smooth chrome bumper?

[justincat]

Has anyone smoothed the bumper holes on these trucks, and had it rechromed? Or took other chrome bumpers off of other trucks? I want to kept the chrome but I want to do away with the bolts sticking threw. I was thinking about welding a bolt on the back, welding them smooth, and rechroming.

[cstm68]

heres one on the fesler built 67

[justincat]

yea cool, thats what im talking about. Is that just a factory bumper smoothed out, and tucked in?

[piecesparts]

It is the smoothing out of the bumper that is the most costly part. Once welded and made to work, then you have to fill the ad spots with material, which in this case has to be a copper or bronze base. Then you sand and smooth until it is perfect. After that the coatings of nickel and chrome go on.

[justincat]

could I not just weld bolts on the back of the bumper, fill it up with weld, sand it smooth, and take it to the chrome shop? That would only cost me 200 dollars?

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by justincat

could I not just weld bolts on the back of the bumper, fill it up with weld, sand it smooth, and take it to the chrome shop? That would only cost me 200 dollars?

You can, however, there is always a chance of warpage and don't forget those little pits that never seem to fill up when you weld things. If you get lucky, the welding will be all you have to do, but there is a chance that it won't be that easy. I know a guy that had to do the filling process three times and then follow up with sanding and buffing to get his rear bumper smoothed. Chrome is like black paint---if there is a flaw, it will show.

[VA72C10]

Originally Posted by justincat

could I not just weld bolts on the back of the bumper, fill it up with weld, sand it smooth, and take it to the chrome shop? That would only cost me 200 dollars?

I want to know where you're getting good chrome for $200. I checked locally and at a recommended shop in TN and they want around $1000 per bumper. And they don't want you to sand down the welds. They want to be able to do that so they're responsible for how smooth it is.....

Don't mean that to come out rude....I really want to know where I can get a nice chrome job cheap Normally good and cheap don't mix

[justincat]

razorback bumper in little rock ar charges 200 some odd bucks per bumper. Im not sure about the quality compare to 1000 dollar chrome job, but I know im not paying that much for it a bumper. I know i can weld, and sand a bumper pretty smooth but im just wondering if I could use some kind of filler that chrome would stick to, to slick it of when im done? If someone who has done this before let me know whats up. thanks

[cdowns]

i wouldn't expect much quality from a $200 chrome job and i doubt it would hold up for any length of time

[piecesparts]

The chroming processes have definitely increased in cost in the last two years. A lot of chrome shops have closed with the imposition of the new federal laws controlling the waste issues.

[mcampbell]

Did both of my Blazer bumpers in 93 and it cost me about $100 each. Salt Lake City Chrome straightened them first then I welded the bolts in and took them back for chrome. It was pretty time consuming to get everything smooth. It was long enough ago I can't remember everything we tried to smooth it and still have a filler the chrome would stick to. We tried silver solder at one point. I think in the end it was weld and grind until it was perfect. If you know where to look and get close with the reflection right you can still see a few pits.
They looked fantastic for a few years until a Civic turned in front of me and I t-boned him. I bought new brightwork and a 110 wire feed with the insurance money. I bought a new front and while trying to weld in the bolts have over 20 hours in the 4 bolt holes and now it is so warped it will likely never go on. I have a 220 welder now and need to try one more time. I think by cutting the top of the carrage bolt heads and grinding the sides until there is a 1/16 space between the heads and the bumper holes. Then doing only small puddles I might be able to do it without warping. The earlier heat buildup was mostly from a grinder trying to remove extra buildup. Done right it looks great but I haven't checked chrome cost for quite a few years.

[Tom Vogel]

FWIW... I wanted to smooth mine myself but the chrome shop wouldnt do it unless THEY did the welding and smoothing. (Sherms Chrome in Sacramento)
We also removed the front liscence plate bump. Looks cool, but not cheap.

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by piecesparts

It is the smoothing out of the bumper that is the most costly part. Once welded and made to work, then you have to fill the ad spots with material, which in this case has to be a copper or bronze base. Then you sand and smooth until it is perfect. After that the coatings of nickel and chrome go on.

Originally Posted by piecesparts

You can, however, there is always a chance of warpage and don't forget those little pits that never seem to fill up when you weld things. If you get lucky, the welding will be all you have to do, but there is a chance that it won't be that easy. I know a guy that had to do the filling process three times and then follow up with sanding and buffing to get his rear bumper smoothed. Chrome is like black paint---if there is a flaw, it will show.

This information is 100% correct! There are other ways to go about it, but I have researched this through several chrome platers. They all gave the same details if you want quality results that will last. Any thing less will eventually fail.

[1nice67chevy]

doesnt goodmark sell one for the front?

[VA72C10]

not without the bolt holes.

[BIG ORANGE]

Dam yall are breaking my heart with this info.
I had it all thought out, yeah I'm gonna shave my bumper, hell I'm going to even narrow it a 3/4 of a inch and put my 67/70 short bumper guards on it and send it off to be chrome plated and I will be the chit then!
OMG now what?????
$1000.00 for chroming 1 freakin bumper,,,,,,,,,,,
That bites hard....
I guess I could do 1 and just run a painted bumper!
Then save up my coins and do a 2nd bumper and send it to TN.

[Andy4639]

Not chrome but it sure ant factory either and I have never seen another one like it.

[junkyardjohn]

VERY NICE WORK ANDY. WE DID THAT 6 OR 8 YR.S AGO ON A 55 CHEVY PICKUP. I SAY WE CAUSE I WAS BEING A HELPER IN A BUDDYS ONE-MAN BODY SHOP IN EXCHANGE FOR SOME OF HIS PAINTING & BODY WORK KNOWLEDGE. I'M RETIRED & IT WORKED OUT GREAT FOR BOTH OF US. HE WAS ONE OF THE BEST WELDERS I'VE EVER SEEN, & HE WELDED IN SOME GROUND DOWN CARRIAGE BOLTS, GROUND EM DOWN & POLISHED THEM, LEAVING A LITTLE EXTRA STOCK FOR THE PLATER TO POLISH. FIRST TIME. I DON'T REMEMBER THE COST (IT WAS A CUSTOMERS TRUCK) BUT IT'S BEEN DONE FOR YEARS. NO PROBLEM AT ALL FOR SOMEONE WITH THE TALENTS OR EXPERTIZE. SHOOT I EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT DOING IT ON A PAINTED, MOLDED IN BUMPER. JOHN

[Andy4639]

First off I want everyone to know I didn't do the work I only paid for it. LOL...I wish I could but welding ant one of my strong points. Thanks John for the comments though!!
I know some of you have herd of "Redneck Engineering" in Liberty SC. They build custom motor cycles. They are right down the road from me. They did the welding and cutting for the bumper.

[Mondo]

Yeah, I looked into removing the bolts & license plate shape.... too many other things that could be done to the truck for that money.


Now if some aftermarket place took the time to get them manufactured I think everyone would buy it (reasonable price of course).

[MotorHead Lon]

I dont normally come over here but the title got my attention. I have smoothed my trucks bumpers. I cut the head off of new bumper bolts, leaving the square portion intact. Put the bolt in with the top flush to the bumper and weld up the front side. On the back side I use a fender washer weld to the bumper and around the bolt itself for strength. The chrome shop I talked to told me not to grind the welds, they would rather do it and have control of how smooth the bumper turns out.

Off topic truck but here is my bare metal S-10 bumper after losing the bolts.

[1nice67chevy]

any hot rod shops out ther that i could go to and have them build one of those nice smoothed out bumpers with fog lights

[basemodel67]

Another thought: What about some of that new-fangled chrome paint? I have seen some stuff done with it that looks pretty freaking close to real chrome... and, you could bodywork the bumper just like a fender to get it nice with less chance of warping.

[LUV2XCLR8]

Advanced Plating in Nashville quoted me $1600 during the Good Guys Show.

I would get a NEW 67/68 Front Bumper already Smoothed and Re-Chromed
(They would supply the bumper, do all of the work, and do the Chroming)

AND

I would get a 67-72 Rear Sport Bumper already Smoothed and Re-Chromed
(They would supply the bumper, do all of the work, and do the Chroming)

But Still out of my budget at basically $800 Ea.