WSpohn4@aol.com wrote:
> I got the car out yesterday to try and get it ready for Tahoe, and discovered
> that the grill _and_ both bumpers were, to a greater or lesser degree, rusted
> and pitted. The grill surround has bubbles of rust and the bumpers are showing
> a haze of rust on the inside, and localised bubbling on the outside. There is
> no alternative to rechroming or replacement.
>
When you get poor quality parts from Asia, this is all you can expect.
I have supported getting parts re-chromed from the beginning. Now, the
reason plating operations are getting harder to find is because of the
EPA thugs. I applaud their intentions, but the result is somewhat
bitter. Now, Bill, when that bumper rusts to crap and you have to buy
another CHROMED bumper, you are in effect created more environmental
problems, since you have to buy two or more bumpers to get the
equivalent use out of ONE GOOD QUALITY BUMPER. Regulations on the
solutions used in plating are so stringent, automobile supply houses
must use foreign sources. You think they adhere to any US EPA
regulations. Hell NO! It's a shame, but that is life.
> The 'control' car beside it with the factory bumpers and grill, shows _NO_
> rust whatsoever (the grill is bent a little, but the chrome seems to have
> stuck to the brass better than it does to the repro steel shells).
>
Might I suggest the use of chrome polish. It is good for removing
surface rust, but pitting is impossible to remove and many times, the
polishing required to remove it, will essentially remove the chrome
plating anyway.
> So now I will have to replace all of the chrome that I put on the car 500
> miles ago! Doesn't seem like very good value to me. I would rather have spent
> double on parts that were reasonably fit for the purpose they were intended
> for, than half as much, twice. And who knows if the modern equivalents are any
> better? I may just be throwing money down a hole again, and have to repeat
> this whole frustrating exercise in another 6 or 8 years.
>
> Either that, or take the brand new parts and take them to the platers to have
> them done properly in the first place.
>
This may be your only reasonable option, that is, if you require
quality.
> Why does this situation pertain? Moss is, as far as my experience goes (25
> years worth) reputable, and as quality conscious as any of the regular after
> market outlets - no one wants come backs on parts - it adds too much to the
> overhead. The only answer that I can think of is that the owners out there
> are too cheap to pay for reasonable parts and will put up with shoddy tinfoil
> bits that don't fit right as long as they are cheap enough. Strange as that
> may sound, I can't think of another explanation. If that is the explanation,
> then shame on all you cheap people out there - aren't your cars dear enough to
> you to warrant a little expense to do things right?
>
> I would be most interested in hearing from other customers as well as Moss (if
> you are still speaking to me after my intentionally attention getting header)
> and any other suppliers that happen to follow this list.
I have rubber bits on my '70 MGB from Moss and others that are failing,
while corresponding old rubber bits are still going strong. Go figure.
I too, would be willing to pay more for quality. However, I have not
found a better source of parts than Moss. Therefore, they have been the
recipients of around $2500 of my money over the past 5 years.
Note to others. Instead of buying that rebuilt master cylinder, take it
to your local machine shop. Fortunately, I have a great fellow back
home in Memphis. He suggests that I have him press a brass or other
suitable metal sleeve into the master cylinder. He said, under normal
use, when the rubber seals are being worked, the brass, etc. will never
wear out.
Bill, sorry to hear of your problems. I have not replaced my bumpers,
because of this exact problem. When I can afford a good plater's
charges, I will have them redone. I share your dismay.
Take care
Jay
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