[rohrt]

Didn't want to hijack the other thread but wanted to know. How the chromer's bend the bumpers into place.

My Front bumper looks like it pushed in, in the center. It doesn't not match the contours of the front end. Can't really tell when the bumper is off either.

The back is the same way. Would I have to get new cores.

[War eagle]

Normally the Chromer is the responsible for getting the bumper straight. Obviously an older company is better in that contours and bend pitch angles are recorded and on file. In Iowa, Sioux Plating has always returned bumpers and other items in good order. They have two levels of plating so decide if you want show chrome or not. This does not effect the repair of the bumper.

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by War eagle

Obviously an older company is better in that contours and bend pitch angles are recorded and on file.

OK so its just up to the chromer and how well they keep records for a certain type of bumper.

[marxjunk]

they dont have records...its all by eye...

if YOU want it right you need to trial fit and get it close..really close...or its a crap shoot
they do the best they can..id get the whole front fitting the way you want it...then send it off...

[Old Goat 67]

I've straightened a few before with the help of a good oak tree and a 4X4 for a fulcrum.

A WEE bit at a time until it fits!

[War eagle]

Sorry Mark, you are just wrong. I toured one plant in Lincoln and the Sioux City facility. You are correct in that they rely Mostly on talented folks to straighten bent chrome parts. A very large part of the job is "lift and file" work because no filler(bondo) can be used. Sometimes they fill pits with brass or a lesser metal, to fill the pit or simply weld and file to level the part. However, if they have handled a particular bumper prior, say a 1969 Buick and like the 65 GTO, they have a large void in the front center. This can be troublesome and so cardboard "patterns" are kept. This cuts down on returns! I know that 59 thru 66 cadillac`s with their multiple parts are terrible to get back in correct position and returns are common. I`ve seen lots of patterns especially if a foriegn car in involved. Again it is an art and talent. A hands on skill that needs years of practice...................But to Rohrts question... It is the chromer's job to straighten the core. Deal with an older shop and not the swap meet boys that show up with the stacks of weak chrome and shoody over the border work.

[dld]

The Keystone guys would use a press and dies. Often when a bumper was returned for a common repair for a insurance job you could see press marks in bumper back side. There plating was not show quality for regular jobs.But they did give a life time guarantee. there history of doing bumper repair goes back 50 or more years.Of course most bumpers now are only covers. So old school straightening is fading away. You may want to find a nice core to start with. That may save you a lot of greff. Or go aftermarket

[dld]

One more thought on bumper repair. Back in the day the bumper guys would only have so much time to play around on a bumper for a set price. So the worst ones got throne in the s-can. Bumper cores were prevalent. They also would pay $5.00 for a good core. LOL

[marxjunk]

i dont think i'm wrong..ive been in the body shop business for 35 years...ive put 100s maybe over 1000, chrome bumpers on cars...no re chromes fit like ya think they should..you just live with what you get back..and its a compromise

ive been thru a few modern chrome shops too..they beat on them til they appear smooth.....

Ive built a few cars...you want it to fit you make it fit..then you send it out..ive lived. it...not read about it..

my opinion? you find the best bumper you can find or afford..you fit it....if it needs tweeks you tweek it...then you make sure you get it back...most bumpers are exchange..

most people buy rechromes and what goes on the car last? the bumper..by then its too late..ive had more disappointments with rechromes than you can even imagine, since the bumper is a style point on a Pontiac..you better believe i test fit every 64-67 bumper, before it even get to the chrome shop..

[rohrt]

So here you can see what I'm talking about. The nose is closer to the body, then the outside ends. I can't physically see any damage and I'm sure a person doing the chrome work would have no idea unless he had some detailed measurements or a template of some kind to go by.

I have tried to figure out how I could bend it my self. Maybe a log chain around a tree and gently roll it back?

[dld]

Don't remember where i got this but. You can hook this and pull with a Kansas Jack or what ever. you will have to over pull the bumper as it will have a memory to it's current shape. take your time . watch the corners not to damage fenders as ends pull in.

[Dick Boneske]

Your bumper is better than several I've used on '64 GTO's. I don't know if you've read about how the factory lined up the bumpers on the assy. lines. They had wood 4X4"s with shop towels duct-taped to the end and used them to "bump" the front and rear bumpers into position.

To make yours line up with the grill line (put more bow into it from the center), you need to set the center of the bumper where you want it and securely tighten the bolts to the frame. Then, loosen the bolts holding the outside brackets. Devise some method to push each outside end, one at a time to the desired position and tighten all the bolts. I did this by parking the car near enough to a solid wall and used a scissors jack with a thick folded bath towel to jack the bumper into position.

This procedure is not as hard as you think. You can do it by yourself if you plan carefully. With the scissor jack method, you can watch progress so damage to the body is not much of a risk. The end result will be just fine. The attached pictures of my '64 show the result. Believe me, mine looked at least as bad as yours before I tweaked it.

[Lemans64]

Just be careful on the bending as mine cracked in the centre, due to flexing outward, upon sending bumper back for repair the shop laid a large weld on the inside of centre section to help. Might want to get it to fit before sending out. Just my

[po65to]

I used a place in PA around Philadelphia once, and I do not believe I got my particular bumpers back, because the rear especially had creases all over the back from, I guess a straightening press, and both also had welded mounts on the back where it may have been hung up or dipped with. These areas were roughly ground off, and looked like crap. They will never get my business again. The front was not quite as bad, but had a few creases, and a grind mark showing through the chrome on the finished side. I paid big money, and was very disappointed. When I called to complain, they told me those bumpers were in very bad shape, which was a lie. Those bumpers were very straight. I told them to straighten if needed. I have awesome no hit bumpers with original chrome on my 64 GTO, and after what happened before, I will be marking them, or any piece of chrome, so that I get my original parts back.

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by Dick Boneske

Your bumper is better than several I've used on '64 GTO's. I don't know if you've read about how the factory lined up the bumpers on the assy. lines. They had wood 4X4"s with shop towels duct-taped to the end and used them to "bump" the front and rear bumpers into position.

To make yours line up with the grill line (put more bow into it from the center), you need to set the center of the bumper where you want it and securely tighten the bolts to the frame. Then, loosen the bolts holding the outside brackets. Devise some method to push each outside end, one at a time to the desired position and tighten all the bolts. I did this by parking the car near enough to a solid wall and used a scissors jack with a thick folded bath towel to jack the bumper into position.

This procedure is not as hard as you think. You can do it by yourself if you plan carefully. With the scissor jack method, you can watch progress so damage to the body is not much of a risk. The end result will be just fine. The attached pictures of my '64 show the result. Believe me, mine looked at least as bad as yours before I tweaked it.

Dick I remember you telling me about how the factory tweeked the bumpbers, when I was trying to figure out why my bumper was not lining up to the nose. (Ended up that the body is not strait on the frame). I hope at some point to pull the frame for paint and rebuild then get the body on strait. I absolutely have to do this first before I can even consider getting the bumper bent in place correctly.

Any way I'm still thinking how I could tweak the bumper like you mention. Would it be better to pry on the ends like you describe or pull from the center like dld suggested below.

Originally Posted by dld

Don't remember where i got this but. You can hook this and pull with a Kansas Jack or what ever. you will have to over pull the bumper as it will have a memory to it's current shape. take your time . watch the corners not to damage fenders as ends pull in.

Regardless it sounds like I learned two things here.

1. Ask questions to the chromers to see how they do their straitening process.
2. Get the darn thing as strait as I can before sending it off.

Thanks all.

[Old Goat 67]

I do believe I'd make a metal puller part that replicates the reverse order of pressure that bent it in the first place.

IE, a big "blade" that pulls from the inside of the center of the bumper above the opening between the two parts of it.

[marxjunk]

i have a tool called a pogo stick..ive straightened at least 300+++ bumbers with it..its easy to duplicate..they make them now but care cheesy....i dont know what its really called, but i will get you a pic...it may be exactly what ya need...mines 30+ years old and it shows..

[steve v]

I've always called mine a pogo stick for the last 30 years too.
As Mark said fairly easy to make one.
Mine is a Mac unit, straightened a ton of rear step bumpers on pick ups with it.

[GT182]

I've seen tools used to take out the twist in a bumper. One had a wide J shaped bracket on a hardened metal handle. The bracket had a gap in the jaws big enough to line it with cardboard or rags to protect the bumper when you slipped it on. Not sure if it was homemade or not, but it sure worked great.

[dld]

LOL , yea and how about a monkey on a stick. all body guys have one of them.