Vinyl Chrome for Fiberglass Bumper

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Walker434

Walker434

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I recently installed a fiberglass bumper and aluminum brackets on my 71 Dart. It's kind of a sleeper so I didn't want to just paint it black. Wanted to keep the stock look so I got it wrapped in chrome vinyl. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I like it!

Since it turned out so good I'm going to do the same thing for the back bumper. You really can't tell unless you walk up and touch it. Here is a picture.

Dart 17.jpg
 
Walker434 said:
I recently installed a fiberglass bumper and aluminum brackets on my 71 Dart. It's kind of a sleeper so I didn't want to just paint it black. Wanted to keep the stock look so I got it wrapped in chrome vinyl. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I like it!

Since it turned out so good I'm going to do the same thing for the back bumper. You really can't tell unless you walk up and touch it. Here is a picture.

View attachment 1715268930
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I've never heard of vinyl chrome before, but it looks pretty good! What's the $$ for that?
 
Walker434 said:
I recently installed a fiberglass bumper and aluminum brackets on my 71 Dart. It's kind of a sleeper so I didn't want to just paint it black. Wanted to keep the stock look so I got it wrapped in chrome vinyl. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I like it!

Since it turned out so good I'm going to do the same thing for the back bumper. You really can't tell unless you walk up and touch it. Here is a picture.

View attachment 1715268930
Click to expand...
vinyl chrome wrap?! genius
 
Looks nice.
It's about the only alternative to the almost unaffordable chroming and chromepaint these days.

Years ago I 'rechromed' the taillight-units with chrome tape. No-one ever noticed it until I pointed it out.
 
BigBlockMopar said:
Looks nice.
It's about the only alternative to the almost unaffordable chroming and chromepaint these days.

Years ago I 'rechromed' the taillight-units with chrome tape. No-one ever noticed it until I pointed it out.
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i'd be interested in knowing that one too
 
That was my plan for my 73.. especially since the bumpers are so big on mine. Chrome wrap looks pretty good when done correctly.
 
Malex said:
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I've never heard of vinyl chrome before, but it looks pretty good! What's the $$ for that?
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The material is very expensive. Like $150 a yard. We elected to make it work with only 1 yard of material so there is actually a seam in the middle. You really have to be looking to find it. I think the place charged me a total of $300 for material and labor to install it. Again, not cheap but still worth it in my mind.
 
Walker434 said:
The material is very expensive. Like $150 a yard. We elected to make it work with only 1 yard of material so there is actually a seam in the middle. You really have to be looking to find it. I think the place charged me a total of $300 for material and labor to install it. Again, not cheap but still worth it in my mind.
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but 1/3 of the cost of a good quality chrome job.
 
I work in a sign-shop that does all kinds of decalling, also car lettering.
$150 for 3ft sounds very high though, but maybe the shop needed to buy more material than really needed.
The material itself usually comes on 53" wide rolls.
 
That is that Chrome Wrap Vinyl from Avery, and yes, it is that expensive, but it works great. There are other cheaper chrome vinyls but they won't come close to conforming/stretching around the compound curves.
It comes in a 48 inch wide roll and is sold by the yard, so 36 inches by 48 inches. I have some here but just heard that they are discontinuing it. I believe there are a couple other decent choices but ya gotta be careful. The good stuff is never cheap! Planning to use it to finish off refurbishing my 340-S hood inserts which I just painted. They should look factory when I'm done!

inserts1.jpg
 
Walker434 said:
I recently installed a fiberglass bumper and aluminum brackets on my 71 Dart. It's kind of a sleeper so I didn't want to just paint it black. Wanted to keep the stock look so I got it wrapped in chrome vinyl. I wasn't sure how it would turn out but I like it!

Since it turned out so good I'm going to do the same thing for the back bumper. You really can't tell unless you walk up and touch it. Here is a picture.

View attachment 1715268930
Click to expand...
Can I see close ups of the bumper and the seam. I was out yesterday at vinyl shops doing the same thing. I was qouted 500 to do both seam less and 300 for a seam in the middle.

IMG_20181231_085954481.jpg


IMG_20181231_085723477.jpg


IMG_20181231_085958335.jpg
 
khuebner250 said:
Can I see close ups of the bumper and the seam. I was out yesterday at vinyl shops doing the same thing. I was qouted 500 to do both seam less and 300 for a seam in the middle.

View attachment 1715269339

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I'll get you a close up. I'll take a pic when I get home tonight. So just to clarify, you found a shop that would chrome wrap front and back bumpers for $500 and not have a seam in the middle? If so, sounds like a good deal. I haven't gotten a quote for my back bumper yet, wanted to see how the front turned out first.
 
i like it
i cant stand painted bumpers there were designed to be chrome
 
Walker434 said:
I'll get you a close up. I'll take a pic when I get home tonight. So just to clarify, you found a shop that would chrome wrap front and back bumpers for $500 and not have a seam in the middle? If so, sounds like a good deal. I haven't gotten a quote for my back bumper yet, wanted to see how the front turned out first.
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Yep 500 for both bumpers seamless. That's for appx 2.5 yards of material. Then he'll split the material long ways. So 2 sheets of appx 24" x 90".
 
Nice. Thanks for the idea. I wasn't sure what to use either that spray chrome. Didn't think of vinyl wrap. We will have the same thing going on.
 
You can buy a new chrome steel bumper from AMD for $300. At least you can for a Barracuda -- I don't know about a Dart. But the wrap is a nice look if you want a fiberglass bumper for weight.

I had a vinyl shop evaluate wrapping the interior A pillar trim, which on a 67 convertible is chrome. But they said the detail was too tight to wrap (the chrome vinyl is thick), and it would have cost more than vacuum plating anyway (but it would have been quicker turnaround).
 
SpeedThrills said:
That's a great idea. I have glass bumpers (for the light weight), but didn't want to paint them.
Any of this stuff any good? It's not as expensive as what's in this thread. I would want to use traditional chrome "color".
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Chrome+Wrap+Vinyl+Avery
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I believe you want to use 'conform'. Whether it's vvivid, Avery Dennison, or arlon. I thought about a Spectra or cosmichrome paint process but it's about 5-600 bucks. Close to the same price but I thought the wrap would hold up better.
 
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Looks great. Anyone know how well it holds up? My car is out in the weather year round. Wonder how long it would look good
 
Most vinyl "wrap" is good for 5 years, maybe, depending on weather exposure. Plastics, dyes, adhesives... do not stand up to the weather in the long run. While a good real chrome plating will last decades, if cared for.
 
69_340_GTS said:
Most vinyl "wrap" is good for 5 years, maybe, depending on weather exposure. Plastics, dyes, adhesives... do not stand up to the weather in the long run. While a good real chrome plating will last decades, if cared for.
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That's what I was thinking. Some plastics seam to hold up well. Others are dead in a month of sun. I put upholstery vinyl on my package tray and it looked like crap in a couple months. Sprayed it and dash with SEM and they look good after a few years. For a bumper its already stretched during application, so wonder how long till it cracks or adhesive fails. Probably last longer over fiberglass than steel which gets hotter. I'm getting a rechromed bumper, but considering options for my bumperettes. Will eventually get a new or rechromed set, but may try this as a temporary.
 
Bumperettes might be too tight a radius -- the stuff doesn't like to stretch in two directions at once. Best on large, gently curved surfaces.
 
khuebner250 said:
Yep 500 for both bumpers seamless. That's for appx 2.5 yards of material. Then he'll split the material long ways. So 2 sheets of appx 24" x 90".
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Here is a close up of the seem in the front bumper. You have to get really close and be looking to see it.

Dart.jpg
 
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