Guest paulmac1968 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Couple of questions.... I have a '55 bird and I want to get the bumperettes rechromed. I'm in PA, anyone have any suggestions on a good rechroming shop in PA? Also, is removing them as easy as just undoing the bolts?Once rechromed, I'd like to protect them from the exhaust pipes. Are their sleeves of some kind available to put over the ends of my tail pipes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1957Birdman Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 I don't have any experience with the specific job you are talking about, but I don't think taking the bumper guards off should be too difficult, unless the bolts are rusted. You may also need to remove the bumper to get at the bolts on the guard. One thing to consider is that if you rechome the bumper guards you may also want to rechrome the bumper at the same time, for obvious reasons.If you do a search in the forum you will find places listed to get the guards rechromed. I don't have any direct experience so I can't help you there.As for your last question, you can get chrome extensions and put them over each exhaust pipe. You can also cut the pipes short and put exhaust turndowns that exit before the bumper. That is what I do on my '57. It would probably be harder to do on a 1955, but I think it could be done. I got the turndowns at Prestige Thunderbird in California. Call them, talk to Rick and ask if it works okay on a '55. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Librandi's in Harrisburg (or Middletown Pa. to be more precise) does nice work.I've done these before, you'll have a little work to do to put the screws holding the pieces together back, if memory serves there are three of them on each bumperette. The chroming process will mean you need to do a little work to make the screws fit again.Librandi's Plating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest paulmac1968 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Thx to you both for the info!! When you mention the three screws holding it together. Do you mean holding the bumperette itself together as one solid piece? Or three screws holding the bumperette to the bumper? At this point I just want to get them off the car.Thx again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest DonnerVogel567 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 LiBrandi's in Middletown, PA (near Harrisburg) does excellent rechromework. Each '55 bumper guard has two (2) attach points: 1st is a bumperbolt at the bottom of the guard. 2nd is a nut that is attached to a studon the guard. Both nuts are removed from the rear of the bumper.After the guards are removed, the front bullets and rear exhaust flutesare removed. If the guards are original, they were attached with three1/4 inch pan head phillips screws. If not original, they were attached with 1/4 inch bolts. Platers are usually smart enough to protect any threadsin the re-plating process.I have BMW (yes BMW) chrome exhaust extensions on my own '55, which slide right over the exhaust pipe and insert into the rear guard round hangerwhich is attached to the rear guards. The BMW part # is 82 11 9 413 970and they're about $25 for two. They look good and the inside diameter ofthe extensions are compatible with the external diameter of the '55 tailpipe.The friction of both the tailpipe and extension will keep them secure.Bob HartigMcLean, VA'55,'56, & '57E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest paulmac1968 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Thx for the info, Bob... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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