As it looks like I will be getting the car back this Spring, I am still in need of a good front bumper for my 67 Country Sedan. I have a "decent" core and am looking for recommendations from you folks over who you might have used for chroming in the past. The only one I remember well from several years ago that was recommended was "Tri-city plating". I went to the Kalamazoo swap meet today (found not even a whiff of something for the car), and found 2 companies advertising their services: Proctor's Custom Chrome Plating in Norton Shores, MI; and Qual Krom in Erie, PA. Any input on either of these? I also found a price of $650 to redo my bumper. Seems to me to be about 50% more than I remember from 3 years ago. Ouch. Any and all input appreciated. Can you recommend someone?
there is a place called Bumper Boyz and they are out of Cali. Not the best reputation but in my case i have no complaints. 15 years ago i bought my bumpers and grill guard from them and they are still ok. 1 or 2 spots and the chrome is a little thin and the backs of the bumper looked like crap , but some paint on the back and we were good to go
Back around 1987-88 I bought some bumper parts at Classic Chevy Int meet up around Rockford, Ill. Ordered the rest thru Classic Chevy Club in Florida. I have no idea who they got the newly chromed parts from. Only problem is one rear bumper chrome section seems to be wearing thin. With government regulations chrome work is gonna be expensive anyplace. As for Bumper Boyz I've seen them at many large swap meets and what I've seen looks fine. Not sure if the problems are with dealing with some of them long distance, the actual parts, or just picky restorers. If you are going to chrome it you're gonna pay! Front bumper and rear after many years on the road.
I can vouch for Qual Krome. They do fantastic, show-quality work. Expect pricing consistent with that. The bumpers for my 64 Vista were $750 for the front and $800 for the back. Work included straightening as well as plating. Bumper Boyz is cheaper for a reason - everyone I know who's used them has had problems over time. Your call on price and quality.
Whoever you go with, first run their name and company name through Google and see if there are any negative hits. I didn't do that and ended up getting scammed by a chrome shop out of LA that had been to many big swap meets around the country using other companies' names. If a salesman doesn't want to show you his DL, there is something wrong.
Qual Krom-Great Lakes Plant Erie, PA, 16511 - YP.com www.yellowpages.com › Plating near Erie, PA Qual Krom-Great Lakes Plant at 4725 Iroquois Ave, Erie, PA.
If you are looking for a Detroit area shop, I can recommend Micro Plating. Used them for my 68 GTO with excellent results. They do a lot of show quality plating for some IMSA show cars. http://www.micropb.com/#/about-chrome/ They are not cheap. There is a link near the bottom of the "Chrome" page to a partial price list; looks like 67 Ford SW rear is $480. I've also used Bumper Boyz; they replaced a defective part with no issues or arguments.
Have you considered powder coating? A friend of mine did this White Lightning tribute car. His bumpers are powder coated. You can see how it compares to the chrome on my wagon, next to it. I forget how much it cost, but seems like it was about half the price of rechromed bumpers. Just something to consider....
Powder coating is okay and on that car it looks nice. Another thing many do now is paint to match or contrast. I still prefer chrome and would rather save my pennies for a real chrome job. Many years a go I remember having my 1933 Chevy front and rear bumpers, the grille, headlight bars, and more done. Way under $500 but this was many years ago. Also in the 60's I bought front and rear 1926 Model T bumpers complete for around $250. For the '55 Chevy wagon around 1988 maybe, everything front, rear, and all four guards were under $500. Wagons take different rear guards and I had to pay a core charge because my wagon had a car rear bumper. So modern prices scare me. There was a chrome shop 65 miles north of us that supposedly were fair and did good work. The only other is down around Orlando. Have no idea if either are still in business. Our government in their need to protect us make so many regulations businesses like this are being closed. If it were me I'd go for a chrome shop that has a good reputation as close to home as possible. Don't even think about the cost because next week or next month it may double or they will be closed.
Agreed. Depends on the car. And of course personal preference. And the picture does not do the powder coating finish justice. It had a much more pearl chromey look to it, in person. It wasn't just plain silver. For anyone serious, a good powder coater could show you some good samples.
I've used Bumper-Boyz for 56 Merc , 59 Ford, and the wagon with no problems. The key is a good core if it's not a common auto.
