Original/GM vs Repro Bumper ID

[GMCPaul]

The Tri-Plus made bumpers are considered to be the PREMIUM quality ( Highest quality ) bumpers for the these trucks, they are distributed under many names but the most common name found is Key Parts ( Key Parts is formally known as Fit-Rite ). If you get a Tri-Plus made bumper there will be 2 holes for the front license plate area just like original GM bumpers not 4-holes as Duncan and son found on the bumper they have so its not a Tri-Plus or GM bumper if it has 4.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 72 Super
Hey Dan, the original front bumpers are very wavey where the tag goes and the corners aren't that smooth either where they curve around the fenders. The body line( line that runs across the length of the bumpers) has a more defined/sharp shape on the original bumpers. The repro's line is not that sharp and have a more rounded look.

Ray
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I looked at 8 different original bumpers painted & chromed and could not find any wavy areas on them in the tag area or the corners, and I compared the crispness of body lines from NOS to Tri-Plus Repro and I did not find any difference either using a contour gauge, in regards to Chrome quality the Repro's definitely outshine even a NOS GM bumper's chrome, but I think this has to do with 30+ years of aging even if it was sitting on a dealers shelf at GM all these years. But the same can be said of the Chrome quality on original GM NOS exterior door handles, or the 70-72 exterior deluxe mirrors, basically any new NOS Chrome GM part I have ever seen as shown this aging with some more pronounced than others but all showing it.
In regards to rust I have Tri-Plus bumpers that have been outside on trucks for over 10 years now and they look as nice as my new bumpers ( except of course where they been hit or scrapped through the years but NO RUST so far unless the chromes damaged from a hit or scrape )
NOW a note of warning on installing any Bumper
Every bumper bracket reproduced I've seen has had a dish inward to the area where the bumper bolt passes through it, I've seen similar but not quite as bad a dish inward to this area on some NOS bumper brackets, if you install a bumper and you excessively tighten the bolts ( Bumper bolts should only be tightened to 35ft lbs not 100 ft lbs +) you can dish the bumper in cracking the chrome itself in this bumper bolt area because its dished inward at the bracket. This dished inward area on the ends of the bumper brackets where the bumper meets it I feel its probably caused by them punching the hole for the bolt to pass through distorting the surrounding metal and as they punch the hole it dimples inward. So definitely don't over torque the bolts its the same front or rear with the Sport chrome or sport painted bumpers 35 ft lbs at bumper face and 40 ft lbs at frame where bracket attaches to frame and if you want to take the time to flatten this area on your brackets it won't hurt either.
GMCPaul