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#1
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Best 70-73 Rear Bumper Repro
Due to it being so hard to find a good usable original, I've decided to go re-pop for my 73 rear bumper. Can anyone who has done this recommend a good current brand/company to buy from? I really hate doing this with such a significant part but am trying to find the best reproduction option. Anyone done this recently?
Thanks, Eli |
#2
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No complaints about the one our host sells.
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#3
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i used a repro on my 72 after seeing what rechroming an original costs. i used the goodmark brand which is one of if not the only brand available, its sold by majority of retailers for varying prices. quality is very good to excellent & the chrome looks almost as good as originals, it looks like the day i got it after 6-7 years.
i researched mine & found rock auto was by far the cheapest price. got mine about 6 years ago for around $250 shipped, i just checked & the prices have gone up quite a bit, just like everything else has since jan 2020.... but still far cheaper than rechroming. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...ly,bumper,1340 |
#4
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KEEP IT WAXED ALL YEAR LONG..both sides.
Yes, I meant Caps.. these bumpers can get tiny rust pits where there are temperature changes. And any humidity over 60%. They ARE the only game in town, look pretty good. Metal is 100% recycled and probably is porous in the middle.
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"The Future Belongs to those who are STILL Willing to get their Hands Dirty" .. my Grandfather Last edited by Formulabruce; 10-12-2022 at 11:22 AM. |
#5
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Mine came from Classic Industries. Fitment was very good, but their corresponding bumper bolts were the wrong diameter - too big.
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#6
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I bought a repop for my SD and wasn't happy with it. I ended up having my original rechromed.
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Current Pontiacs - 1973 Formula SD455 - #'s auto orig paint 1972 Trans Am - 4 speed orig paint 1974 Formula 400 - Ram Air automatic 1966 2+2 convertible - 421 4bbl automatic 1967 Grand Prix - 4 speed orig paint 1967 GTO - 4 speed orig paint 35k orig miles |
#7
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Quote:
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John Paige Lab-14.com |
#8
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Quote:
Ended up having an original stripped & triple plated @ TriCity that was 16 months ago. In looking @ '70-73 rear bumper cores I had, none of them could I discern a legible date code.i thought that was odd. Most original bumpers ive paint penned the body build of the car i pulled them off of. The Firebird rear bumper I picked to drop off was very straight & the peak lines were undamaged. Ran $460 plus $60 commercial ship, the high quality box was a good $20 of that. Very pleased.
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Buzzards gotta eat... same as worms. |
#9
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Quote:
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Current Pontiacs - 1973 Formula SD455 - #'s auto orig paint 1972 Trans Am - 4 speed orig paint 1974 Formula 400 - Ram Air automatic 1966 2+2 convertible - 421 4bbl automatic 1967 Grand Prix - 4 speed orig paint 1967 GTO - 4 speed orig paint 35k orig miles |
#10
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So apart from different vendors, no one knows the brand? Makes it hard to compare prices if don't know if same or better parts.
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#11
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I believe this was mentioned in posts 3 & 4.
I had previously understood there was only the one source.
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
The Following User Says Thank You to unruhjonny For This Useful Post: | ||
#12
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Aah yes, good catch, if that's the case.
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#13
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i forgot to mention that i did return the 1st one due to a small 1-2" area that was wavy or a had couple small dimples, werent bad at all & probably would be very hard to see when installed but im kinda picky like that & wasnt in a huge hurry for it while teh car was getting painted. the 2nd one was very nice with no noticeable issues in the metal, almost as straight as a factory one if you get a good one. chrome was excellent on both.
when i called around for rechroming the original one it was $500+ with a warning that if they had to straighten any metal it would be a lot more. so i went aftermarket & sold the original that was straight but the chrome had failed. the bumper is a little lighter weight than originals but the fitment was almost perfect, just some minor tweaks to get perfect. i used the original bolts & brackets. only waxed the outside once after install & put a thick coat on the inside from norwoods suggestion, it looks like the day i got it after 6-7 years, but i dont wash my cars much to avoid excess water getting into nooks & crannies & little to no condensation or moisture while it sits in the garage. overall im very happy with the bumper especially for the price i paid of about $250 shipped from rock auto when i bought it in 2015, price is higher now but then again so is everything else since a certain date in 2020..... |
#14
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Have used reproduction bumpers in the past, and they're ok. The chrome isn't as "clear" looking as it should be. If you stare into it, it almost has a fuzzy look. Mine also liked to hang downwards on the corners, so I had to shim the bumper brackets to get it sitting straight.
For my 70 I had an original re-chromed. I put the repro and original side by side and there's definitely a difference.
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"Those poor souls have made the fatal mistake of surrounding us. Now we can fire in any direction" 1970 Trans Am RAIII 4 speed 1971 Trans Am 5.3 LM7 1977 Trans Am W72 Y82 1987 Grand National |
#15
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Good timing with this thread as I have a bad spot in the chrome on the original bumper on one of my 70 T/A's. After reading through everything here, I'm leaning towards getting the original replated.
John
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70 TA RAIII M20 05D 70 TA RAIII M20 06B |
#16
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the chrome finish on my repro looks excellent. no fuzzy look at all, just a nice even glossy/shiny finish that looks as good as any low mile factory part or newer chrome on motorcycles etc i have seen. im sure there can be imperfection & issues on any repro part, but that type of chrome is not the norm for these goodmark bumpers... & if they look like that most retailers will do a refund or exchange as the part is defective.
when i called for rechroming in the midwest area 6 years ago, i got very high quotes, 500-800. $400 to rechrome a bumper that may need some metal work is extremely low, must be a west coast thing but i doubt today that is what it would cost. if that is the current price for a quality rechrome id do that if teh bumper was in good shape... but need to factor in shipping both ways to that price if you arent local. |
#17
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I have a nice straight one in Fresno if you need it call me…….
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