The Ford Barn

Motorhead327 · 10-27-2016, 08:02 PM

I want to purchase new US made stainless steel bumpers. Is there more than one manufacturer of these things leading to a difference in quality from one retailer to another?
I want the biggest bang for my buck.

Larry Jenkins · 10-27-2016, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead327

I want to purchase new US made stainless steel bumpers. Is there more than one manufacturer of these things leading to a difference in quality from one retailer to another?
I want the biggest bang for my buck.

Call Tom Jordan at Snyders. He will honestly tell you if their bumpers are made from non-magnetic stainless (300 Series) or magnetic (400 Series.)

400 Series SS will rust over time. Cheaper is not necessarily better.

CarlG · 10-27-2016, 09:24 PM

The bumper I bought from Little Dearborn is top quality, & looks great.

C26Pinelake · 10-27-2016, 09:48 PM

I bought stainless from Hershey at a cheap price and learned my lesson. Cheaper is not better and cheaper is not more bang for your buck. Buy quality and pay the price. The ones I bought have rusted after five years. Wayne

oldwoodsman · 10-27-2016, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlG

The bumper I bought from Little Dearborn is top quality, & looks great.

Carl Is it stainless or chrome? I just talked to them and they no longer handle the stainless bumper.

DougVieyra · 10-28-2016, 02:09 PM

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I still see S/S bumpers in all the major catalogs - not sure if they are all "Made in USA", which seems to be a point in your query.

CarlG · 10-28-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldwoodsman

Carl Is it stainless or chrome? I just talked to them and they no longer handle the stainless bumper.

The one I bought from Little Dearborn is magnetic, so it must be chrome plated.

Charlie Stephens · 10-28-2016, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead327

I want to purchase new US made stainless steel bumpers. Is there more than one manufacturer of these things leading to a difference in quality from one retailer to another?
I want the biggest bang for my buck.

Since you mentioned "bang" in your post I thought I would mention that the stainless bumpers are not as strong as the originals in case somebody "bangs" into your car. Unfortunately this probable applies to most of the regular steel reproduction bumpers. If you want a bumper that will protect your car from getting "banged" look for an original and have it chromed.

Charlie Stephens

Y-Blockhead · 10-28-2016, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlG

The one I bought from Little Dearborn is magnetic, so it must be chrome plated.

As Larry mentioned, some stainless steel is magnetic so it could still be stainless steel. Some stainless steel also RUSTS...

Dollar Bill · 10-29-2016, 06:06 AM

Charlie brings up a good point. Original bumpers were made from spring steel so as not to bend during a minor mishap.

S/S does not have the temper or strength as ferrous steel but they are easier to maintain.

Terry, NJ · 10-29-2016, 06:48 AM

Not necessarily! 400 series can be mildly magnetic also. For total non-magnetic, you would need i8/8, 300 series (302, 304, 308, 316 etc) Also chrome has a blueish cast, while stainless has a yellowish cast.
Terry

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarlG

The one I bought from Little Dearborn is magnetic, so it must be chrome plated.

Capt Quahog · 10-29-2016, 07:19 PM

Stainless steel bumpers? Are there reproduction stainless types being sold? Always knew the bumpers of 1928-29 & 1930-31 Ford A Models to be nickel or chrome plated steel. Then again . . . there probably is Asian made stuff of various materials.

Y-Blockhead · 10-29-2016, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Quahog

Stainless steel bumpers? Are there reproduction stainless types being sold?

Yes... http://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/19...-front-bumpers

5window · 10-30-2016, 11:41 AM

I don't know where they were made, but I bought a front bumper set from Mac's 10 years ago and they have held up great and still look like new. I have not "tested" them-and hope I don't need to in the future.

wrndln · 10-30-2016, 01:27 PM

Little Dearborn makes their chrome plated bumpers in Minnesota. I went on a shop tour that plates them in St Paul about 5 or 6 years ago. I guess they could have changed where they are made, but I don't think so. They are steel, not SS and nickel plated first then chrome plated. I am not sure if the steel the bumpers are made from is spring steel or not, but I suspect it is.
Rusty Nelson

frank55a · 10-30-2016, 01:45 PM

Originally all bumpers were chrome plated, none were nickel.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt Quahog

Stainless steel bumpers? Are there reproduction stainless types being sold? Always knew the bumpers of 1928-29 & 1930-31 Ford A Models to be nickel or chrome plated steel. Then again . . . there probably is Asian made stuff of various materials.

Motorhead327 · 10-31-2016, 11:05 AM

A lot has been said of the SS bumpers are not as springy as chromed steel bumpers like the originals, but I would venture to say none of the chromed steel repo bumpers are spring steel either.

Karl Wescott · 10-31-2016, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motorhead327

A lot has been said of the SS bumpers are not as springy as chromed steel bumpers like the originals, but I would venture to say none of the chromed steel repo bumpers are spring steel either.

My thought on this question is if you are going to hit something would you rather have a bent bumper or a bent frame? Something has to absorb energy and bend.

The reproduction brackets that I am aware of are also mild steel, or 300 series stainless for rodders.

10-27-2016, 08:02 PM	#1
Motorhead327 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Nipomo, CA Posts: 14	Bumpers I want to purchase new US made stainless steel bumpers. Is there more than one manufacturer of these things leading to a difference in quality from one retailer to another? I want the biggest bang for my buck.

10-27-2016, 09:24 PM	#3
CarlG Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 9,115	Re: Bumpers The bumper I bought from Little Dearborn is top quality, & looks great. __________________ Alaskan A's Antique Auto Mushers of Alaska Model A Ford Club of America Model A Restorers Club Antique Automobile Club of America Mullins Owner's Club

10-27-2016, 09:48 PM	#4
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Bumpers I bought stainless from Hershey at a cheap price and learned my lesson. Cheaper is not better and cheaper is not more bang for your buck. Buy quality and pay the price. The ones I bought have rusted after five years. Wayne

10-28-2016, 02:09 PM	#6
DougVieyra Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Eureka, California Posts: 1,716	Re: Bumpers Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) new *US made* stainless steel bumpers __________________________________ I still see S/S bumpers in all the major catalogs - not sure if they are all "Made in USA", which seems to be a point in your query.

10-29-2016, 06:06 AM	#10
Dollar Bill Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Keystone Heights, FL Posts: 647	Re: Bumpers Charlie brings up a good point. Original bumpers were made from spring steel so as not to bend during a minor mishap. S/S does not have the temper or strength as ferrous steel but they are easier to maintain. __________________ I Love Anything That Turns Money Into Noise

10-29-2016, 07:19 PM	#12
Capt Quahog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Barren windswept mountain somewhere in bleak Northeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 294	Re: Bumpers Stainless steel bumpers? Are there reproduction stainless types being sold? Always knew the bumpers of 1928-29 & 1930-31 Ford A Models to be nickel or chrome plated steel. Then again . . . there probably is Asian made stuff of various materials. __________________ I wouldn't be so paranoid if people weren't plotting against me all the time

10-30-2016, 11:41 AM	#14
5window Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lewisburg,PA Posts: 938	Re: Bumpers I don't know where they were made, but I bought a front bumper set from Mac's 10 years ago and they have held up great and still look like new. I have not "tested" them-and hope I don't need to in the future.

10-30-2016, 01:27 PM	#15
wrndln Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lakeville, MN Posts: 5,159	Re: Bumpers Little Dearborn makes their chrome plated bumpers in Minnesota. I went on a shop tour that plates them in St Paul about 5 or 6 years ago. I guess they could have changed where they are made, but I don't think so. They are steel, not SS and nickel plated first then chrome plated. I am not sure if the steel the bumpers are made from is spring steel or not, but I suspect it is. Rusty Nelson

10-31-2016, 11:05 AM	#17
Motorhead327 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Nipomo, CA Posts: 14	Re: Bumpers A lot has been said of the SS bumpers are not as springy as chromed steel bumpers like the originals, but I would venture to say none of the chromed steel repo bumpers are spring steel either.