Blue-ing of rechromed rear bumpers of '69?

[Shannon Burgess]

I recently installed my rechromed rear bumpers on the '69. I had them plated 2-step by a reputable plater. When I washed the car a few days back, I noticed some "blue-ing" along the horizontal "bend" areas above the exhaust tips. I was unable to spend any significant time examining the bumpers to determine if the discoloration was temporary due to the wash water and soap. Could the heat from the exhaust casue this? I've only put around 200 miles on the car since reinstalling the bumpers.


Any ideas?


Thanks, Shannon



My '69 restoration site

[Joe L.]

Re: Blue-ing of rechromed rear bumpers of '69?

Shannon-----


The "blueing" that you describe is very common and it is caused by the exhaust. Usually, and, incredibly, in my opinion, most of this "blueing" can be removed with chrome polish/cleaner. Some may persist and that is just one of the prices that we have to pay for driving the cars. "Trailer Queens" don't suffer from this problem.

[Shannon Burgess]

Re: Blue-ing of rechromed rear bumpers of '69?

Joe,


Thanks for the response. I guess I never noticed this before getting the bumpers rechromed since they were so dull and pitted. I'll try some Wenol polish to see if it cleans them up.


Shannon

[John H.]

Polish Once, Wax Forever.....

Shannon -


I'd recommend cleaning off the "bluing" with a very mild chrome polish, then apply many coats of good WAX (not "polish") to protect them down the road. Chrome is a very thin coating, and repeated polishing simply removes the coating, a little at a time. When they get cruddy again, it'll be on top of WAX, not chrome plating, and you can wash it off and periodically re-WAX for protection.


John

[Joe L.]

Re: Polish Once, Wax Forever.....

John----


Absolutely correct! And, if one happens to have some of the old Blue Coral Preservative Sealer, one can do a REALLY bang-up job of protecting one's bumpers. Otherwise, a good paste wax like Meguiars #26 will do.

[Shannon Burgess]

Re: Polish Once, Wax Forever.....

Joe and John,


Thanks for the advice. I guess I'll be outside doing a little polishing and waxing on Saturday. I'll let you know how it turns out.


Shannon