Warning: this thread contains images of an unrestored C3!

Hello, everyone. I have a ‘69 coupe that’s for weekend driving, etc. As you can see there’s some pitting (which, to me, looks and feels more superficial than deep) on the rear bumpers, and also some visible rust underneath the front. I know chrome maintenance has been discussed in many locations, and I’ve seen a ton of conflicting advice (eg whether or not use 00 or 000 steel wool, variety of products, etc.). The scant history I have is that it’s been an East Coast car for many years (but supposedly always garaged). I keep the car garaged as well, and keep the car clean.

I don’t want to remove the chrome bumpers because they are on nice and tight. Re-chroming them isn’t an option.

Questions:

First, if I do nothing other than keep the bumpers clean and dry, will they continue to deteriorate and/or degrade? Or, are they relatively stable at this point? They look pretty good to me for half century old exterior parts, but I’m not an expert. If they will worsen over time absent intervention, what maintenance do I need to do now to preserve them?

Second, once I get past maintenance of what I have, what is recommended as far as improving their current state?

Thanks!

PS: O/T, yes, I know the seats aren’t original. Al Knoch is working on that as we speak…















Not perfect, but finish is good. After its first wash by me

 

I've always used a fine rubbing compound followed by wax or polish on chrome to keep it clean and shinny.
Here's a thread about using Coke and aluminum foil to clean up chrome bumpers, I've never tried it.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...resto-tip.html

 

Well, here's one advantage of having urethane bumpers...

I would try Nevr-Dull wadding polish. I use it on the chrome exhaust tips on my MR2....works great.
You can find it at any hardware store...

 

Not a chrome issue, but a safety issue. The 69 was built with a small air dam that fits on the front lower lip. I noticed that you don't have one. I would advise getting one from one of the many vendors.
Back in the day, I was racing my 350/350 '69 against my buddie's '73 L82 when we got up to 100-something and my front end began to lift dramatically. I felt like it was going to lift off the ground so I backed off the throttle. Kind of like a jet liner lifts it's front wheel off the ground as it begins it's liftoff. Fortunately, I had already beaten the '73 L82 lol. After snoopin around the car, I realized that I didn't have the air dam. I immediately got one, and have had peace of mind since even though I no longer drive the Vette at speeds like that. I drive more like the "old man in a hat".

 

Turtle wax chrome polish and rust remover.




I like both, they take the spots out of the bumpers,

 

Too bad you don't want to remove the bumpers.
I taped over the chrome and bead blasted the rust off the inside of my 68 bumpers...then applied several coats of rust preventative spray zpaint.
Then I polished the chrome using a bench mounted motor with a cloth buffingcloth wheel and jewelers rouge.

 

Easy decision

 

Thanks. I’ll look into this.

I’m pretty much the proverbial/literal “Sunday driver.” I drive this around our rural neighborhood. I know the safety limitations on the car, and I don’t think I’ve taken it much over 50.


As to all of the recommendations about chrome maintenance, these are all excellent suggestions. I will check them out. Thank you!

 

what about chrome vinyl wraps? are they worth anything?. the videos of whole cars wrapped look pretty good. i would think it would be preferable to rust pitted chrome. and may also get you through a summer until you can put the car away and pull the bumper and send it to a state that can legally replate them correctly. and maybe have 2 sets. one that is too good to install and a wrapped set for everyday use.

 

First, if I do nothing other than keep the bumpers clean and dry, will they continue to deteriorate and/or degrade? Or, are they relatively stable at this point?

That will depend on the environment the car is in. Exposure to humidity and salt laden air are the main contributors to deterioration. Keeping them clean and applying a protective coating are your best defenses.

what maintenance do I need to do now to preserve them?

Using any one of the many chrome cleaners/polishers available, followed by application of a wax. My go-to wax is Collinite 845. It was designed to protect the insulators on high voltage power lines, hence its trademark name “Insulator Wax”.

Second, once I get past maintenance of what I have, what is recommended as far as improving their current state?

Unfortunately, the pitting you see is the absence of the plating. Short of rechroming, nothing will bring back the original appearance. The original plating process involves a layer of nickel, followed by a layer of chromium. These layers are incredibly thin so it doesn’t take much loss to cause the condition you see.

If you do ultimately decide to rechrome, “show” chrome is 3 layers of plating - copper, nickel, chrome. The show quality finish is achieved in the copper plate layer as it is malleable, allowing the plating shop to smooth out all imperfections in the metal via the layer of copper. You can specify just nickel and chrome in order to achieve the factory appearance but know it won’t look the same as “show” chrome.

 

Try Dupont #7. Works great on bumpers with mild oxidation.

 

My bumpers look exactly like that. Tried the coke and foil, and chrome polishing compound on a buffing wheel. Neither would even touch it.

 

well said spot on 👍 . You can polish it and protect it but if you want to rechrome it is a process and costly ..






as for the insulator Collnite wax I have been using that wax and cleaner for over 30 years on my boat and cars and the durability and shine is unbelievable Best wax in the market by far .. I mentioned it once on the form and the response was I was not with the times !! . Collnite has been in business for over 60 years and started as a marine wax . Common sense if it holds up to saltwater a car finish is a piece of cake !!