Get some feedback from others that may have used them. The surplus bumpers I have (2- '71 rear) both have excellent chrome plating jobs on them. It's the fit issue. Fight with it for a 4 hour session & finally realized it was bent. This was not the original to the car. I bought it, had it shipped from the vendor to the plater. Plater shipped it to me. I ended up using one for a year. Took the original off & repaired it. It was retro-fit for a trailer hitch years ago. 3/4" hole near the bottom & severe stress cracks all aound the hole. Couple very small dings at the tail lights. Once we repaired it & ensured the fit, off it went to the plater. Re-installed it in less than an hour. If the bumpers fit well now you are OK. If the fit is not great or you have dents/dings, fix them locally. Check the fit before you send them away for plating. Imagine trying to ensure the guy with the hammer will make it just right when the car is 2000 miles away.
Hey Mike, nice car!!! Keystone,formerly Mid-West Bumper, does do an excellent job. My Dad had both the front and rear bumpers done for his 71 Pontiac T-37 through them, and I had them do the rear bumper for my 70 Skylark last summer. They DO NOT do the rechroming in Michigan. Once they get to the depot in Grand Rapids, the are put on a truck and shipped out to Minnesota I believe, then they get shipped back once completed. My rear cost me $575, ouch:eek2: They used to rechrome right here in Michigan, but the EPA regulations and handling fee's for the solutions involved in the rechroming process makes it very expensive for the business owner of a rechroming facility, and as I'm sure you know, Michigan isn't very small business owner friendly:Smarty: Don't be afraid to use them, our's look really nice. Be sure to ask for show chrome. Only problem I can forsee, is that you may have waited too long to send them out, with the car this close to being done, if you send out the bumpers this week, I doubt you would see them back until mid summer. My rear took them like 15 or 16 weeks turn around when they originally told me 6 weeks.:af: Nice talking with you today, Tom
Hey good score! You found a pretty good site here for info... If you need any motor work or other stuff get ahold of the Finishline guys in Hastings. There link is in my signature. They are straight shooters and treat folks as well as they are treated... You should brig that Buick to Dawg Dawgs in Grandville sat nights, or Gemmins on sat late afternoon, or Fricanno's (spelling) on tuesday? on Alpine and 6mi .... Good luck, welcome another Buick to GR :birthday:
Mike, I believe Hajjar(Micro Plating) in Romulas still does chrome plating locally. If your car isn't ready for the Woodward cruise, come down anyway. It's a great time!!!!:beers2:
Tom, That just helped me decide what to do for now. Everyone sure is helpful here. I'm going to put the bumpers back on as is for this summer and rechrome in the winter. Maybe I can tweek the front bumper myself. I have a 200 ton hydrolic press. I should be able to do a lot with a poured resin mold. Maybe my new mold maker friend can help a tool and die guy out with that project. Mike
Not yet, I wanted to get a hold of the guy who started and see if I can give him a push to finish it. I'll give him a week. Mike
Mike, I hope to have it done this summer to meet up with you in GR. BTW, have you seen a dark brown 70 stage 1 running up or down 131. I spotted what appeared to be a gentleman (late 60's early 70's) heading north last summer in what looked like an un-molested stage 1! He was working hard to keep it straight on the hiway. Some loose steering components maybe. I headed west on 96 and he continued north on 131. I was in my 68 Nova, pulled up next to him, but he was concentrating very hard on the road, wouldn't look for a thumbs up. Didn't want to distract him anymore seeing him with his hands full. Mike
I remember seing a light brown last summer cruising around but not a dark one... Sounds like he needed to park it before it parked himou: We could use more v-8 Buicks around for sure... Even if you don't get it done you should stop those places this summer anyhow, they have some pretty cool stuff from time to time.. Good luck!
