I've decided to run ribbed bumpers on my 49 Fleetline, and I was wondering if anyone had a notion of a way to make them myself? Is it even worth trying to do? I was going to just wait until I attended the Gene Winfield Workshop in Canton, Ohio March 3rd & 4th (which I am attending--interested? Talk to Chevygirlrox) and ask Gene, but I thought I'd ask youse hooligans. The only thing I can think of is hammer over a homemade form. Does anyone have any input? I want a really "heavy" looking bumper, in keeping with the lead sled theme, and the Briz seems too insubstantial, and 49 Plymouths are a bit pricey to me, after rechroming and all. Thanks for any ideas y'all might have. Tucker
No those were a part that was bought. I don't doubt you could make some but by the time you were done you could have bought several pairs of those pricey bumpers. Unless your time is worth nothing and chrome and steel gets real cheap in the very new future.
You could try and weld rods down the length of the bumper, but if your going to chrome these, they had better be perfect. I think youd be ahead to find a set to buy. Or a sheetmetal panel with beads rolled into it and then welded to the bumper. Wouldn't withstand much of a bump though.
You should have stole the bumpers off of my wagon when you had the chance... I'll see you at the Winfield workshop on Saturday.
Pullmax dies would be the way to go. You can find someone with this capability on the Metal Meet site. I will soon have a machine for this, but if you need it now, that is the place to go. Tim www.irrationalmetalworks.com
You could form beads in a bumper by heating and stretching the metal down into a slot in a wood or metal form below. The heat will want to shrink a bit, but you can stretch the metal while is hot to more than overcome that. Use a hammer and a corking tool... which is basically just a wood or aluminum chissel type tool that is shaped like the inside of the bead. Practice on some s**** first. Probably a two man operation. John ww.ghiaspecialties.com
what?? 49 ply bumpers pricey.. just bought one at local antiuquer club swap for $15 now i suppose i should not cut it up??? i have one only front -rear ??? i think they can be found cheap elswhere define pricey ....compared to build your own.... paperdog
They sell !/2 round solid stock (semicircle). Bend em to shape and stack them up. Use aluminum and polish them- no chrome expence
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