Treatment for Black Bumpers with silver trim strip

[iracema1]

Dear Listers:
I have a 1978 Alfetta Sport Sedan with the USA-specification black bumpers with the silver(ish) strip on the middle. Not only is the matte black finish faded and powdery, but the center strip is actually dangling and needs to be both recolored AND re-attached. Has anyone found any good solutions to get these bumpers looking again the way they should?
Thanks
Andy

[haus]

Not sure if a SS bumper is anything like a spider bumper from the same year? John M got a chrome strip from JC Whitney. He's got a link in a thread somewhere, though when I checked their web site it doesn't show the size he thinks he got in chrome anymore (sold out?). I'm refinishing my rear (there are some pics of the process in "removing rear bumper, which nuts?") and I'm hoping to have it finished next week. My center strip will be black because I don't want to draw attention to the bumper. I'm using plastic lightly textured paint I got at Orchard Supply and so far I'm really happy with it. I have one coat on the rear bumper so far and it looks good. The front was done the same way - pics in the above thread.

[iracema1]

Hi Greg H.
thanks for that reply. I think that the bumpers ARE very similar, at least made of similar material. I could not find that thread that you mentioned in this particular forum, is it in a different one?
Thanks
Andy

[qdemenna]

I had the same problem with the bumper on me 79 Alfetta, the center strip was cracked and discolored. I found a black plastic PVC material at a plastic retailer that I ripped to size on a table saw. I liked the effect of all black instead of the reflective strip.

[haus]

Andy,

I'm sorry I never saw your reply in this thread until now. The thread I was referring to is here:

http://www.alfabb.com/bb/forums/spider-1966-up/19980-removing-rear-bumper-s2-nuts.html

I put in the adhesive strip and the black strip, but I don't like it. Turns out it still shows the imperfections in the center strip (some areas stick out more than others). It looks fine from 10 feet, so I'll live with it until I find something harder and thicker. JC Whitney has stainless steel tape that I might try, but I'll bet its still too thin.

[GreyGTV6]

There is one, and only one solution for plastic bumpers when they fade, and that is paint. You can try all the expensive "bumper shiners" and "bumper blackeners" that you want, but they all fade after a few weeks. If you want your car to look good, paint them with a good quality bumper paint, or a body shop has some additive for paint that makes them work on flexible plastic surfaces. I'm not a panel beater so someone in the trade will know what I'm talking about better than I will.