Re-chrome or new chrome?

[lakeholme]

Getting the 68 painted this winter, so it's time to consider a few other things...
I've watched other posts about re-chroming with great interest --especially about quality and costs
So... in the case of this car. cost is an important factor (a driver), and that leads me to this question:

What do you think of reproduction bumpers?  (I do plan to hold onto my original bumpers in any case.  What I want to know is quality.)

[camaromikey]

i put a repo on mine and i drive it everyday. Its doesn't look bad but it lost its shine after 2yrs. I tried everything polish they make and all it would do is cut the oxidization. However i bought a cheap one off ebay for 80 bucks.

[wtexz10]

Lake,

I currently have a repop front bumper on my 69.  Two things I've observed with the repop bumper, the chrome is OK but not spectacular and it is quite a bit lighter than my original.  Mine stays in the garage so I don't know how it would hold up as a daily driver. 

I recentlly had my very straight original replated by a company called Electroplating of El Paso, located in El Paso, TX.  http://www.electroplatingofelpaso.com/  The bumper looks great, they have two qualities of plating.  I had mine "Show Chromed" for a cost of $160.  Anyway you might want to get a quote and delivery from these guys.  I'm very happy with mine.  Now I just need to find time to take the repop off and install my nice shiney original.

Good luck.

Kris   

[lakeholme]

Thanks, guys! 

Some suppliers offer two levels of product, with one being more expensive.  Has anyone found that the more expensive ones are truly better quality?

Also, do you have the same problem of "fading" on re-chrome after just a few years?

[lakeholme]

Also, do you have the same problem of "fading" on re-chrome after just a few years?

Still looking for opinions...

[pbranen]

I am about to paint my 68 this winter as well.  In fact here in KC, there is a place (KC Auto Panel) that sells all of the repop sheet metal which is where I got my quarters and fenders.  Just last week, I looked at their front and rear bumpers and they look AWESOME!!!!!

[lakeholme]

Hey, Pbranen,

Are those the guys in Raytown?  Do they have a web site?

[GaryL]

I consider my car a driver, but an expensive one. I rechromed bumpers, door handles, bumper guards and polished all window trim. The bill was over $1K but it was worth it in my opinion. This included pounding out a couple of dents in the rear bumper and window trim.

[lakeholme]

Gary,

What did you use to polish the trim? And How?
(I've got another thread asking about that...)

[GaryL]

I had it done at a metal polishing place. They pounded out all the little dings too.