what years and model can I start looking for? Going rate? thanks

 

Another '63 full-size Oldsmobile that's not a 98. That would be a Dynamic 88, a Super 88, or a Starfire. Other model years do not interchange, and the 98 rear bumper is different from the 88s.

Going rate can be anything. Your first job is to find one as these are not reproduced. A decent core might run you $100 (or $200?). Add another $500 if it needs to be rechromed.

 

thanks - have a core - has a couple baseball sized rust holes. Hoping to avoid the $500 part.

 

Unfortunately, any bumper might very well have the same rust issues. After all, they're all the same age. Good luck on the search.

 

Actually, I would say you do not have a core.

What you have is a rusty piece of metal that will end up being thrown away. A core means one that is intrinsically sound and that can be refurbished, meaning it might need a minor dent pulled out and rechromed but that it does not have any rust-through. In my experience, bumpers with rust-through aren't normally salvaged.

 

well that is less than encouraging - how about a Buick Wildcat or other '63 GMs? Any of them work?

 

This is where Google images is your friend.


Here's the rear end of a '63 Dynamic 88:





And here's the rear end of a '63 Wildcat. Not even close. Note where the Buick's back-up lights are. The other GM makes won't interchange, either.






Have you actually taken your bumper to a shop to have evaluated? As I said, my experience is that rusted-through bumpers are not salvageable. But my experience dates back to the 1990s, and who knows if this still true. The number of salvageable '63 Oldsmobiles is not increasing, and as the ones capable of donating parts get used up, finding something like a bumper becomes increasingly difficult. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and maybe some shops are finding ways to salvage something that, 10 or 20 years ago, would have been considered unsalvageable or not worth salvaging.

 

Desert valley probably has 5 of them, but they don't let anything go cheap.

http://www.dvap.com/?s=any&q_make=Ol...&submit=Search

 

Specifically, this car has one.....maybe, possibly, if someone didn't buy it already.

http://www.dvap.com/salvage/1963-old...per-63ol5114d/

 

Here's the relevant photo. That looks like a very good bumper.



There's no date on this photo. I saw another '63 on their site with a (bent) rear bumper, but the photo is dated 2009. As you say, who knows if these cars themselves are still there, let alone the bumpers. Have to call them.

 

Considering the op's bumper is 1/2 dust, I suppose it is good. Since I don't have a 63, I'd call it a wavy hunk o junk lol.

Now, the real question is......If the bumper is rotten, how's the rest of his car? And is it worth investing $750 bucks into getting a bumper straightened out for it?

This hobby can be such a money pit sometimes.

 

I've never had any bumpers redone; however, might it be worth having the metal in the bumper patched?

I've always thought that if you can patch fenders and doors then surely a good welder can patch a bumper. The problem might be getting a smooth surface after welding in the patch so you could subsequently have the bumper chromed. If the surface isn't smooth enough for chroming you could always use lead (or bondo) filler and have the bumper painted. I know this might not be the original idea you had in mind for your car, but it is something worth considering.

 

I don't know of any reason a few holes couldn't be patched and then have bumper re chromed. I've seen the custom car guy cut and section bumpers then re chrome. Unless yours is too far gone.
By the time you buy a good core with shipping and then have to straighten and re chrome....

 

You can definitely have your bumper patched and replated, I'm pretty sure that was done to the one on my car. The trick is doing it well enough that you can't tell, and the cost of the work. The holes come from a bad design that traps wet mud and debris which rusts out from the back side. Besides DVAP you may want to try CTC Auto Ranch in Denton, TX. According to their website they have 2 88's and the rear bumpers look decent, give 'em a call:

http://www.ctcautoranch.com/index.html

 

heading the length of central California this week. Any places I might stop to look?

 

"Central California" covers a wide area. You need to go through a list like this and see what might be along the route you're traveling or what's within an acceptable distance (to you) from it.

http://www.usedpartscentral.com/search_california.htm

If you see anything that looks promising, you might call them first.

 

I couldn't get Desert Valley get off their butt to go look for a part(hood) I wanted even though they said they had one or two but didn't have the time to look.This could have been because of their TV series was being filmed but I found their service to suck....Tedd

 

I have a 64 Jetstar 88. Same issue. I'm going to cut and weld. then instead of chrome, it will be silver. Front and back. Going for that el cheapo base model look.

 

Well south to north and back again. Nothing in Ca. I guess a trip to the desert is in order.

 

There is a yard in Corning CA. that acquired a few 60's 70's Oldsmobiles from Joile when he closed down his yard but I can't remember the name of the yard ,Probably not more than two in that small of town town you could give it a google and see what comes up or maybe someone remembers the yards name(there was a thread on it) and will chime in....Tedd

 

Here is one for a ' 63 98 -

http://larrycamuso.com/parts-for-sal...98-rear-bumper

 

This will be of no value to the OP. The rear bumper on the 98 is different from the 88s:


'63 98 rear bumper:





'63 88 rear bumper:

 

Dalton said he has a lot of 1963-64 full sized parts including bumpers. If you haven't checked with him yet you might give it a try. Bend Oregon is called a high desert environment, paint and interior go bad but the metal holds up well. John

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...re-fiesta.html

 

Couple comments:

1. Not a fan of Camuso based on personal experience. Was not ripped off, but wasted a lot of time, and was treated rather rudely when his employee screwed up and sent me the wrong bumper, alleging I was not clear what I needed. This was resolved ultimately since the shipping label indicated what I had asked for (a 1965 88 rear bumper) when in fact I was sent a 98 bumper (they could not easily weasel out of that one). I still only got a refund after A LOT of arguing. I'd bet anything that if their culpability wasn't proven by that label, I'd have had to eat it. Frankly, he could NOT send pics (this was 2005, wonder if can do that now?), so I "took his word for it" and sure enough the bumper was much rougher than he described, so I'm GLAD it was the wrong part!

2. Olds just HAD to hide the bumper bolts with that clever boxed attachment point to the brackets (did that at least up to '65).

3. I know a guy partial to the 63s...will try to find out what he has and PM you if there's good news.

 

I found my rear bumper for my Starfire at CTC Auto Ranch in Texas last year. They are out of Texas and if you look on their website under "parts cars" they have 2 1963 "88's" that have rear bumpers on them. I also see that GM Sports Salvage in San Jose has a 63 Oldsmobile 88 as a parts car that the rear bumper looks good. I have dealt with both business's and they have been great. I have also been to Dalton's house and he might have a rear bumper for you as well. Hope this helps.

 

STOP SEARCHING!
Ive got about 5 rear 63' bumpers, Im located in Bend, Oregon and could ship it via freight or maybe sweet talk my greyhound friends.
I could sell you the bumper off of my 63' Starfire Convertible right now that is 95% straight with minor flaking of the chrome. I am replacing it with a recently rechromed bumper that has a few dents but shines a lot better.
I have cores that I could sell you for $125 that are ALOT straighter then any of the ones Ive seen posted so far.
63-64 Full-Size Olds bumpers are the exact same.
Let me know if you are interested! I have TONS of parts for these cars!
541-678-0606
$245 for the bumper off my convertible and I could send you detailed pictures tomorrow evening.
$125 for any core, ill line them up and you pick which one.
Or I could sell you the really nice chromed one but it may cost you an arm or a leg. hahaha.
Thanks again!

 

Huh?

 

They are? Not a chance.

Here's a '63 Super 88 rear end:

DSC02427.jpg



Here's a '64 Jetstar 88. The only thing these two bumpers have in common is that they're attached to Oldsmobiles.





As far as front bumpers, here's a '63:








Here's a '64 Super 88. They're similar, but they're not the same. For one thing, the turn signal lights are in completely different locations. For another, it looks like the left and right edges of the '64 bumper, where it turns up under the headlights, are taller than on the '63. Again, the bottom line is, they're most certainly not "the exact same."

 

My '55 front bumper had holes in the bottom corners (both sides) of the front bumper.

I had a local guy patch in the pieces and had the bumper redone at TriCity in TN (via drop off & pickup at Carlilse) - they will not address rust holes at TriCity, but it will come back straight as an arrow.

You would never know it had holes in it. Picture speaks for itself.

 

Sorry my bad, the 64' Fiesta Wagons have the same read bumper as a 63' Olds. I don't own any other 64's so I wouldn't know, honest mistake. But I do have plenty of 63' bumpers. And the one on my fiesta is off of a 63' Conv.

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-25-Scale-M...item58aadbb490



Anyway, this came up in my usual search of early - mid 60s Olds stuff on Ebay. I'm sure if you don't find one via other means, a "life-size" one will show up eventually. Just about EVERYTHING eventual does on Ebay...

 

OK fine, here's a bigger one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-Oldsmob...0fe1c3&vxp=mtr