69 Front Bumper

[Erv M.]

I have my original bumper that is dinged and in need of re-chroming. Does someone sell a reproduction that is good enough to pass judging or should I just get mine re-chromed?

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

I have my original bumper that is dinged and in need of re-chroming. Does someone sell a reproduction that is good enough to pass judging or should I just get mine re-chromed?

No reproduction beats the real deal...rechrome it.

Note that most modern chrome platers use trivalent(?) chrome, whereas the original bumpers and trim were plated with hexavalent(?) chrome. I'm told todays chrome is more environmentally friendly, but is not as corrosion resistant as the old chrome. Corrosion resistance is not the biggest problem...the color is also slightly different. You can't tell the difference unless you install the new chrome next to old chrome, and then the color difference is obvious, I'm told. Ask your plater which type chrome he uses, and mention this concern.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

I needed a front bumper for my 71, and went all over Carlisle a couple years ago looking for a good used one to rechrome. I also checked out all the repro ones I could find. None of the used bumpers passed muster.

The only repro that showed some of the tooling marks and other nuances of the original is the repro made by Paragon. Allegedly they use the original tooling, and if so it sure shows. The rest of the repros (usually Chinese made) were OK for a driver but never for a judged car. Now, I did not check out the chrome "shading" difference as alluded to by Chuck but I was less concerned with that.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

I have my original bumper that is dinged and in need of re-chroming. Does someone sell a reproduction that is good enough to pass judging or should I just get mine re-chromed?

Erv----


Bumper Boyz in the Los Angeles, CA area can sell you a re-chromed original or repair and re-chrome yours.

Please note that all 1968-72 bumpers were NOT the same. 1968-69 used GM #3930410. 1970-72 used GM #3974008. The latter part became SERVICE for 68-69 in August, 1971 but the 2 bumpers are NOT exactly the same. The configuration of the welded-on brackets left and right of center is different. So, if you get a re-chromed replacement, you want it to be the same as your original. I believe in reproduction only the 70-72 is available for use on all 68-72.

[Erv M.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

Joe-

I am assuming my bumper is original as the car has been judged twice without a deduction, yes risky to assume. How can I identifty the bumper to insure it is original before I send it off to Bumper Boyz?

[Patrick H.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

Joe-

I am assuming my bumper is original as the car has been judged twice without a deduction, yes risky to assume. How can I identifty the bumper to insure it is original before I send it off to Bumper Boyz?

I've seen the Bumper Boyz display at Carlisle as Joe has.

I have never been impressed enough with the chrome plating to think about sending them my own bumpers, but that's just my point of view. I think I would look for someone more attuned to the needs of a restored car than a daily driver car.

Patrick

[Joe L.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

Joe-

I am assuming my bumper is original as the car has been judged twice without a deduction, yes risky to assume. How can I identifty the bumper to insure it is original before I send it off to Bumper Boyz?

Erv----

The 68-69 bumper has "L" shaped brackets; the 70-72 has "Z" shaped brackets.

If you're going to have yours re-chromed, I think I have to agree with Patrick. You might be better off to find someone close that you can exercise some control over and who can do a good "triple chrome" plating, as-original for bumpers.

As far as Bumper Boyz go, I think they do good work. However, I was more thinking of you just purchasing a re-plated bumper from them outright (and, possibly, sending your core back later if you're 100% satisfied with the bumper you get from them).

Bumper Boyz does do work for MANY custom car applications. Those are the guys that are usually most demanding as far as chrome goes.

[Joe T.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

I"ve been led to understand that you are better advised to keep your original bumpers. Consider the function of the bumper: Over the life of the car minor bumps that might not even cause comestic damage can put minor stresses and bends in the attachments: bumper/bracket and attachment point. You take the old bumper off, and put it on, it fits perfectly, since it was "customized" as a unit. Try that with a new bumper/brackets, and you are trying to figure out why you have all these minor (and some not so minor) alignment problems. JMHO...Joe

[Steve D.]

Re: 69 Front Bumper

Original re-chrome is best...most repos are thinner