[Bills Auto Works]

Hello Everyone & Happy Easter!

After reading several recommendations on a few forums I decided to give Tri-City Plating a try. They are located in Elizabethton, Tennessee (close to Bristol)

I took both bumpers for my 64 Grand Prix & the rear for my 66 Catalina Conv. The GP bumpers were pretty beat up. They got all the dents out, straightened them out & I am very happy with the chrome as well!

The 66 Catalina rear turned out to be too soft to plate, so Chip searched through his thousands of cores to find me a good one. They plated that one & had it ready for me to pick up with the other two during a transport from Florida yesterday

I highly recommend you give them a try!

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[Half-Inch Stud]

WOW!

[MUSLCAH]

1,000.00 per bumper ?

[stevep]

They have been around for years. I have always heard good things about them. They used to charge $395.00 per bumper with a lifetime warranty.

[Bills Auto Works]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

1,000.00 per bumper ?

No Sir!

Two were $700.00 each, one was $800.00 because it needed much more work & I also had to buy the 66 core from them @ $250.00

[salem1912]

Had my 69 corvette bumpers done 15+ years ago still look great!

[Stuart]

They look good.

Originally Posted by Bills Auto Works

The 66 Catalina rear turned out to be too soft to plate,

That's a new one on me...how would steel be too soft?

[indymanjoe]

Originally Posted by Stuart

They look good.



That's a new one on me...how would steel be too soft?

Maybe overworked? i want to know also.

[mgarblik]

They look great in the Pics. A very good source, thanks.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by Stuart

They look good.



That's a new one on me...how would steel be too soft?

Probably too thin due to rust.


I've used Tr-City for all of my customers and my personal bumpers. Always excellent service and quality. If you ever visit, you'll be amazed at the amount of bumper cores in the back lot, acres of blinding chrome. And Chip is the best at making sure you get a good product.

[64speed]

I use S&H plating because they will even plate aluminum and pot metal. I like my aluminum pieces chromed so I don’t have to keep polishing them. I will have keystone do my bumpers cause they quoted me 600 apiece lifetime warranty with no shipping charge just drop off at LKQ

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by 64speed

I will have keystone do my bumpers cause they quoted me 600 apiece lifetime warranty with no shipping charge just drop off at LKQ

I believe LKQ still has all their chrome bumpers done in Brainerd, MN. I've used them for several vehicles and have always been happy with the results.

[Bills Auto Works]

Originally Posted by Stuart

They look good.



That's a new one on me...how would steel be too soft?

Yes Sir,

Thin as in "rusted through" after dipping to strip the old chrome off. I knew when I took it in that it was a possibility. There were a couple of spots that felt a bit soft, but took it anyway. I did NOT take the front for the 66 Cat because it was definitely not chromable. It was soft on both sides. Funny because the car itself (bodywise) is pretty darn clean!

I was able to find a front from a guy in Illinois off one of the Pontiac FB groups. Original from a low mileage car & in very nice, shiney shape for $600.00, so I picked it up on one of my transports coming across past him!

At this time Tri-City does not do "Pot Metal" that is their only drawback, especially with some of our big 50's & 60's cars with lots of it on them! Maybe sometime in the future they will start.

God Bless & Happy Easter!
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[63 Pontiac]

Bill, what was your turn around time? I need to get mine done and may just ship now if I can get them back in short order.

Thanks

[Bills Auto Works]

Originally Posted by 63 Pontiac

Bill, what was your turn around time? I need to get mine done and may just ship now if I can get them back in short order.

Thanks

They originally told me 4-6 weeks & they were pretty close. I was not in a hurry though as I saved the shipping cost of 3 bumpers by tying it in with transports, so I could drop off & pick up!

Happy Easter
Bill

[MUSLCAH]

So how do you save some..on shipping costs ? Go to the local Bus terminal ??

[Bills Auto Works]

Originally Posted by MUSLCAH

So how do you save some..on shipping costs ? Go to the local Bus terminal ??

No Sir!

I am a transporter of Classics/Hot Rods/Exotics all over the country,(please see the link below my name) so I dropped them off at Tri-City when coming through on a transport & set it up to pick them up when they were done on another transport. They are located very close to interstates I-81 & I-26 in Eastern Tennessee.

I have no idea what shipping 3 bumpers each way would cost, but I am sure I saved a bunch!

Happy Easter
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...closed.614419/

[ged2227]

Just an FYI: I called LKQ and there was "no where close" to drop my bumpers off. Per Patrick, the closest LKQ I can drop them off at is in KANSAS. Here is the clipped email:

"This price will include all normal repairs required i.e. dings, dents, surface rust etc. No prep work required other than removing and retaining all nuts, bolts, clip's etc. down to the bare part that's being plated.

Expected run time is at approximately 10-12 weeks on most bumpers and up to 6+ months on non-bumper parts i.e. grilles, ornaments, zinc pot metal etc. from date received. Should you decide to deal direct with me, you will provide shipping (to the below address), once finished we then pay the return shipping back to you. Please insert a parts list of what your shipping including your contact and return shipping information. For your convenience I have attached a packing slip for you to fill out and print.

Our Show Chrome Bumpers, Grilles, Ornaments and trim parts are "Triple Plated" using copper, nickel and then chrome. All of our plating is covered by our life time warranty and we are proud to say we will be celebrating our 51-year anniversary this year!"

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by ged2227

Just an FYI: I called LKQ and there was "no where close" to drop my bumpers off. Per Patrick, the closest LKQ I can drop them off at is in KANSAS.

I'm a little surprised at that since LKQ has facilities all over the place, but we don't know what state or country you're in or how close you are to Kansas.

[chris66]

Tri City attends a number of shows. I have dropped them off at the Fall Carlisle Show and picked them up in the Spring as I was in no hurry..
Always nicely done.