Cost of rechroming 240 bumpers

[ROOPZ]

I am wondering what a fair price is to rechrome and straighten a couple of bumpers. I have gotten a price of 280 for both bumpers. The front one is banged up pretty good but the rear is in good shape. Anyone else have theirs rechromed? Any advice? I also wnat to have the holes filled. Anyone done this? Thanks

[26th-Z]

I looked into chroming quite a while ago and tucked most of the info away for the future. A lot of places do chrome work for bikers - picky bikers. There are bunches of places around - start with a web search and see if you can't find some places locally, because more than likely, you will have to ship the pieces to the place you decide on.

There are chroming services and there are chroming services. You get what you pay for. The original Nissan chrome bumpers were cheap to say the least, and that's why they rust. They are also not very bump resistant for a bumper. The chrome process is actually several electro-metallic coating steps, (3?) begining with copper as I recall. The amount of time the bumper sits in the electro-bath determines the thickness of each metallic layer. The thicker - the better. Original bumpers have color distortion because the layers ar so thin. Good chrome work will dip the bumpers three times longer than the original. Initially, the bumper is stripped and cleaned to determine what metal work needs to be done. In between platings, the bumper is buffed and filled just as a body shop would sand between primers. The final chrome plate is buffed and polished. A good chrome job won't show ridged edges and blemishes like an original and the color will be much more consistant.

Chrome places will straighten and fill, but it's costly. The whole process is labor intensive and one can see what results come from various price ranges. You could say price depends on how picky you are! Generally speaking, the cost of a new bumper is right there with the cost of having the old one re-chromed. Add the repair and fill work and the cost will exceed the cost of a brand new one. VB is advertising $450 for a 240Z front bumper and that's almost what I expect to pay to have mine re-chromed and get a better, longer lasting finish.

Do a little reading on the web, check out what you get for your deal and decide if that's what you want. $280 sounds very reasonable.

[DatsunZGuy]

$280.00 to re-chrome your front and rear bumpers is a screaming good deal. I paid $777.42 to have my set redone (front, 3-piece rear and all 4 guards) at Bumper Boyz ( http://www.bumperboyz.com ) in Los Angeles. They specialize in classic car chroming and had a price list, which included Z cars.

As for how they’ll stand the test of time. Before I wrapped the bumpers for storage, I applied some POR-15 clear to the back of the bumpers in hopes that this will deter rust from forming.

[Zrush]

Hey 26th-Z

There is a place in St Pete/Largo called Alert Bumper on Ulmerton Road. We had a bumper re-chromed for around $250.00 with a turn around time of less than a week. They specialize in classic and high end show vehicles. Absolutley beautiful with a guarantee! These guys are the best in the southeast!!! I highly recommend them for your majestys work. I know she would only require the best..........and who can blame her:love:

(Plus the ol' guy that does the re-chroming loves Z cars)

Vicky

[26th-Z]

Hey, thanks Vicky. Jim and Carl both talked about someone locally, but they never gave me a name. I'll check it out. I have quite a bit to do. Two sets of bumpers, two sets of hubcaps, and assorted other stuff. I talked to a lace in Pennsylvania and a place in Alabama.

[Ed]

I paid about $200 for the front bumper with the guards out of a place in LA. Sorry can't remember the name. But they were real helpfull they sent a driver out to my house and we exchanged bumpers. I gave him my old rusty banged up bumper and he gave me a nicely rechromed straight bumper.

The rear bumper I had done up here and they charged me $300 for the five pieces.

If you can get it done for $280 it sounds like a steal. Hopefully they do good work.

[hls30.com]

I have had 11 bumpers replated at different locations throughout the country, I have paid from $225 to $700 for a "Showroom tripple chrome finish" every single one has rusted within 6 months.

The problem HAS ALWAYS BEEN the Nickle plating is not thick enough.

A tripple chrome plating is actually a thick plate of copper to fill in scatches and tiny dents, sanding and buffing to make a uniform finish, a medium coat of nickle to seal the copper from oxidizing(look at the chrome interior pieces-they are exuding a green tint becaouse they were not nickle plated at all, and the copper is corroding under the chrome), the nickle plating is supposed to be thick enough to not be porous. Then a thin(and porous) chrome plate. It does not take very much to make a chrome plating look good out of the vat, the proof is in the lasting.

If it does not last, the nickle was not done well, or the piece was not properly cleaned between steps.

I have used all the reccommended places I could find, and none would stand behind their work!

I chose to buy a set of NOS bumpers and completely coat them with clear (Glisten PC)from POR15. The bumpers are completely sealed, and no more oxidation can take place.

Will

[toddolie]

Just yesterday I picked up a set of bumpers for my 1972 Buick Gran Sport at the Carlisle, PA Ford Show. I ordered them at the Spring Carlisle show and they brought them along this time. They do nice work and straighten and do a nice job. Their name is Tri City Plating in Tenn. You can find them on the web. For both bumpers I paid $700.00 and will get $200.00 back when I bring them my cores. If you live near there I would recommend checking them out. They do the Copper Nickel Chrome show plating process.

Todd

[Ed]

I've noticed that everybody seems to offer a "showroom quality". What is it called when it's not "showroom quality"? junk?

[hls30.com]

SHow quality means that the piece will have all of the little defects repaired, that will give the the piece a like new finish.

Chrome plating means that the piece will be properly cleaned, but no other attention will be given, just plated.

Kind of like the difference between Earl Shieb(?) and a good paint job. Earl will put a coat of paint on a car, but no bodywork will be done. A good paintjob will take care of the defects that will show through the paint before the paint is put on.

\

Will

[mperdue]

I chose to buy a set of NOS bumpers and completely coat them with clear (Glisten PC)from POR15. The bumpers are completely sealed, and no more oxidation can take place.

Hey Will, After a year or so since the above post how has the Glisten PC coating held up? Has it chipped or cracked at all? Any discoloration, scratching, peeling? ANything at all? Have you given it a thourough shakedown? Also was the AP120 easy to work with? Tell me all you can - I'm thinking of using it. Thanks -

Michael

[dogma420]

Yeah Will, I'm interested in the glisten PC as well...I don't think it can crack or chip, POR makes kick arse products...wondering if it is very noticeable ...post some pics Will....