Rusty Bumpers... and a little bit bent!

VGVIP · Post by **VGVIP** » Mon Jan 10, 11 9:37 am

Hi all.

Just wondering what the general consensus is to the best solution to my rather tired looking bumpers.

The decision I make should be made with the following in mind....
The VG is a daily driver through rain, snow, ice (back end stepping out @ 50mph on the A3 this morning) and maybe even some sunshine should we ever see the sun again!,
NOT ever intended to be full restored but I don't want colour coded or black painted bumpers.
IS intended to be enjoyed and all reasonable money will be spent on it to maximise the experience and to ensure that my unborn son has no inheritance.

The front bumper is good and straight, the rear bumper has an old bend that has been roughly hammered out at some point, I reckon I could get it straighter when I get around to doing something with it.

I will not be keen to go to fibre glass bumpers as I want to retain the standard jacking points should I need to jack the car to change a wheel or fit/remove snow chains.

Righto, that said. My options are the below or maybe someone has a better idea??? Please let me know if you do.

Option 1:
From my experience of having similar size bumpers re-chromed early last year it would cost me somewhere around £400+ per bumper.
So this is an option and I would have to make a temporary bumper while the originals are away for a few weeks.
Cost is a bit prohibitive.

Option 2:
Sand, prime and paint bumpers myself but not sure of what chrome paints are available or if this sort of paint is best applied by a professional.
I have a pissy little air compressor so could sand and spray them myself.
But I have no decent experience in spray painting so would not be confident in my abilities if it is difficult to get a decent finish using these chrome paints.

All advice is welcome as always.

Thanks
Steve

John · Post by **John** » Mon Jan 10, 11 11:52 am

Steve,

If you do go the re-chroming route make sure you get their word on a time scale. In my experiance a few weeks seems a very short turn around for chroming.
Mine have been away since early October

, although they are due back at the end of the week

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Jan 10, 11 12:10 pm

When my old Satellite was my daily driver, I painted the front bumper with smooth Hammerite! Looked OK on a pseudo stock car, but probably wouldn't suit your limousine

VGVIP · Post by **VGVIP** » Mon Jan 10, 11 12:26 pm

Thanks John.
Will be interested to hear the verdict on the quality of the work on your bumpers, location of the electroplaters doing the job and if I am in the right price range with the ones I had done last year.

Hi Adam.
That front bumper looks good from the pic.
I think my luxo barge would definitely look better like that than with nasty rust!
Please tell me more about the Hammerite paint. Is that a sliver finish or more reflective?
Also is it a spray paint, a aerosol can or a good old pot of paint so you can slap it on with the same brush you use for cleaning parts with.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Jan 10, 11 12:55 pm

Fibreglass bumpers???

VGVIP · Post by **VGVIP** » Mon Jan 10, 11 1:22 pm

Think I'll give fibreglass a miss.
1) I want to retain the use of the bumper for jacking.
2) Think the bumpers are Aussie only design so would have to go through the whole process of having them moulded here.
3) Can not find anyone in Oz that advertises them for this model. Although the cost before shipping and duty on a reconditioned bumper in Oz is around AUD$660 about £420 so may be an option if I decided to go 'chrome' rather than 'paint'.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jan 10, 11 5:13 pm

Get them stripped and paint silver metal flake shine up like chrome in the sun and you can do it yourself, in fact I have some flake you can have.
Then you still have the option to re chrome later.
Jobs a good un

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Mon Jan 10, 11 5:28 pm

Personally I think bumper jacks are one of the most dangerous things ever, I use a small bottle jack instead, far safer. Given the high cost and generally poor quality of chrome plating in this country these days, I'd give them a nice lick of paint...

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Jan 10, 11 9:07 pm

Steve, it was just a pot of silver brush on paint from Halfords. I think it's called "Smoothrite". I've tried spray on "chrome" paint in the past, and it doesn't last 5 minutes.
BTW I agree with Blue about the bumper jacks.

VGVIP · Post by **VGVIP** » Mon Jan 10, 11 9:41 pm

Thanks for the advice regarding the bumper jack, I'll take that but will not go fiberglass.
Think I am sold on paint (think I was already).
Need to understand more about the flake and it's application though. Bit of surfing to find out tomorrow.
Thanks for all the comments so far.
Steve

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jan 10, 11 11:37 pm

Flakey, the basic is to lay down an undercoat with a silver base coat over then a clear coat with the silver flakes added, finally a couple of clear coats.
Better still get a good painter to it should not cost to much.
I had the race car bumpers done for £120, with me suplting the paint you will not be dissapointed

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Mon Jan 10, 11 11:53 pm

Paint em....

There are some fantastic chrome paints out there... But they are hard to apply, Not for the do it yourselfer. But there are people that will do it for you. I can put you in contact with some.

You can go the flake way, or you can even paint em with fine or course ali.

Get a few coats of clear over them buff em and they will look Great!

VGVIP · Post by **VGVIP** » Tue Jan 11, 11 8:35 am

I'll do a bit of research today but I think I am leaning toward the flake as you guys have described it.
Just hope I don't produce something that looks like it belongs on a speed boat.

I guess it needs a lot of flake to look right when up close.
If I bugger it up then I think I'll be asking Jeff for some contacts to do a good chrome paint for me.

I was thinking of using the same basic approach to what was used on the bumpers on my Monaro before I went back to chrome last year.
Take to the original plated surface with a DA sander then prime. In the case of the rear bumper I can spend some time bouncing a hammer on it and a bit of bog to get the shape back where is has taken a hit.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Jan 11, 11 4:52 pm

Steve, my bumpers are painted in Vauxhall star silver with a very light dusting of mirra flake. Very subtle but they really sparkle when the sun is on them. You just have to add a little flake into the lacquer. If you lay on too much flake it starts to look like a christmas tree decoration! Will see if I can get a decent picture.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Tue Jan 11, 11 4:58 pm

Mirra flake.... The king of all flakes! Well actually VooDoo dust is a bit better, but discontinued I think.

Mirra may still be available from Metalflake UK. But I know they are having problems at the moment.

I gave all my Mirra flake away just before I left. Joe has it, and I am sure he will not part with any of it!

If you have trouble let me know, I can point you in the direction of a few suppliers.

jeff