'69 Bumper Restoration

Loaded the family up yesterday and we took a drive down to the coast. It was overcast, windy, and cold so we didn't spend too much time at the beach relaxing but it was nice to see the ocean. It had been a few months, it was time.

Anyway, we spent most of the day cruising up and down HWY 1 which is always a blast and we came across a couple of V-Dubs and had a few conversations. Good fun. One of them happened to be a '68 Ghia with the original bumpers.

That pretty much cinched it and today I dug my original bumpers out of the rafters to see what I have to deal with.



The chrome on the front bumper is in good shape, but it is not so straight as you can see in the above picture .



The rear bumper is in great shape except for a small dimple in the middle.

I have zero experience in this area and am not sure if the front and rear 'blades' can be straightened out without jacking up the chrome???

Anybody have any thoughts or experience with this sort of thing?

I am going to disassemble them tonight and I can take some better pictures if needed.

I am looking for a direction...

Figured I would see if I could get these ready to mount while I wait for my front beam.

Go Matt! I love the overiders

Yea, after seeing them all done up correctly at Bug-O-Rama, and then yesterday seeing them on this guy's '68 I am really wanting to get them put on.

It's just a matter of getting them straightened out and not spending a ton of dough...

I have straightened a few bumpers in my day. The way I find works best is to start by knocking out all the small dents or what you call dimples in the bumpers using a hammer and punch. Then work on getting the shape of the bumper back in order, your's doesn't look too far off. Then use locking pliers (2 sets) and a happer to straighten the top and bottom edges. Wrap a towel around it to not cause as much damage to the chrome. Now they wont come out perfect, but good enough for a driver. I will find a couple pics of bumpers I have done.

Before: See all the waves and dips on the top, the bottom was just as bad if not worse.



After: You can see it's still a little tweaked.

I did some straightening on this one. No before pic though.

This would freak me out. I'd probably just end up sending it to have it straightened and rechromed at the same time.

I'm with David and Greg. Rubber mallets, a sand bag, pliers, towels.......If you spend some time, they will turn out okay. If you want them really nice, don't mess with them at all. Just send them out for straightening and re-chroming.

If I get some time this week Matt you can bring them by. I'll see what I can do.

David's74Super wrote:

Before: See all the waves and dips on the top, the bottom was just as bad if not worse.



After: You can see it's still a little tweaked.

I just remembered, I straightened this one with the bumper still on the car. Much more difficult to get it right.

Not bad for still being on the car David.

That would be sweet Dann. Let me know I have them in parts and they are much easier to deal with. Even if we could just straighten out a couple of parts at a time that would be awesome.

I am not looking for show, just if they were a little straighter than they are. And some shine on the chrome.

Let me know, I am available most evenings.

Thanks...

Be careful where you send it for chroming. Most places in CA won't have the chemicals needed to do it right and you'll end up with a rusty bumper.

I use Sherm's here in Sac. Spendy, but there is no better quality anywhere.

Bullcrap Greg. Krylon sells top quality chrome paint.

Is that what you guys use up in the "Hills"?

I saw a place in Yuba City on garden Hwy

silvertonguedevil wrote:

Is that what you guys use up in the "Hills"?

Yup.