Morris Minor Forum

Hi Group,

I'm looking at ordering a set of bumper blades and overriders from ESM (or anyone else after more research) for a Morris Minor and was wondering if anyone has ordered any and could answer a couple of questions.

How was the chroming from whoever you bought them from. What was the cost for shipping only and did they make it OK. I don't know the quality of the UK finished products, so if anyone has bought any or has an opinion I would greatly appreciate any comments. Has anyone bought the unchromed ones? I'm thinking I might get better quality having it done stateside instead, but I haven't seen what you get so I'm reaching here. If I did have the plating done here, hopefully it might be better quality control with a nicer finished product.

Anyone have a chroming shop that they have used and recommend on the West Coast?

TX
Mr fixit
Chris

There are very few shops left that do chrome let alone having tanks big enough to do bumpers. Locate a shop first and get a quote. It will be expensive.

re-chroming is pay to play and at a dear price

I have no complaints on the bumper I ordered from ESM....there is nothing to them really....the cost including shipping and the manner it was packaged speaks well of ESM, these are just light weight blades and nothing heavy. Buying one from these guys you only paying freight one way...send one out, you paying freight both ways, the length of the blade will bump shipping cost with the shipping charges placed today on weight verse size...the wait and runaround dealing with a shop often not worth it. Costs, I do not think you will find any US shop not charging minimum 40-60 on an over rider and the blade, I think you best be sitting for the quote...EPA regulations has pushed many shops out of business...many of them should have been pushed might I ad...the cradle to grave cost of chemical...very costly to obtain and even more son on the average to dispose of. Couple new arrivals that have off shore connections, cost is less but often is the quality....many leaving out the base metal plating of the process before chroming.

Weigh the cost.....ESM in my opinion has point advantage.

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I've seen better days but they have cost me more money..!

5 out of 5 people usually think the other 4 are idiots....

If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got.

I too purchased a chrome front bumper blade from ESM a couple years ago. Very happy with the quality/fit of the piece and its chrome plating.

I purchased F & R un-chromed blades and shipped a part of a larger order so can't comment on shipping cost.
I have used Tri-City Plating near Elizabeth, TN (north east corner near Bristol, TN/VA) for several projects over the years and will have them do my blades along with a couple of other pieces later this spring. I prefer to use them due to my experience with UK suppliers where I had to have pieces re-chromed after a couple of years. You ca call them and discuss you specific needs. Easy to deal with and in a reasonable time line.

Sorry, can't copy and paste link

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Bob Marcum

1959 Bugeye
1960 Morris Minor Tourer
Ex vintage Mini racer

Hi Group,

Terrific input. I'm glad to hear bob that you considered the same idea as I am on the chroming here in the States. On the West Coast we have a few plating shops that still do the triple plating and have a good reputation. I do hear what you say about the overall deal BIG A and I do have to consider that as well. I know that the single coat plating has done as Greg mentions, it peels or lifts after a few years, I have a friend that is into the early VW Buses and he had that happen on repo's that he bought.

The one thing that I still want to figure out is shipping 3 times as you mention BIG A, that could be a deal breaker if it adds up to a lot of $$. I'm prepared for the $$ on plating here in the States, but your right if these are costly to ship I might have to settle for the UK setup all the way and hope for the best !

I'll do some more checking and report back when and if I pull the trigger on this .

TX
Mr fixit
Chris

Hey Group,

After doing some more inquiring I have found out that the plating done on the UK bumper blades is of good quality as Big A and Greg had mentioned. I went to the local MGTD club mtg the other day and spoke with folks that have restoration shops or are very involved it the restoration business and they commented that the products coming out of India are well done and should be a good product for the value. I did also find out that plating here in the states is VERY expensive for larger items, so again it tells me I need to consider the plated option from the UK and move forward.

TX
Mr fixit
Chris

ESM’s website will calculate the shipping cost of what you have in your cart before your final commit to purchase.

Hi Gord,

I haven't gone that far yet on what I'm looking at to purchase so this is good to know. This might help others as well to figure out a total budget.

TX
Mr fixit
Chris

I bought all the chrome bits from ESM. Including the bumpers and overriders. Very happy with the quality of Crome plating. Looks very shines and smooth, like a new factory part, probably better than original. Shipping is pricey but it ends up being cheaper than if you bought them in the USA I can not tell you what I paid for shipping because I bought about $1500 worth of parts including floor pans etc. I think it was about $125. Best advice, buy enough parts to get the ESM discount, I think £250. Also ESM has a shipping cost estimater. Kevin

many folks I speak with on the old car forums like to buy a piece here or buy a piece there as they go which works well for routine upkeep but not so well for a big ongoing project. When your project is that of a foreign cars and todays market even finding this stuff stateside entails lots of shipping fees which is steadily increasing and US retailer are passing their shipping cost on with higher prices then get you on shipping costs yet again. I suggest that when doing any car to go around the vehicle and access the areas that will require new parts, seals and such are always number one items, make a list of needs for the project and make a one time parts order as best as possible. Even if you miss an item or two, list this for another order but wait a spell to see if other items make the list. First you save big on shipping , discounts often with volume and work will get done a bit faster most times because you not putting off this or that purchase or delaying the job because today would have been a good day to do the work...BUT...did not have the pieces on hand to do the repair. Its a pay to play hobby...Like Kevin above mentioned...he made a bulk order, I did the same and the parts are on hand when the time comes to address an area. Its false economy to view a deep project in any other fashion.

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I've seen better days but they have cost me more money..!

5 out of 5 people usually think the other 4 are idiots....

If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got.

HI Big A,

What great words of wisdom ! I will be placing a large discounted order in the near future with your guys advice.

TX
Mr fixit
Chris

I would second Kevin and Big A's approach. I did this a fair while back and I bought a large order if my memory is correct from MGM spares, which I think later became Bull Motif and then has since been absorbed/bought out by ESM. Actually for comparison, I sent the list to several vendors to compare (but you have to careful basing everything on price though). I have been really happy with anything I have sourced from ESM.

I am glad to hear the quality of the chrome plating of the reproduction bumper blades has improved, the rear one's I got (which developed pits after a couple of years) were not as good as the original fronts which I had replated when I lived in Australia (which are still in good shape 30 years later).

The Dollar is strong against the Pound right now ... good time to buy ......

I took the chrome off my 1961 Morris to a local chrome shop and got a price. Then I priced it from Charles Ware. Including the shipping it was about 1/3 the cost of rechromimg. I got bumpers and risers a several smaller pieces. I got them within a week and am well satisfied with the quality.