I'm contemplating rechroming my original 69 Front and rear bumpers or buying new. Doing some looking around it may be more cost effective to buy repros.

Any input on quality and fitment of repro 69 bumpers would be greatly appreciated!

Also, aren't 69 Camaro and Firebird rear bumpers the same?

Thanks!
Drew

I have repro bumpers front and rear on my '68 and plan to someday get my originals rechromed. The repros are definately inferior. They fit "OK" but both the chrome quality and construction just isn't up to what it should be. GM's look like solid American made stuff. The repros look Taiwan cheap.

naw 69 camaro and firebird bumpers are different.

I have a repro rear bumper on my 69. It's pure crap! wish I had the original to straighten and rechrome.

I have a question for ya all? The bumpers I have for my 68 dont look original. Lets assume they are repos. 15 years+ old repros. Would you guys send them out to be straightened and rechromed or by new repros? Joe

I'd find solid used originals and have them rechromed. I see them all the time inexpensively and if you get them cheap enough it would be worth your while. Your gonna pay for a rechrome anyways,so why not have a better starting point for a few added dollars. I was very dissapointed with the repro rear fit.

David

I've never seen a rechrome that fit as well as the original. Used original bumpers aren't that hard to find. My experience (albeit limited with Firebirds) is that a GOOD rechroming job is more expensive than a new aftermarket. But it's worth every penny.

- Jake

How can you tell the differance between original and after market bumpers. Joe

Just look at them. Especially from an angle, you will see machining marks through the chrome of a repro, rather than a mirror-smooth reflection. Tap on it, and it sounds less substantial. There are often sharp edges on the repros as well. If you can find originals, have them straightened and rechromed and they'll be good for another 30+ years.

One way you can tell the difference is the side mounting holes on my 69 repro bumper dont even line up with the mounting holes on the car. They are not even close. It's only bolted on with the rear bolts.

Freydog69....that's all I needed to hear!!! I'll be getting my originals rechromed.

Drew

Very glad I could help get you in the right direction Drew! Good luck.

I have the same questions for the 68 front bumper. Also, how much does a rechrome job cost?

It depends on the condition of your bumper, whether you have any dents or rust pitting. Figure it will cost a little more for a quality rechrome on a good bumper than for a repro.

Freydog, I've pulled bumpers off one car and tried to bolt onto another and found the holes don't always line up with originals, either. Sometimes a washer or two is needed to bring the brackets and holes into alignment, and it's easiest to start all the bolts and have them just loose before tightening them all down.

The repro bumpers are bright, shiny chrome and passable...they are just not factory quality. I stopped in at a Cutlass show last year, and you could spot the repro bumpers from 20 feet on the big, wide Cutlass bumper design. The repro chrome also appeared bluer than the factory chrome.

thanks yellowbird. My holes are so far off it's kinda hopeless, but I'll give it a try. I messed with it for a few hours one afternoon because the bumper was not level (What started as a car wash ended up as a bumper straightening project!). Guess, what...it's still not level. I need to pull out the big tools and straighten it someday.

Freydog69, your bumper is probably bent down at the front ends, right? thats from not being strong enough for the bumper jacks, and it was probably jacked up a few times in its life...mine is the same way, ....I have not straightened mine out , but I had to fix leaks around the holes because it leaked when washing , (and in rain if I got caught)But I only did one side at a time and could get it back into same holes...most problem I had was that I had to remove the shakers to get to the bolts for the bumper...

Hi Bjorn,

sounds like fun...yeah most bumpers are bent down like that...I don't have the original jack so I don't have that problem.

The last time I tried to straighten mine the real pain was getting the shims back in between the bumper and the body.

It's from left to right that my bumper is not level with the tail lights. It's higher on the right side, and I've seen other 69's with the same exact problem. Maybe we should let the bumper manufacturer know.

Dave

aha, so thats it....hmmm, well, mine is an original, so I cant really help there...maybe the manufacturer is using too skinny material and it wont stay straight...

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> I have the same questions for the 68 front bumper. Also, how much does a rechrome job cost? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">firebird_red...I have priced re-chroming for my 68 and the company that does it down here in the south charges $300. It may be more or less depending on where you are.
If your planning on keeping the car and you have originals then I recommend rechrome over repro...IMHO

Dave

Dave,

If you give them the project of both front and rear bumpers do they give you a price break? My front looks like it's been repaired, rechromed, re-dented and re-rusted. I say repaired because of some grinder marks that are visible through the finish. Once in a while, a rusted bumper shows up on eBay. I'm wondering if it's worth buying and rechroming one of those. It sounds promising if rust is the only issue.

My rear bumper is straight but pitted. Do they give you a price break if you give them both bumpers?

I'm skeptical of reproduction chrome. That's why I'm asking questions. I bought an import bumper many years ago for another vehicle. It rusted through the finish within two years. At ten years it is nearly solid rust across the front. That chrome finish was very bright, shiny and blue like someone else mentioned here. It just didn't last. I would have done better with a paintable bumper for that repair.

firebird_red....The local guy I spoke with said it is 300 per bumper. I really didn't get into negotiating with him cause I wasn't ready to have the work done. There are not a lot of places that do rechrome around here so my guess is that if he gives a price break it probally won't be a whole lot.
I personally would't buy a rusted bumper without seeing it cause ya just don't know....now if it is straight and pitted (original) then it may be worth buying and rechroming.