Who sells the best quality reproduction chrome bumpers?

[Big Block]

Looking for good quality reproduction chrome front bumper. (Is there such a thing?) I have purchased them in the past and they are total junk. If you tighten the bolts the bumpers bend and crack the chrome around the bolt holes. They get rust pits if they sit out in the weather for any length of time. Help! I know there's only a couple of manufacturers of repo bumpers so which ones are the best?

[OregonNed]

Interested too - in particular the smoothie front bumper with no license plate mounting hole provision.

[randy500]

Read what gmcpauls has to say about his best bumpers....I ordered one and it was key parts, ordered a second one from summit and saved a bunch of money on the same part. Don't tighten the bolts down real tight and use a large diameter washer between the bracket and the bumper to smooth out the load, double nut the bolts to keep it tight.

[OregonNed]

Good tips - thanks!

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I got mine at Classic Parts for my 56 about 3 years ago & they are still good.

[ApacheIvan]

Subscribed...Interested as well!

[notsolo]

72 ftom classic parts, decent, but 3 yrs now and there is some fine rust showing thru. Parked inside, only 500 miles on it. Triple chrome, maybe needs to be made in USA.

[Big Block]

Originally Posted by notsolo

72 ftom classic parts, decent, but 3 yrs now and there is some fine rust showing thru. Parked inside, only 500 miles on it. Triple chrome, maybe needs to be made in USA.

That has been my experience with these repo bumpers. If left outside they tend to get small rust pits in the surface. Sad the don't make proper fittings quality reproduction parts. I would gladly pay more for OEM quality reproduction parts. I just put a Truck Shop 71-72 repo grill in my truck. It looks good, fitment wasn't a problem. But assembly was a nightmare. The plastic clips that attach the inner grill to the outer grill are a pain. I actually ended up using the originals clips from my old grill. The aluminium is to thin and the shoulder on the plastic clips is to short to go through the plastic grill and push through the aluminium grill shell. The original clips work great. The one's supplied in their installation kit are a joke. They would make a Preacher cuss. Why can't they make and sell reproduction parts that actually fit like the originals. Why wouldn't they make clips that actually work. I used maybe 3 of the clips supplied with their installation kit. The rest wouldn't work.

[Big Block]

Originally Posted by randy500

Read what gmcpauls has to say about his best bumpers....I ordered one and it was key parts, ordered a second one from summit and saved a bunch of money on the same part. Don't tighten the bolts down real tight and use a large diameter washer between the bracket and the bumper to smooth out the load, double nut the bolts to keep it tight.

It's ridiculous that you have to put washers between the bumper and the brackets. Why don't they make a actual replacement bumper to OEM specks in the first place. I just had to put two washers between each bumper bolt to make them fit. The carriage bolt shoulders hit the brackets and the bumper is still loose. So you have to add washers to clear the shoulders on the carriage bolts. How ridiculous is that. Make a bumper that fits in the first place.

[lousblown55chevy]

I just sent mine to Keystone in Minnesota for show quality replating , 600.00 for the pair and 12 week turn around

[Grumpy old man]

I just sent 2 to Knoxville custom Chrome ,I've sent them a bunch of pieces in the last few months and it is $600.00 with 2-3 months wait . The pieces they've already done are top quality .

[busterwivell]

Hmmm.....I put a Truck Shop bumper on my truck about 15 years ago. It sits outside a lot. Not a problem, no rusting, no pitting, don't remember any trouble installing.......now the grill outer is a totally different story........looks terrible.

[demian5]

Originally Posted by busterwivell

Hmmm.....I put a Truck Shop bumper on my truck about 15 years ago.

I did too and under the middle where the plate goes, it was cut wrong and is n not even

[crewadmin]

Got the best rear bumper from Brothers Truck they offer and it looks very nice. Some minor blems in the chrome but overall fit and finish are good.

[davischevy]

The last one I ordered was a rechrome from Rock Auto. Yes a rechrome from Rock Auto.

It was a very nice piece.

In fact I'm going to order one now.

[NC_John]

Originally Posted by Big Block

I have purchased them in the past and they are total junk. If you tighten the bolts the bumpers bend and crack the chrome around the bolt holes.

I got a rear one from a much-praised board vendor and had that exact issue. I snugged it down (not even tightened yet) with a small 3/8" drive ratchet and the chrome cracked immediately. When I contacted the vendor they didnt ask me how I installed it and immediately accused me of not using "the right torques" (the way they worded it was funny- I though I was talking with Charlie Kelly) but they could not tell me what the "correct torques" was. (I had looked beforehand in my assembly manual, service manual and online and was unable to find a torque spec so I was intentionally using that small ratchet). I reckon the real problem was it was chinese POS being represented and sold as a quality part.

I don't want to get into a pissing match so I won't name the vendor here. I've gotten burned by their junk twice now. The worst part of this entire truck project has been dealing with the garbage reproduction parts available. I think that's why the NOS stuff is rare and so expensive. Ok, rant over.....

[66clow]

I used classic industries, 1 1/2 years in and they still looking pretty good. If you get the bumper brackets paint them. They are rusting but bumper is fine.

[panhead59]

Subscribed. I need both front and rear.

[The Junkman]

I was happy with the ones from Classic Chevy Parts ,price was good ,chrome was good quality for a 1971 ,i think any bumper will kink by the bolt holes if tighten them too much ,i did watch not to do that when put them on .

[Devil Pup]

Ill speak to the quality plating of Brothers Trucks bumpers. When my long bed was bagged I would drag it constantly.
Bent it pretty good, but the chrome still looks pretty damn good. I plan to bend it back and run it ha.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by davischevy

The last one I ordered was a rechrome from Rock Auto. Yes a rechrome from Rock Auto.

It was a very nice piece.

In fact I'm going to order one now.

Hi,
I am on Rock Auto site right now and can't find what you are referring to. Can you give a link to the item you find when you order please?

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by randy500

Read what gmcpauls has to say about his best bumpers....I ordered one and it was key parts, ordered a second one from summit and saved a bunch of money on the same part. Don't tighten the bolts down real tight and use a large diameter washer between the bracket and the bumper to smooth out the load, double nut the bolts to keep it tight.

Really good tip, thanks!

[El Dorado Jim]

I have bought two front bumpers from truckandcarshops, both fit good, one i just installed on my 72 chevy,fit real nice, the other one I installed on my sons 70 GMC about 10 years ago and it still looks great...

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by randy500

Read what gmcpauls has to say about his best bumpers....I ordered one and it was key parts, ordered a second one from summit and saved a bunch of money on the same part. Don't tighten the bolts down real tight and use a large diameter washer between the bracket and the bumper to smooth out the load, double nut the bolts to keep it tight.

You got that right. Years ago I slapped on a re-chromed rear bumper and whoops. Hope to give it a second chance............in 2019

[Big Block]

I saved two original GM white painted bumpers that I removed from a New Mexico truck years ago. They were in great condition. I've been saving them for my Blazer. I will have them rechromed. The Truck Shop bumper I just installed on the front my 71 short bed required washers to get it to fit right. I used the same bolts that were removed from the factory front bumper. Shoulder on the bolts wouldn't let the bumper tighten up properly. Washers between the bumper and the brackets were the solution. Truly sad you can't get exact fit reproduction parts.