I've searched V8buick for this subject and turn up a lot of old threads/posts. I'd appreciate it if I could get some recent input on this. I'm trying to restore (within reason) a 1964 Wildcat. Tri-City seemed to be the consensus for bumpers, but they do not do other chrome body pieces or diecast panels. I've priced the diecast and chrome trim at Advanced Plating and simply can't put another mortgage on my house. There was some old posts on Hanlon Plating that does trim. There's a bunch of trim panels on the Wildcat and when I added up the $$ at Advanced, I hyperventilated. I'm in the Northeast. Based on old posts, I'm scared sh** less of Nu-Chrome in MA. From what I've read, I'll probably not find anything up here. Thanks for any input.
Two places I have used: NEL Metal Restorations in Philly and The Finishing Touch in Chicago. Both do great work. NEL is slightly less expensive. Good chrome is not cheap.
What about Paul's Chrome in PA? http://www.paulschrome.com/ Check out this post: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=243685 (note - its on H.A.M.B., its not a family site!) Some other thoughts there... - Bill
You are absolutely right to stay away from Nu-Chrome. I've had experience with them and I can tell you first hand that their work is bad and they won't stand behind it. Their stuff isn't even good driver quality. They are nothing more than common crooks and theives. I recommend Graves Plating in Florence, AL. Like any other good plater, they aren't cheap. But their work is fantastic and they are real nice people to deal with. Bill
www.customchromeplating.com known nationwide for there great work.A good chromer is not going to be cheap
Please don't read this, it is more a rant than anything, or a vent. I am frustrated and bummed by re-chrome shops. I have a bumper here, at CustomChrome (one word), right now. Scott and his crew are great people. They are doing stuff for a lot of big name builders. Their "show quality" work is the best I have seen. Beautiful. My bumper has been there since March '08. I drove 4.5 hours to pick it up yesterday. It was the best looking bumper I have ever owned. But I had to leave it for more work. I sent the bumper there by a friend, and fellow board member. They, Scott, called me when he received the bumper. We discussed the bumper, and the price, and long story short, they did not do as instructed. I had to drive there, use their tape measure, show them where the problem was, and leave it for more work. In 10 minutes they had the problem fixed, but now must fix the plating which cracked during the "fix". So now I will have to drive there again, 4.5 hours each way, to get the bumper again. They will pay my fuel, or ship it for free, but I want to inspect it before I bring it home. Now, please don't think I am bashing them here. I have never had a perfect experience with a re-chrome place. These people are the best I have seen. But for those who think there are "templates" to straighten these bumpers I want to tell you "forget it!!!". I just received my second grand tour of a re-chrome shop, with a guide explaining all, and answering questions. There are no templates. If you don't have a good bumper when you send it to them the finished product will be the luck of the draw. Small dings and dents are ok, but if it doesn't fit well when you send it it will be a shiny, likely poor fitting bumper when you get it back. You guys that have done this, how many times have you taken the bumper and used it when it fit less than perfect, honestly? How many times have they peeled later? Cost at my ,so far, favorite re-chrome shop, for the bumper is $1900.00. And still it is being done over. They could have done it right if the instructiond had been followed, but they weren't. They just weren't. And check their warranty, it is not a lifetime warranty. If you have a simple bumper it may be easier. I am into 65, 66, 67 cars, their bumpers are somewhat complicated and easily damaged. They are difficult to get straight, contour wise, to fit the car. Some may be easier. I've had bumpers done in Arizona, West Virginia, Cincinnati OH, Minnesota, Kentucky, California, and by the BUMMER BOYZ in, wherever it is they send them (Mexico?), and have never had had perfect results the first time. Maybe it is just my luck, maybe I am too picky (is that possible?, to be too picky on your toys).
I learned the hard way. I swapped Bumper boyz both bumpers for my 67 Riviera. The ones I took off needed replated, but they certainly fit correctly. The ones I got back did not fit at all. I carefully bent the front one to make it fit, but it still did just barely crack the plating where those bumpers usually crack in the middle. The back one fit so poorly that by the time I forced it in place, it had an eighth inch wide split in the middle. There is no way that Bumper boyz has any sort of template because their bumper was for a car that is a full inch more narrow and alot more pointed than mine. Someone just guessed at it when they fixed the original crack. I had to weld it while it was fitted to the car, and then have it totally redone. I found this shop. The majority of their work is shipping to them, but I worked with them in person. The reworked bumper turned out well, so I ended up having them do a bunch of smaller potmetal items too. http://www.qualitycustompolishing.net/
doesn anyone rememeber where the parts place inc goes through for their bumper exchange? wasnt bumer boyz was it? if so i may just get fiberglass..
