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| | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 17 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 17 | I have a 48 with original bumpers front and rear. The previous owner had welded tow bar brackets to the front and when I removed them the bumper edge has a couple 1/4" chunks missing and the face has divots and missing metal. Should I try to have it repaired or just purchase a replacement? What might be the proper way to have it repaired. Any help would be great. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 159 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2013 Posts: 159 | As they say, it depends. Chrome or painted? Show or just go? Have it done or do it yourself?
A good welder can easily patch and grind and fill for paint ready. If you want rechrome that's big $.
Most here say to avoid the aftermarket chrome the vendors sell, your choice but not cheap for iffy quality.
I prefer to reuse old parts, warts and all until you can't use them no more. Nice paint over old stock chrome is a good compromise unless you gotta have chrome. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Depends on your budget and your level of condition you want, daily driver, better, better than that. Sounds like too far gone for me. Chucks of missing metal is doable but may be false economy. New or a donor, either way is good. new painted, no worry about chrome quality......$100. Good donor....free- $100
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 | I believe the bumpers are spring steel, so welding on them removes the temper and strength. If there are chunks missing, I'd replace, even with repop instead of depending on a weakened bumper. My front bumper initially looked OK, with just a couple minor bends, but when I removed it, there were cracks around a couple of bolt holes. It's going in the scrap bin.
Last edited by klhansen; 03/22/2018 2:22 AM.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 | Mine (1951) sure didn't feel like plain stamped steel. I'll have to see how easy it bends and maybe do a grinder test for carbon content.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Kevin, My correction. Spring steel from at least 1945 into 60-66 era. Except big trucks had carbon steel.
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,002 | I'm with you on the big truck bumpers, they're drawn so deep that there's no way they could be spring steel. Too expensive to fab from spring steel.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | |
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