To rechrome or buy new?

[Millrat]

I have about one straight front bumper and gaurds to put back on my 62 sprite when it gets home. The rear bumper is tweaked and split in a couple of spots. Is it better to buy all new or rechrome if possible? Worried more about quality and looks than originality.
Erik

 

[jgrewe]

You're not too far from a place called Restoration Chrome. They did all the chrome on a friend's '55 Pontiac, great work. Give them a call then email them pics of what you want done. They'll send you back a quote. I've found the price is pretty good compared to new parts and the finish is WAY better. They can fix holes and dents too, just show them in the pics.

I'm about to send my BE grill and front bumper out to them.

 

[Whitephrog]

The "fit and finish" and the quality of the metal will almost always be better on the original than on the reproduction.

 

[jlaird]

what are they going to charge for doing your grill??

 

[jgrewe]

I had a computer crash a while back and the old emails didn't make it into the back up. I remember the hand brake handle was going to be $70, I think the bumper was going to be $270 and the grill was around $325. These prices included return shipping. The more you send them at one time the better the price. My friend had 38 pieces and it was $3400 and his stuff was very rough.

I'll get a new quote this week because I'm about ready to get them done. I just drove the car around my shop for the first time after I did a ton of work.

 

[Whitephrog]

Knox Custom Chrome in Knoxville Tennessee did my work and Jack's work. Their prices for the parts they did for me is as follows. Mine were local pick up. As I recall they shipped Jack's back to him.

Bumper $180
Front overriders $45 each
Rear overriders (bumperettes) $60 each
Grill $180
E-brake handle $45
Dash handle $45

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Ray, Did you do any prep work on the items to be rechromed?

 

[Whitephrog]

None

 

[Dug]

Erik,
as said, better to rechrome if your bits to be chromed are still in decent shape.
Reproduction bits can be lacking in the same weight of material and plating quality.

If you want to stay in state for rechroming,try McKenzie plating and or Super chrome in the Eugene, Springfield area.

dug

 

[smaceng]

Two years ago I paid $1500 to West Coast Chrome in Modesto, CA for front and rear bumpers with overriders, handbrake, grab handle, windshield frame and bonnet handle. Also included refinish of the aluminum cockpit surround and windshield posts. They did a great job!
Scott in CA

 

[Millrat]

Thanks. I will do some research on the places in state and compare. There are some pretty nasty splits in the back bumper and a couple of the guards. The easy way out is to order it all from VB. From the looks of things it will cost as much or more to fix and rechrome. Anybody used the parts from VB?

 

[nomad]

Two years ago I paid $1500 to West Coast Chrome in Modesto, CA for front and rear bumpers with overriders, handbrake, grab handle, windshield frame and bonnet handle. Also included refinish of the aluminum cockpit surround and windshield posts. They did a great job!
Scott in CA

If I remember correctly about $500 for both bumpers and overiders and straightening at Sioux Plating in Sioux City Ia. a couple of years ago. Always done great work for me though there head plating shop operator probably is'nt there any more.

Kurt.

 

[nomad]

Thanks. I will do some research on the places in state and compare. There are some pretty nasty splits in the back bumper and a couple of the guards. The easy way out is to order it all from VB. From the looks of things it will cost as much or more to fix and rechrome. Anybody used the parts from VB?

As mentioned you can expect the VB parts to be a far cry from the quality of the original's. The chrome job on them probably won't stand up to much use either.
My experience is with a MGA that former owner replaced all chrome on. As soon as I got the car home I realized the difference in quality and called him up wanting the originals. They had just gone out with the garbage pick-up.
Of course its a matter of what you want in the car.

Kurt.

 

[Millrat]

A case of "They just don't make em like they used to" After all the input I can see that mix and match won't work either. Wouldn't do to have good on the front and mediocore on the back. I am seeing that patience is essential in this process.

 

[Millrat]

This is the sort of damage I'm looking at. The owner before us did some really poor work after some sort of collision and ignored the bumpers.

 

[chad]

look on ebay right now, there are a couple of nos bumers.

I had same choice to make a short time ago, and decided i would be sad if i went with reproductions from moss or vb, so i had my originals redone, and have never had a second thought about it. I too paid around 500 to have both done with all 4 overriders done also.

 

[RickB]

My little red Sprite came with a repro front bumper.
It was shiny, but apparent that it was inferior when placed next to my original fat bumper. I pulled the fat bumper, overriders and nerf bar off my MK1 Midget parts car and bolted them on the Sprite.
What they lack in the shiny department is more than made up in the beefy original equipment department.

 

[Billm]

Wait- Sprite/Midget and "beefy" in the same sentence??
There is something wrong with that!!
BillM

 

[Millrat]

What they lack in the shiny department is more than made up in the beefy original equipment department. [/quote]

So maybe I just clean them up and put them on? They really don't look that bad on the car as it used to be but it will be a lot prettier when it comes home

 

[nomad]

What they lack in the shiny department is more than made up in the beefy original equipment department.

So maybe I just clean them up and put them on? They really don't look that bad on the car as it used to be but it will be a lot prettier when it comes home
[/quote]

If you want a good chrome shop to redo them you will be amazed at what they can fix. I've had bumpers that looked close to prezel come out looking like new. Caved in overiders the same.

Kurt.