I had a re-chrome job done back in 1980. I totally disassembled all chromed metal on the car and took it to a local (Millville NJ) plater. Everything was in really good shape (no heavy rusting). The place did a pretty poor job on the plating but it stopped it from more rusting and it was sort of shiny?
Jump 27 years later… I am surfing Ebay as I normally do and up comes this awesome 56 front bumper. A plater in CA had it offered at a great price and was willing to ship it across the country to me in Jersey! I know It was a risk but after speaking with him on the phone for a ½ hour, I liked the guy…WTH I bought it. It arrived a week later.
WOW… my first impression was how he wrapped it for shipping. He put a 2X4 into the bottom section and wrapped it with bubble and then wrapped in shrink wrap! The bumper ends came in a heavy cardboard box that accompanied the wide bottom section. But when I got to un-wrap everything…That was the real excitement. The bumper was in pristine condition and was chromed immaculately! What a deal it was! I felt great.
It sat in my garage about a year till last weekend. I just finished rebuilding the rear and leaf springs (other blog) and had a few days free.
I rolled the front end up on ramps to get better access. I took pictures to show when I possibly sell the original bumper. I also took many pictures prior to disassembly. That is very useful when I get amnesia during the assembly process! I may have inhaled too much undercoating the previous weekend?
I enlisted my wife to help me remove the last 2 bolts holding it on the car. It has to come out a half inch, then down to clear the fender chrome pieces on the sides. She did great considering this thing weighs a 100 pounds or more.
I used an air ratchet to disassemble the bumper on the ground outside. I set up a long folding table with a furniture blanket to protect my new bumper in the garage. I systematically removed each bolt then moved to the folding table and set up the assembly using the new bumper parts. I only needed to reuse the bumper end top moldings from my original bumper. My nifty purchase somehow did not include them :-\. Mine were in good shape. I taped and sprayed the backs with Rustoleum to prevent continued oxidation.
I took a wire brush to a few steel parts and shot them with flat black Rustoleum. Parts like the main support brackets and the small grill hold downs we brushed and sprayed. I remember taking the grille apart as a 20 year old back in 1980. I did not want to do that again! I just cleaned it up and reset some of the slats.
Aligning the bumper parts was a little tricky. I have seen other 56 bumpers that just do not look right. The center bar is not correctly aligned and droops down. I was sure to assemble and tighten specific bolts to make things align. I had to loosen and repeat a few times. That center bracket has a slot in the top. I used some wood blocks to spread the cross bar from the bumper bottom to get the proper uniform alignment. I used a tape measure to ensure it was spaced correctly across the entire width.
Once I got this thing together on the table, I stood back and looked at it. What a piece of automotive jewelry! It is just totally stunning! I just had an eyeful of Cadillac history at the recent GN show. 50’s Cadillac’s have the most ornate massive chromed front bumpers in history. Harley Earl was a true genius. The design is both one of aviation engineering and bit sexual. I have heard them called the May West bumper!
I asked both my wife and daughter to help put it back on the car! It was easy once I got the inner fender sheet metal going the right way! All that was left to do was a use little window cleaner for the finger prints!
Anyone interested in a used 56 bumper in good shape? Needs chrome job.
I love those dagmars!!
It's good advise for anyone who's thinking of rechroming their bumpers, to take LOTS of pictures before / during tear down.
I thought I had when I did mine years ago. But when I got them back weeks later, I couldn't believe how many different ways they could go back together.
Now for your rear bumper!! Good luck.