Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
MORE wrenching? 
Plenty of places to share. | | Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
1 members (TrknGMC),
31
guests, and
1
robot. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,010 Posts1,055,299 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 | Howdy Stovebolters:
Anyone ever try to restore/refinish their stainless bumper? The front bumper on my 50 3800 is nice and straight, but has some scratches on the front which have rusted, and quite a bit of surface rust on the back.
My instinct is to take some 240 sandpaper to the front and try to smooth it out, then progressively work my way upto, say, a 1500 grit before trying to put the polisher to it. I've taken that approach with stainless trim but those are typically stainless all the way through, I'm not sure if the bumper has a thin stainless skin which I might sand away if not careful. Suggestions?
Thanks - Carmental | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | if you have a stainless bumper it's all stainless, not coated, and it will not show rust .... check it with a magnet, or work on the back a bit, you'll get through the chrome pretty quick
Bill | | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 | Well thats disappointing to hear. I thought they were all stainless in 1950. Regardless - I did some sanding on the back, after getting through some of the surface rust it is pretty smooth and clean, but when I took the magnet to it, it stuck.
the good news is a chrome bumper isn't that expensive to replace, but I sure would have liked the stainless. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Howdy Stovebolters: . . .
.
My instinct is to take some 240 sandpaper to the front and try to smooth it out, then progressively work my way upto, say, a 1500 grit before trying to put the polisher to it . . . . Suggestions?
Thanks - Carmental I have done that with the chromed bumpers, then epoxy primed, and then urethane painted. It has lasted 9 years, so far. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 | If you choose to replace the bumper I would suggest you avoid "Bumper Boys". One of my street rodder pals bought two for a '37 sedan from them and they are peeling the chrome after five years of garage kept, driven only on Sunday use.
Last edited by beltfed; 02/17/2013 5:56 PM.
Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 255 | Well, in the short-term I think I'll try painting it to complement the truck. Have seen good looking chrome bumpers on some of our vendor's web sites for $139 and up, or a Stainless version ford $349 and up. For fun I'll paint it up and see how she looks, I can always buy another.
Thx for the advice! Carmental | | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 687 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 687 | That's exactly what I am doing. Well, in the short-term I think I'll try painting it to complement the truck. Have seen good looking chrome bumpers on some of our vendor's web sites for $139 and up, or a Stainless version ford $349 and up. For fun I'll paint it up and see how she looks, I can always buy another.
Thx for the advice! Carmental | | | | | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,249 "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! | | "Hey! I sound like Darth Vader!! Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 4,249 | Try pricing a rechrome job at your local plating shop. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 1,181 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2001 Posts: 1,181 | Power coating looks really good now on the chrome colors. | | |
|
|
