long time reader, first time poster. recently just got my 2nd ke55 project and looking at ways to easily fix/restore the chrome bumpers on a ke55.

 

they are dirty, and rusty.

 

any help really appreciated. thank you in advance.

Buy good ones. You should be able to get a decent pair for less than $200, I got my 9/10 set for $60.

 

If you want show car 10/10 overrated as then you'd need to get them straightened and re chromed, be willing to fork out a few bucks.

 

I saw someone selling NOS KE30 bars somewhere not long ago so new ones are still around if you hunt. And are willing to pay good money for them.

Steel wool is like white-fella magic on rusty chrome bumpers. Get the ones with the pink soap for best results.

 

Small taps and dings can often be resolved with careful use of a hammer and dolly, prior to the application of the steel wool.

How bad is the rust.

mainly surface rust here and there. few big spots

they are fairly straight as is so thinking of taking them off, stripping them back and repainting them or take to rechromed. be cheaper that way as I've done the Labour side already

When you get a quote for the chrome plating you will be tempted to buy a box of steel wool, or another set of good bumpers that have been cleaned with steel wool.

Edited May 7, 201511 yr by Mechanical Sympathy

You could probably buy an entire ke55 with good bumpers for less than getting them re-finished.

That's around the ballpark that I was thinking too.

 

Anyway you should just get KE30 bumpers. KE55 bumpers are ugly with those stupid rubber end caps.

 

That's not going to get you many kudos on chrome-bumper days!

 

 

Don't ke30 and ke55 have different indentations in the body to suit the different bumper ends?

cheers guys. will search around. not much going where I am.

Nah they're good. I've put them on both of my KE55s. Only the coupe needed holes filled because it had the even uglier longer body coloured wrap around bumpers.

 

looks awesome. will look around.

 

also off topic: no power when I put foot down. it did have old fuel which I flushed and put carby cleaner through with new fuel but still running rough as guts. carby is tuned so I'm thinking a hose has a crack and air is getting in? 3 speed auto by the way

Falling flat when you put the foot down can indicate that the accelerator pump plunger is perished, so she no squirt fuel when you crack her open and leans out until you back off. Try put a new kit through your carby.

I've cleaned up some decent rust on chrome with coke and stainless steel wool. It's a good quick fix