bumper guards done. New seems the most simple route but man we take a real hit on the exchange. There is a chrome shop here in southern Ontario that I may try. I have heard they do decent work but I have not seen anything first hand. If you're interested, their web site is www.custom-chrome.com. I'll keep an eye on this thread to see how you make out.
:cool

 

[resto75]

A correct chrome job is what they refer to as triple plated or triple chromed. This is really what happens
.
First they strip your old bumper then it has to be polished to a bright finish, this will have to remove all the pits ect that are there before any plating gets done. Then ( if I remember right) the part gets copper plated, then it gets nickle plated and then finally chrome plated. This is alot of hand work doing the cleaning and polishing. If you get new the part is new and clean and there isn't all the labor involved in cleaning and polishing the old part.

 

[jmp]

Well, I haven't done anything with this yet -- going to wait for some extra cash -- but I did talk to my mechanic. He says it is not worth buying new bumpers; I should just rechrome the old ones. I'll be talking to him about it some more tomorrow when I pick up my car. Gotta get details, such as price!

 

[gooney0]

sorry this won't help you ...

This advice probably won't work for you guys up north but.....

I bought a nice set of rear bumpers for a '72 at Corvettes at Carlise. They were $300 for both! The catalogs want $300 EACH and $450 for the front.

I didn't buy a front bumper 'cause mine is pretty good...


-gooney

 

[jmp]

Well, my local corvette club organizes trips down to Washington State (and maybe other places) in order to attend 'vette swap meets. So, that's always a possibility I guess.

 

[jmp]

Well, I got an unofficial estimate that I'm not suppose to "quote him on", but the body shop guy thinks that it'll cost about $200 Cdn (roughly $120US) to rechrome the front bumper. Much cheaper than replacing; rechroming has just moved up a bit on my to-do list!