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Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question #521602
11/09/09 06:11 PM
11/09/09 06:11 PM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,526
Tenn.
jrwoodjoe Offline OP
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jrwoodjoe  Offline OP
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Tenn.
The rear bumper on my Challenger had a couple of dings/dents on it. The rechrome shop says they can "Straighten" and rechorome it for me. Can a good shop do a good job with this or should I find an unbent or ding free core? I have had bumpers rechromed before but all were straight. I'm pretty picky and not sure what to expect. I considered buying repop but heard the shape is a little off.

Joe

5595480-bumper.JPG (81 downloads)


65 Barracuda
70 Challenger
Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: jrwoodjoe] #521603
11/09/09 06:17 PM
11/09/09 06:17 PM
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Posts: 1,168
Richmond, VA
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rayztoy Offline
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Richmond, VA
Joe, send your bumpers to Tri-City Plating. They will do a PERFECT job on them.

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: jrwoodjoe] #521604
11/09/09 07:00 PM
11/09/09 07:00 PM
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Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Online content
Don't question me!
Stanton  Online Content
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Ontario, Canada
You generally get what you pay for. Some shops will work the dings out and others will fill an inch deep dent with weld (no joke !!). There was a good article about Tri-city a few years back in some mag. I think it mentioned they only do bumpers so being a specialty shop they're likely to have the tools and know-how to do it right.

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: Stanton] #521605
11/09/09 08:23 PM
11/09/09 08:23 PM
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Seattle, WA
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375inStroke Offline
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375inStroke  Offline
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Seattle, WA
When I worked at a Mopar resto shop, we'd send out bumpers to a local shop that I thought looked like crap. We'd get them back, and they looked perfect. I have no idea how they get them that way. They must have a template, or something, because a twisted pretzel is what they were given, and what we got back fit perfectly. You could see where they beat it on the back side, but there wasn't anything that looked like there was a bunch of filler on the other side. So, a good shop can work miracles. The price was around $400, if I remember, but that was 20 years ago. Rechromed bumpers will look perfect. Repros will look like new bumpers. What I mean is, there will be scrape marks where the bumper was forced through the press, and these will be removed on a rechromed bumper.

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: jrwoodjoe] #521606
11/09/09 08:38 PM
11/09/09 08:38 PM
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 840
Southeastern MI.
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QuickSilver Offline
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Southeastern MI.
Since I am a metal specialist I leave nothing to chance. I hammer out out all of my own bumpers and get them up to my standards and this way I get what I want instead of someone elses idea of close enough. After I am satisfied I then send them out to my favorite bumper platers, Keystone in Minnesota. They have a classic parts division and they do an incredible job for the money. I just give them strict instructions, no hammering or any tools on my piece. Just strip, prep and plate. Very, very nice! Beautiful color and not a blemish either. For $409 how can you beat that? Of course starting out with a nice core helps!

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: 375inStroke] #521607
11/09/09 08:47 PM
11/09/09 08:47 PM
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Central Coast, Calif.
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Snoopy Offline
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Central Coast, Calif.
Has anyone had any bumpers done by The Bumper Boyz in California?

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: Snoopy] #521608
11/09/09 09:28 PM
11/09/09 09:28 PM
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Posts: 8,526
Tenn.
jrwoodjoe Offline OP
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Tenn.
Thanks to everyone for the replies. I generally heard great things about Tri-City and they are fairly close to me. That is where I had planned on taking them. I just wasn't too sure about how "straight" a good shop could get them since I can't afford to have them done and then not be happy with them.

The other issue I have is that the front bumper on the car is nice and straight but was replaced at some point w/ a 71 bumper. It has the jack slots in it. I had either heard or read that the good shops don't generally fill them in and rechrome so I'm hoping that tri-city will let me use it as a core and get a 70 front bumper.

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: jrwoodjoe] #521609
11/09/09 09:32 PM
11/09/09 09:32 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 733
Long Island NY
yellow sixpack Offline
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yellow sixpack  Offline
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Long Island NY
Sent mine to tricity. Came out better then new. Worth every penny.


If you can't be smart.....don't be stupid!
Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: yellow sixpack] #521610
11/09/09 11:33 PM
11/09/09 11:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
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Ontario, Canada
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Stanton Online content
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Stanton  Online Content
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Ontario, Canada
Part of Tri-City's service is cutting out and replacing rot, repairing bolt holes, etc.. If you ask them to fill the jack holes they'll likely do it and you'll never know the difference. I wouldn't count on giving them one year of core in exchange for another - that would almost be like saying "here's a 72 Nova bumper but I'd like a '69 Road Runner bumper back". Doesn't hurt to ask but I'm pretty sure that in most cases the bumper you send is the exact one you get back.

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: Snoopy] #521611
11/10/09 03:02 AM
11/10/09 03:02 AM
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Posts: 1,559
Oh
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His and Her 69's Offline
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His and Her 69's  Offline
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Posts: 1,559
Oh
STAY FAR AWAY from the Bumper Boys.
I have one of their rear bumpers on my RR and it is pitting, rusting, and chrome flaking off already.
It has only been 1 year since I bought them, car is inside always.
I will NEVER buy anything from them again. I will run used bumpers before I buy any from them again.

I am thinking of putting my fiberglass rear bumper back on the race car as it looks better then bumper boyz bumper. Look at my car next year at the track. I may leave it on there for some advertising for them.

Now Tri-City platings bumpers are doing Great, No Issues, Still Look Like New ones.
I am Very Happy with them.

Just my 2 cents.
David

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: His and Her 69's] #521612
11/10/09 09:51 AM
11/10/09 09:51 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
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Lansing, MI
70gtx440dana Offline
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Lansing, MI
Tri City is the way to go for your $. Stay as far away from the Bumper Boyz as you can. There work looks OK but doesn't last. They must be cutting corners in the process. Bought one bumper from them. Never again!!!!


70 Road Runner 383-4 4 speed FJ5 & black guts
70 Charger R/T 440-4 4 speed FJ5 & white guts
Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: Stanton] #521613
11/10/09 10:24 AM
11/10/09 10:24 AM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,526
Tenn.
jrwoodjoe Offline OP
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jrwoodjoe  Offline OP
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Tenn.
Quote:

Part of Tri-City's service is cutting out and replacing rot, repairing bolt holes, etc.. If you ask them to fill the jack holes they'll likely do it and you'll never know the difference. I wouldn't count on giving them one year of core in exchange for another - that would almost be like saying "here's a 72 Nova bumper but I'd like a '69 Road Runner bumper back". Doesn't hurt to ask but I'm pretty sure that in most cases the bumper you send is the exact one you get back.




Great, thanks. Having seen some bumpers made for custom cars and rods I couldn't understand why it wouldn't be possible to fill them in. Maybe I just talked to someone who didn't know what they were talking about. Like you said, I figured I ask about the "swap" but suspected they probably wouldn't. I'll just have'em fill in the holes and refinish.

Thanks again guys! Joe

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: jrwoodjoe] #521614
11/11/09 09:43 PM
11/11/09 09:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 216
Champlin Mn.
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2DoorPost Offline
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2DoorPost  Offline
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Champlin Mn.
Keystone in MN is who I use as well,very nice work.I paid a little more for show chrome,and they are beautiful!!

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: jrwoodjoe] #521615
11/12/09 09:52 AM
11/12/09 09:52 AM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 705
Morningside, Long Island
scatcity Offline
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Morningside, Long Island
Regarding your "swap" question from Tri City. I needed s rear bumper for my 70 Bee and didn't have a core so I asked if they'd take a 70 Chally front & rear in place of 70 Bee rear core. Porter, the guy helping me says, "Sure, why not". Granted they were getting a twofor from me but, worked out for both of us. Nice guys and fantastic piece. Got my 72 Chally bumpers from them with outstanding results as well..

Re: Restoring original Bumpers w/ slight dents question [Re: scatcity] #521616
11/12/09 03:10 PM
11/12/09 03:10 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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JDMopar Offline
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
Joe...they will likely have bumpers to just swap out with you. I took my bumpers from the yellow car over to be done, and Porter had plenty in stock for Challengers at that time. BE SURE to open the wrapper and check them before you leave! I looked at one, and it looked fantastic as is per usual with Tri City. I left the other one wrapped, and when I unwrapped it 6 months later to put it on, it was a 72 bumper with the jack slot in it...even though the wrapper was marked 70-71. They gladly swapped it out for me, but I had to make an extra trip over. They might weld the slot up, but I don't think they will give the lifetime warranty if they do. Porter told me they stopped welding up holes, but that was 4 years ago and things may have changed since then.







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