1949 CDV rear Bumper

[Jim Miller]

Sometime through the years the rear bumper was hit in the middle. It was cleaned up and replated. The shape is not right and the ends, especially the right, sticks out. There is also some plating beginning to peal from the bottom. Most people would not notice, but I do and you know how that goes. Visited a well respected plating shop and they were hesitant to tackle it. Suggested trying to find a good core first. Anyone out there who is good at bumper reshaping and plating or do I begin the search for a core or finished bumper?

[carlhungness]

Not as difficult as you may think. Since the bumper is so thick it'll need some work with a torch and hammer, dolly and patience. You can coax the bumper back into shape. I just did a few '37 LaSalle Hubcaps, both sombrero and small ones. One of the sombreros had a 1 1/2" deep gash the width of the hubcap and after a day's tapping I got it almost perfect. Some additional work with a file and more tapping it is now ready to be chromed. I surprised myself.
   I'd visit some local body shops and look for a hot rod shop as well, you'll find many of the hot rodders still practice hammer and dolly work. Virtually anyone who has had hammer and dolly experience can fix your bumper, it's not that bad.

[Jim Miller]

Thanks Carl, I will check around. The shop I visited said it would take heating and trial and error to get the shape and fitting it back on the car which was something they don't regularly do. (They plate many Cadillac steering wheels for the folks that refinish them) A shop in Texas said he could repair it but shipping back and forth would be expensive. So, I'll check additional places around here but may also put a query out to see if I can find a replacement.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

As a word of warning, before attempting to "panel" beat the bumper, have the Plating shop strip the plating from it as this will allow the repairer to complete the finish shaping to a perfect finish before it goes back to the Plater.

If the plating is still in place, it is impossible to get a perfect finish as most of these repairs will need file-finishing, which is impossible to do with the plating still there.

If it is repaired with the plating still there, when the plater goes to chrome the piece, the piece will have to be stripped and then re-plated, and any repairs will show up.

Bruce.