I am in a quandary, I dented my rear bumper but car is insured

Here's the puzzle, a local mechanic told me I needed a new bumper so I tracked a decent one down at http://www.wildcatmopars.com/ (a place folks might want to know about) for $200. Got some local bids to strip and rechrome the bumber for about $450

I got referred to http://www.ogdenchrome.com/ and the prices seem too good to be true. I'm getting a bid of $350 including shipping to either straighten / repair / rechrome my old bumper or do the same to the "new" one. You can see from the pictures that the new one is in a lot better shape.

I'm already out $200 for the "new" bumper, though Wildcat will take it back for 20% restocking.

It's a dilemma because the insurance deductible is $250. For only $100 more, I'll skip the claim and save the extra cost on my policy (it will be small but not zero). But I wonder if I'd be better off using the "new" bumper which is a lot straighter than the dented one.

And I have to decide by June 17 if I want to return the bumper to Wildcat.

So I'm wondering if anyone has experience with Ogden (other web comments I've found are very positive) and other advice.

Pictures of the bumpers are here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/paul.gronk ... directlink

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1964 Dodge Dart 270

Welcome on the board, PG. Glad to see you here. We all know about Wildcat -- good stock of parts, and it tends to stay that way because of their rather high prices.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Your call. Depends on what they are going to do to the bumper. You may not be able to tell the difference if they Nickel plate prior to Chroming. Nice and buttery smooth even with the repair.
If it's just a chrome job, stay with the straight one. Early 60's bumper, perfect straight, that's not a bad price. I don't think I've seen many that nice. Usually they've been bounced off something by now.
The days of antique parts for $20 are over. Most of the yards have long since crushed the old cars.


2¢

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Dan
They quoted me $50 on a gas cap! But what a great place to walk around.

Ceej, it's the three level plating. I've learned that much at least!

Whatever you do, stay away from "Bumper Boyz", if you want it to last.
They are less expensive then most, but you get what you pay for.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

If you've got the space, put it away. Like in the shop rafters.

I'll have to take a look at the bumper on the '63. I might be interested in the one you got from Wildcat. Save you the "Restocking fee."

CJ

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Part of Tyrde-Browne Racing

Chrome has grown very costly. It produces hideously toxic waste products, which we now know better than to just dump into the environment (and now we have laws to severely punish those selfish knuckledraggers who would do so anyhow). As a result, cheap good chrome doesn't exist. You can have cheap or you can have good. Skimping on any part of the process yields a poor and/or short-lived result. Copper and then nickel and then chrome is the only acceptable process (skip the nickel and you might as well just not bother in the first place). There are other options, as well, that didn't exist before. See here (the material used is described on the maker's site here; more demonstrations here) and see also Jay Leno demo video. Given the very high cost of good quality, durable chrome, it may be a better option to have a good auto body tech treat the bumper like any other piece of straighten-and-paint bodywork, starting with the best possible bumper.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

That demo is pretty amazing! I have 2 really nice (straight) bumpers for my car, but the chrome is not very nice. So I may need to check into this stuff!

Thanks Dan,

Rick

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

Dito on the Jay Leno stuff, but the German website is pretty worthless. no info, no pricers, hardly worth looking at. I wish i could find a source for the spray-on chrome stuff. Pretty spectacular results, and non-toxic to boot!

Reed: The link to the American-made stuff is in my previous post in this thread.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Found it, thanks. Keeping it in mind for my brother's Duster.

And then there is this possibility that might well be worth thinking about.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Dan

I took the old bumper off to compare the weight, they are both original. At this point, I figure I'll see if the insurance will pay and if they do, I'll use the "new" one since it's so much straighter. The old one will go into the rafters or I'll sell it. It's usable but just dented.

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1964 Dodge Dart 270

Don't believe all the hype from Ogden Chrome. Their claim of triple plate show chrome is nothing more than hype at best. More like fraud if you ask me.

I was originally quoted $1000.00 and four to six weeks to re-chrome my grill at a classic car event where they had a tent. After I packed it up and shipped it to them they then wanted $1900.00. We agreed on $1400.00.

I waited over three months. When I called to check on it, all I got was lame excuses and it seemed like nobody really knew what was going on.

When it was finally finished they told me it was "flawless" and I paid in full with a credit card.
After I got it back via FedEx it was the worst chrome job I have ever seen.
There were bubbles, pits, scratches and dents that weren't even there before.
Some areas didn't get plated at all. There are so many flaws I can't believe these idiots could send out a job looking like that.
They either lack any sort of quality control or they just don't care. In any case their claim of "show chrome" is ridiculous.
The entire grill will have to be done over.

I contacted them to see if this was some kind of joke or something. I sent them pictures of this poor excuse for chrome.
They told me that's all we can do and refused to anything about it. Well, I believe that's all they can do. JUNK CHROME.

I have been lied to and brushed off throughout the entire process and now I am stuck with a grill that looks worse than it did when I sent it to them.
I paid top dollar for this work and got garbage. I am now out $1400.00.

Do not believe what these jerks tell you. Once you send them your parts you are at their mercy.
They charge your credit card and refuse to stand behind their work. They are over priced and a poor excuse for "show chrome".
They have your money and you will have to take whatever junk they send back to you.

I also see now that they are rated F by the Better Business Bureau. Check for yourself at BBB.org.

It's too late for me but not for you. Do not do business with this RIP-OFF company.

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1965 Dodge Dart

Interesting how varied the quotes are. Got a local quote here from Oregon Plating which was "show quality" chrome for $700-$800 for chroming alone!

I saw some pics from a satisfied customer at Ogden that I got off the Oldsmobile forum, can't figue out how to post them up here. I'll probably take the plunge with Ogden with the "new" or "old" bumper, haven't decided yet, and I'll report back here.

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1964 Dodge Dart 270