Bumper painting advice?

[Canadian1968]

Go at it with some 80 grit quality sand paper. Coat of SPI epoxy , then finish as you want. No need to strip. If sandblasted you would want to go over with sandpaper anyway.

Did it to bumpers on my 68 Charger about 6 years ago now.

 

[Tomcat]

Go at it with some 80 grit quality sand paper. Coat of SPI epoxy , then finish as you want. No need to strip. If sandblasted you would want to go over with sandpaper anyway.

Did it to bumpers on my 68 Charger about 6 years ago now.

6 years is definitely a good test! Thanks!

 

[blue69runner]

Is there something wrong with the bumpers or are you just wanting to paint them. I must have missed something on why painting them. New ones are not cheap. I bed lined the back of my new bumpers on my 69 so they would not rust out from that side. Wish you luck sound like the guys have given you a bunch of info.

 

[33 IMP]

I have three painted that I did, or had done. Just roughed them up with either a vibrator sander or sandblasted. Primered and painted. No peeling now for over ten years. I surely didn't bother to strip the chrome, just sanded the rust. LOTS cheaper than a rechrome in california.

 

[Tomcat]

There’s nothing wrong with the bumpers other than the typical milky and slightly pitted chrome......I’ve just always loved the original elastomer bumpers painted to match, so that’s what I’m shooting for. I’d love very much to also acquire the brow/beek for the front, but DAMN it’s expensive!!!!!....and yes, I do have a true 71 bumper! Lol

 

[70chall440]

You can take the opportunity to weld in the bumper bolts for that nice clean look. Once you grind the chrome off you metal work them just like sheet metal meaning you want to seal the metal, skim coat and block them until they are smooth, then paint them.

 

[Tomcat]

You can take the opportunity to weld in the bumper bolts for that nice clean look. Once you grind the chrome off you metal work them just like sheet metal meaning you want to seal the metal, skim coat and block them until they are smooth, then paint them.

I had definitely planned to weld the bolts too......I have even considered possibly removing the heads altogether, but I also wonder if that may concentrate the pull of the nuts into too small an area and cause a convex in the face bar???.... decisions, decisions! Lol

 

[Photon440]

You can weld a thick washer onto the inside to spread the load.

 

[Cranky]

if you can rough it up enough to get epoxy primer to stick you got it licked

try 180 on a da....test a small area

Still better to strip the chrome.

I did a bumper in the 70's using 36 grit to take the chrome off and it worked. Used several discs but got the job done on a 67 Dart front bumper. Was the only guy in town with a painted bumper. Left the rear chrome though because it was still in decent shape lol

 

[Tomcat]

You can weld a thick washer onto the inside to spread the load.

Great idea......thanks!

 

[Tomcat]

I did a bumper in the 70's using 36 grit to take the chrome off and it worked. Used several discs but got the job done on a 67 Dart front bumper. Was the only guy in town with a painted bumper. Left the rear chrome though because it was still in decent shape lol

That seems to be what most folks suggest in all the other info I’ve found, so that’s what I’m gonna start with. Thanks!

 

[Brandy]

Sanded down, epoxy etching primer and paint.

 

[70chall440]

I had definitely planned to weld the bolts too......I have even considered possibly removing the heads altogether, but I also wonder if that may concentrate the pull of the nuts into too small an area and cause a convex in the face bar???.... decisions, decisions! Lol

Your instincts are correct, if you just weld the bolt in the hole (which is square) you could have issues with deformation during tightening, however if you weld a plate or large washer over each hole (on the inside obviously) you can potentially avoid this issue. Just know that you have to do every hole with a similarly thick washer or plate.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

Just got an estimate to re-chrome a 66 Sat. front bumper , it was $2000.

 

[Brandy]

Just got an estimate to re-chrome a 66 Sat. front bumper , it was $2000.

That's about right.

 

[dadsbee]

A tad steep. I thought paying $1400 Canuck bucks to do my Bee rear bumper 5 years ago was steep, at the highest rated shop in Canada. Satellite front bumper is fairly simple in shape, but thankfully someone else paid to do this one.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

A tad steep. I thought paying $1400 Canuck bucks to do my Bee rear bumper 5 years ago was steep, at the highest rated shop in Canada. Satellite front bumper is fairly simple in shape, but thankfully someone else paid to do this one.View attachment 1370597

Yea I thought so too, was hoping for under $1400.
Typical bumper no damage no rust through top lip is showing through chrome in spots. They had someones 50's Chrysler 300 all Chrome and stainless estimate at $32,000, ouch. They were going ahead with that job.
Just was amazed that people might be sanding down what might be a perfect chromed bumper, was trying to give a heads up Regarding costs now for chrome.

 

[Tomcat]

That's about right.

Holy crap!! That's not my reason for wanting to paint mine, but it damned sure makes it even more appealing! Lol

 

[Brandy]

Holy crap!! That's not my reason for wanting to paint mine, but it damned sure makes it even more appealing! Lol

It's a subjective question, prices will vary around the country...plus, as with any paint job, preparation is 98% of it.

 

[Dan64]

I would sand, epoxy and paint as mentioned but also make sure that you have good paint on the inside of the bumper as well. You don't want problems with the chrome lifting off of the steel later. This goes for bumpers that are left chrome also. I think it will look good painted