I feel your pain and I have always liked the painted mono look on street rods. Good prep work and primer and I think any good rattle can paint will stick
Chris

I have yet to see a chrome paint that looks real.

TKOPerformance wrote:

My thoughts would be have it blasted and powder coated silver.  It would look like the old glass bumpers on the race cars from the '60s.

There is chrome paint that looks realistic, but its not something you can shoot out of a rattle can.  Its a multi step process; and its not cheap.  Check this out:

https://alsacorp.com/product/killer-chrome/

That's pretty interesting, Tom.  I can think of a number of parts that might benefit from that stuff...like rusty C-4 shifter stalks.  I didn't read the entire site but I wonder about metal prep especially over old chrome.

BB1
 

Plasti Dip rattle cans Mike, about six bux a can at Home Depot, I think they have grey.
I used Plasti Dip black about four years ago on my tail light panel to see if I liked the look prior to real paint. It’s still on there but, gotta be careful with gasoline, it takes it off damn quick.
On an edit, be real apprehensive making things “pretty” it’s a real deep rabbit hole.

Last edited by Rudi (11/18/2020 2:46 PM)

Toploader wrote:

Is having the front and rear bumpers sent off to be re-chromed an option?

 
It sure is! One of my big regrets is selling my o/e bumpers and buying repops even though the cost would have been tenfold. Rechroming is very, very expensive but offset by “ nothing fits like the original”

Info regarding bumper chrome:  In '14 I sent my Nordan bumpers (thought they were OEM when I bought the car) to New Age Plating in Houston.  Two bumpers, two 66 side trim, two vent window frames.  All in with shipping I Paid about $1450.  But, I got lucky.  The Nordan re-pops were apparently the only ones that were ever done right and I defy anyone to look at them and know they aren't OEM.
I spoke to a friend yesterday who had a bent 64 Olds front bumper repaired and re-plated by Salt Lake chrome...$1100. 
 
You get what you pay for and there ain't no such thing as a free lunch.

BB1
 

Bob, the Nordans are quite easily distinguished from an original bumper.  The Nordans are better formed, have smoother edges and fit better than the originals.
I still have my rear one.  The front one died during the great crash of ‘09.

I learned the hard way also with reproduction crap. So disappointing some of the aftermarket stuff you buy.
Stupid me discarded the original numbers back in about 2004. I did get some what I think we're Nordan's from Mustangs Unlimited in 2004. They fitted well, so they must be? I have some slight surface rust up in between the rear panel (fuel cap) and the top edge of the bumper. Hard to see it, but it's there. Based on this topic posted, I will be getting these rechromed.