Why the heck dont they repop bumper guards?
#2
I'm guessing not a big enough market. I too think they look good and better on our A-body Oldsmobiles than many cars but I do not believe there are enough "fans" of bumper guards out there. As much as I like them I wouldn't put them on my 442.
#7
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Tony, the bumper guards (option code V36) just weren't big sellers. It's not terribly hard to find them on the web; I have 2 sets myself, one in excellent driver and one that needs work. The rubber inserts (OEM) are an arm and leg if / when you find them. I bought new inserts for my front guards from North Yale Auto Parts (Bobby Ward) for 75.00 each a few years back !
One of the other things you really need to think over is the bumper guard attachment means you need to pierce the bumper in 4 locations. If not done properly that can also lead to chrome peeling back and rust formation.
For practical purposes? The bumper guards were next to useless. The first mounting pattern from Olds had them too far to the sides and would allow the center bumper tooth to hit an obstacle before the guard did. They were then re-positioned closer to the center of the front bumper which looks nicer, but as you know there's really very little to stop an impact from pushing the center back and breaking the stone shield. I sure as heck wouldn't hang my hat on pushing another car just because I had bumper guards on my 72. Now the bumpettes and rub strips on the 74+ would be better suited since the bumpers were actually composite structures and would absorb more force over a wider distance without collapsing the front bumper shocks.
Front bumper guards from 71/72 are a matter of preference IMO. FYI Front bumper guards were not offered on the 70 A body models.
One of the other things you really need to think over is the bumper guard attachment means you need to pierce the bumper in 4 locations. If not done properly that can also lead to chrome peeling back and rust formation.
For practical purposes? The bumper guards were next to useless. The first mounting pattern from Olds had them too far to the sides and would allow the center bumper tooth to hit an obstacle before the guard did. They were then re-positioned closer to the center of the front bumper which looks nicer, but as you know there's really very little to stop an impact from pushing the center back and breaking the stone shield. I sure as heck wouldn't hang my hat on pushing another car just because I had bumper guards on my 72. Now the bumpettes and rub strips on the 74+ would be better suited since the bumpers were actually composite structures and would absorb more force over a wider distance without collapsing the front bumper shocks.
Front bumper guards from 71/72 are a matter of preference IMO. FYI Front bumper guards were not offered on the 70 A body models.
#8
I took my bumper guards off my bumper because I'm not a big fan. One is in perfect condition and the other has a few small bumps that are probably rust forming underneath. Even if both were perfect, I wouldn't have left them on the car. You can see the holes in the bumper from down low, but it doesn't bother me.
#9
I have the guards on my 72 Supreme and want to add the 442 cutout bumper but keep the guards. I can't find a rechromed or a repop with both cutouts and guard holes. And I don't want to drill a fresh chrome job only to have rust and peeling start from the holes down the line. Stumped..
#10
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
pizza - welcome aboard.
The bumper guards weren't a widely popular item so the only time the bumpers would have that piercing would be from the factory. I'm sure that any add on bumper guards at the dealer or by owner would follow the traditional drilling technique you don't want to do. You can minimize the possibility of tear out on the chrome by using tape on the drill out area.
You will not find any reproduced bumpers for you 72 CS with piercings. If you want to have a chrome shop do the piercings, they likely have the heavy hydraulic presses that would make a clean square hole.
The bumper guards weren't a widely popular item so the only time the bumpers would have that piercing would be from the factory. I'm sure that any add on bumper guards at the dealer or by owner would follow the traditional drilling technique you don't want to do. You can minimize the possibility of tear out on the chrome by using tape on the drill out area.
You will not find any reproduced bumpers for you 72 CS with piercings. If you want to have a chrome shop do the piercings, they likely have the heavy hydraulic presses that would make a clean square hole.
#11
Thanks for the welcome, Allan. My first post in all this time.
If I drill a 442 bumper, it'll be before chroming or hold out for an orig combo and have that rechromed. Oh for the record, the factory holes are slots, not squares like the bumper bolt-head holes; in case no one has seem this I attached pics.
Oh, I had a line on an orig years ago from 'bumper Dan'. Ring a bell with anyone? Lost contact with him
Jay
Ps. After looking closely at pics, I see the plating wearing off around the edge of the hole. After 40 years no surprise but that was with the inside of the hole plated. A drilled hole will start to rust from within the hole a lot faster..
If I drill a 442 bumper, it'll be before chroming or hold out for an orig combo and have that rechromed. Oh for the record, the factory holes are slots, not squares like the bumper bolt-head holes; in case no one has seem this I attached pics.
Oh, I had a line on an orig years ago from 'bumper Dan'. Ring a bell with anyone? Lost contact with him
Jay
Ps. After looking closely at pics, I see the plating wearing off around the edge of the hole. After 40 years no surprise but that was with the inside of the hole plated. A drilled hole will start to rust from within the hole a lot faster..
Last edited by pizza442; October 5th, 2013 at 02:35 PM.
#12
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Great info on the piercings. I'd love to have the exact measurements if you have them as far as location as I do have bumper guards I want to mount on my cutout bumper.
#14
from left upper slot to the right: 31 1/2 inches. You just need to find the center point in the license plate opening/area. And as seen it the attached pic, from the center of the slot to the center of the crease/curve in the bumper it is 1in. Bottom slots are harder to find a point of reference but this should do it..
#15
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Thx for that picture. If you use that measure, hold a point on the center of the top piercing, and can you give the distance between it and the bottom one? Center to center?
#18
Just an Olds Guy
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
I found this link to Bobby's on line store for the rear bumper guard inserts. Really a good price IMO
Rear:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-72-Olds...item2c6f7e82a2
Front:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-2-Olds-...item2c72c273f7
Rear:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-72-Olds...item2c6f7e82a2
Front:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-2-Olds-...item2c72c273f7
#22
I had a cutout bumper with the guards,and I couldn't give it away.
I would rechrome any original part before relying on a repop.The chrome on a repop is cheap,and won't last long.I see some companies advertising that they are triple-chrome plated or show-chrome plated,but they are not.They are production plated.Just look at the price.You are not going to get a new bumper,with the same triple-step chrome process(copper,nickel,chrome),for $350.00,or whatever they are charging,regardless of where they are made. And the BumperBoyz chrome jobs aren't that great either.I bought an original rechromed cutout bumper from them,for the 72,and it looked great when they unwrapped it,but that was about it.The first time I washed the car,I was drying it,and the bumper was turning orange,trying to rust.Within a year,the chrome started to gray,and began to peel.At that point I went a little off the deep end.I bought an NOS cutout bumper,still in the GM packaging,for $880.00,and was able to drive 2hrs to go get it.It's a little extreme to have a bumper like that on my 72 Supreme,but I like my stuff nice.Even the factory chrome on the NOS bumper is not what we call show-quality,but they were not making show cars back then.The chrome IS very durable,and hasn't dulled,peeled,or pitted.
I would rechrome any original part before relying on a repop.The chrome on a repop is cheap,and won't last long.I see some companies advertising that they are triple-chrome plated or show-chrome plated,but they are not.They are production plated.Just look at the price.You are not going to get a new bumper,with the same triple-step chrome process(copper,nickel,chrome),for $350.00,or whatever they are charging,regardless of where they are made. And the BumperBoyz chrome jobs aren't that great either.I bought an original rechromed cutout bumper from them,for the 72,and it looked great when they unwrapped it,but that was about it.The first time I washed the car,I was drying it,and the bumper was turning orange,trying to rust.Within a year,the chrome started to gray,and began to peel.At that point I went a little off the deep end.I bought an NOS cutout bumper,still in the GM packaging,for $880.00,and was able to drive 2hrs to go get it.It's a little extreme to have a bumper like that on my 72 Supreme,but I like my stuff nice.Even the factory chrome on the NOS bumper is not what we call show-quality,but they were not making show cars back then.The chrome IS very durable,and hasn't dulled,peeled,or pitted.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
CyberCholo
Parts Wanted
0
April 13th, 2014 07:01 PM
sixty9olds
General Discussion
20
September 12th, 2012 02:03 PM
auto_editor
General Discussion
9
July 10th, 2011 11:20 AM