Cutting/welding chrome bumper

[nonhog]

Have a thought going in my head about shortening and tucking in the rear bumper on my Olds Omega. In 74 the rear bumper was huge. Removing the 5MPH shocks. Making it look less ackward.
My question is can I make my cuts and weld from the back side (MIG) covering the front with copper and have a not too ugly joint.
I know much of that depends on my welding skills I'm o.k.
Hoping to see pics of bumper work before its sent out for rechrome.
I just can't afford to rechrome just yet.

 

[larry_g]

One of the recent car mags had a bumper article about modifying a bumper. It was street rodder, rod&custom or hotrod but I just looked and cannot find the magazine at the moment.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[nonhog]

I'll keep my eyes open, thanks Larry.
I saw a video where a shop narrowed a 59 or 60 Impala front bumper but they used a TIG. Which I don't have.
It was pretty cool to watch. My gas set up might be a good way to go?
But I have no practice with gas yet. Nor have my set up complete.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

I did just that on my Malibu wagon. I went cheap and painted it tho

Go for it!

I used a mig

 

[uhohjim]

If you're going to get it rechromed it really doesn't matter as far as wedling process Mig/Tig....just try to get it as smooth as possible........all the work in a good chrome job is getting all the little nicks and such polished out(LABOR)....fill and grind to get it as right as possible before sending it out for plating Jim

 

[johno]

I'll keep my eyes open, thanks Larry.
I saw a video where a shop narrowed a 59 or 60 Impala front bumper but they used a TIG. Which I don't have.
It was pretty cool to watch. My gas set up might be a good way to go?
But I have no practice with gas yet. Nor have my set up complete.

It's Dec Rod and Custom.

 

[t100]

I really hate to cut original parts. is there anyway you can find a modern reproduction bumper(thinner gague)?

 

[nonhog]

I did just that on my Malibu wagon. I went cheap and painted it tho

Go for it!

I used a mig

Looks good! pics painted?

If you're going to get it rechromed it really doesn't matter as far as wedling process Mig/Tig....just try to get it smooth Jim

It'll be a long time before chrome work is in the cards. Its not real nice now.
It is decent.

It's Dec Rod and Custom.

Thanks!

I really hate to cut original parts. is there anyway you can find a modern reproduction bumper(thinner gague)?

I hear ya, its only original once. Thing is, original on this bumper = ugly.
I thought about adding a 68-72 Nova rear bumper but that would require a ton of mods to make it look right.

 

[zmotorsports]

Go for it. Either TIG or MIG would work well. Try to get the weld up to level with the parent material and knock the chrome back about an inch or so with a blend/flap disc so it will not get into the molten puddle when welding. If you can support the pieces by some means such as a piece of angle iron or flat bar and clamp or spot weld to hold everything in alignment it helps tremendously.

I have done several over the years that I have sectioned and then rechromed or painted. On a 71 Chevelle that I had I sectioned it to tuck it closer to the body and then cut the heads off of the bolts and welded the bolts to the bumper. I blended the welds and applied a skim coat of mud then primed and wet sanded, painted and cleared. It looked awesome when on the completed car with no bolt heads showing and tucked in closer to the body and painted monochromatic to match the car.

Mike.

 

[DirtyWhiteBoy]

Looks good! pics painted?

Here's a couple. I'm not a fan of the "roll pan" on this body, but I also hated how far the bumpers stuck out. I guess I ended up in the middle. I also filed the bolt holes and lost the license plate in the tailgate....just to be different. Most folks don't even notice either change.