Chrome bumper conversion
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 114
Likes: 2
Chrome bumper conversion
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,059
Likes: 9,393
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
for the price of the car, and the price of all the body work and parts, you could have bought a real chrome bumper car that will hold the value.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Totally "LAME". 
No one who knows anything about Corvettes would even be interested....except for some folks in foreign countries where they can't tell the difference between one of those 'wannabees' and the real thing.
That doesn't mean that 'Bubba' and some of his buddies wouldn't use that "kit" to convert a Yugo into their version of a Corvette...
No one who knows anything about Corvettes would even be interested....except for some folks in foreign countries where they can't tell the difference between one of those 'wannabees' and the real thing. That doesn't mean that 'Bubba' and some of his buddies wouldn't use that "kit" to convert a Yugo into their version of a Corvette...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 871
Likes: 73
From: Memphis Tennessee
I've had my eyes on this for a while, but I want to see more completed cars first.
Is it really any worse than putting a 80-82 cover on a 74-79? That is a very common mod that doesn't seem to get anyone's panties in a twist.
How many early C4 owners put later bumpers on their cars?
It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially current chrome bumper owners. But I wouldn't call it "Bubba", just custom. It's not about fooling anyone, but correcting what the factory had to do to meet the impact standards. If not forced to do so, wouldn't all c3's have metal bumpers?
Is it really any worse than putting a 80-82 cover on a 74-79? That is a very common mod that doesn't seem to get anyone's panties in a twist.
How many early C4 owners put later bumpers on their cars?
It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially current chrome bumper owners. But I wouldn't call it "Bubba", just custom. It's not about fooling anyone, but correcting what the factory had to do to meet the impact standards. If not forced to do so, wouldn't all c3's have metal bumpers?
Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
I've had my eyes on this for a while, but I want to see more completed cars first.
Is it really any worse than putting a 80-82 cover on a 74-79? That is a very common mod that doesn't seem to get anyone's panties in a twist.
How many early C4 owners put later bumpers on their cars?
It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially current chrome bumper owners. But I wouldn't call it "Bubba", just custom. It's not about fooling anyone, but correcting what the factory had to do to meet the impact standards. If not forced to do so, wouldn't all c3's have metal bumpers?
Is it really any worse than putting a 80-82 cover on a 74-79? That is a very common mod that doesn't seem to get anyone's panties in a twist.
How many early C4 owners put later bumpers on their cars?
It's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, especially current chrome bumper owners. But I wouldn't call it "Bubba", just custom. It's not about fooling anyone, but correcting what the factory had to do to meet the impact standards. If not forced to do so, wouldn't all c3's have metal bumpers?
There were other ways to meet the government restrictions, not all cars were without metal bumpers in 74. This just happened to be the way the innovative engineers of GM decided to move forward AND comply with federal regulations. Notice that almost all cars today have similar bumper covers. I happen to be proud of my "rubber bumpers" and the innovation that they represent.
Last edited by joefuerte; Jun 17, 2012 at 11:24 PM.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
The red 76 on the custom image page is mine... I love the look. 2000$ for my 76 and under 1000$ for the conversion (bumperettes, license plate surround, lights, and bumper) so 3000$ or so for a rear chrome bumper bubba mobile. That's a good deal. I must be bubba though, dyno'd 500hp 02 WS6 and a 62 C20 with a LS1 call me what you want. I enjoy what I drive. My car not yours.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
The red 76 on the custom image page is mine... I love the look. 2000$ for my 76 and under 1000$ for the conversion (bumperettes, license plate surround, lights, and bumper) so 3000$ or so for a rear chrome bumper bubba mobile. That's a good deal. I must be bubba though, dyno'd 500hp 02 WS6 and a 62 C20 with a LS1 call me what you want. I enjoy what I drive. My car not yours.
I guess I just don't get why you want a 76 to look like a 73.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,370
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
It takes a lot of work to keep the chrome looking perfect. Today was one of the days that I Windexed all the chrome on my 68 and then covered all the chrome in WD40. I do this relatively frequently. Humidity and water is normally the enemy of chrome, however here in So Cal there's a lot of months of dryness. However when the wind blows, dust settles on the car, even in a garage. The dust here has salt in it.
The bumpers for my 70 are now in the trunk of by Daily Driver waiting for a trip to the chrome shop. . It's going to cost a lot of money to replate them. Thanks to the EPA, the replaters are hit up with hugh expenses. There's a lot to be said for cars that don't have chrome.
The bumpers for my 70 are now in the trunk of by Daily Driver waiting for a trip to the chrome shop. . It's going to cost a lot of money to replate them. Thanks to the EPA, the replaters are hit up with hugh expenses. There's a lot to be said for cars that don't have chrome.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
It takes a lot of work to keep the chrome looking perfect. Today was one of the days that I Windexed all the chrome on my 68 and then covered all the chrome in WD40. I do this relatively frequently. Humidity and water is normally the enemy of chrome, however here in So Cal there's a lot of months of dryness. However when the wind blows, dust settles on the car, even in a garage. The dust here has salt in it.
The bumpers for my 70 are now in the trunk of by Daily Driver waiting for a trip to the chrome shop. . It's going to cost a lot of money to replate them. Thanks to the EPA, the replaters are hit up with hugh expenses. There's a lot to be said for cars that don't have chrome.
The bumpers for my 70 are now in the trunk of by Daily Driver waiting for a trip to the chrome shop. . It's going to cost a lot of money to replate them. Thanks to the EPA, the replaters are hit up with hugh expenses. There's a lot to be said for cars that don't have chrome.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I wanted a '73. The guy had each a '76 and a '73. The 73 was gutted no motor or trans. The 76 had 53k on it was cammed and had new hooker side pipes with a complete interior. It was the smart choice. It did have front end damage, but that wasn't a big deal to me. Did the buying price cover the motor? I drove it for a year before I tore into it, then I put the L-82 in my Cj-7 with a 142 blower and put a built 350 back in the stingray. It doesn't look out of place or mismatched anymore then a LS motor in a c3 but nobody takes any heat for that.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
The red 76 on the custom image page is mine... I love the look. 2000$ for my 76 and under 1000$ for the conversion (bumperettes, license plate surround, lights, and bumper) so 3000$ or so for a rear chrome bumper bubba mobile. That's a good deal. I must be bubba though, dyno'd 500hp 02 WS6 and a 62 C20 with a LS1 call me what you want. I enjoy what I drive. My car not yours.
I am not a big fan of it but if you like it go for it. It's your car enjoy it. Alot of people on here throw that Bubba tag around alot. I wonder how many of them actually work on their own cars.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,614
Likes: 350
From: No Where USA
I wanted a '73. The guy had each a '76 and a '73. The 73 was gutted no motor or trans. The 76 had 53k on it was cammed and had new hooker side pipes with a complete interior. It was the smart choice. It did have front end damage, but that wasn't a big deal to me. Did the buying price cover the motor? I drove it for a year before I tore into it, then I put the L-82 in my Cj-7 with a 142 blower and put a built 350 back in the stingray. It doesn't look out of place or mismatched anymore then a LS motor in a c3 but nobody takes any heat for that.
There is no need to explain your self to guys on here. Most on here are internet tough guys, they would never say anything to your face. Guys on here think the Corvette is a sacred cow and is not allowed to be changed in any way. The only one that should not be touched are the rare ones, everything else is just a car.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 332
Likes: 1
From: Watkins Glen New York
I don't mind it all, but can't help point out that there was a thread on here about this very thing in the past year and everyone raved about it.
There were great flares and the conversion parts shown here and the response was very favorable as I remember.
There were great flares and the conversion parts shown here and the response was very favorable as I remember.
