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WTB: Rear bumper 2 seater S30z


gav240z

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Hi Guys,

For road worthy I may need to fit a rear bumper on my S30z. To be honest I have kinda wanted to put 1 back on anyway. I have my original 1 in storage but it's missing a few bolts and I think a bracket. It also needs a serious re-chrome.

 

So I'm looking to see if anyone has a spare rear bumper in storage, it doesn't have to be 100% perfect but ideally looking for something in good condition. I would rather go OEM if possible, it can have overriders on it or sans overriders etc..

 

Let me know what you got?

 

Preferably located in Victoria.

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Or looking to borrow a rear bar just to pass RWC. I think 2+2 bars can be fitted but are a little wide. However for the purpose of RWC I don't mind. Really just need all the bumper fitting hardware like brackets and bolts as some of mine are missing on my old bumper.

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Ok so found my old rear bumper. Looking for fasteners etc.. So can anyone recommend a good place in Victoria that can re chrome a bumper and perhaps straighten out a couple of dings with it? Don't have a hammer and dolly handy at the moment.

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I've got a crappy one that you can rattle can it to black and just mount it on for rwc if you want.

 

It's sitting outside of my house doing nothing.

 

Thanks mate, I may not need to fit for RWC at this stage. Although I kinda want to refit it anyway, but I'll get it re-chromed. I'll update thread if I can't find appropriate size bolts to fit the bumper. I was told that rare spares Holden hardware might be same same or similar enough to work.

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I'll update thread if I can't find appropriate size bolts to fit the bumper. I was told that rare spares Holden hardware might be same same or similar enough to work.

 

Have you tried a specialist fastener supplier for the bolts ?

 

Cheers

 

PB

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Gav the guy at Rare Spares in SA sell repo rear bumpers. They are some thing he dose and it's not rare spare part. 

 

Only problem I have with the reproduction stuff is that the last 1 I saw was actually quite flimsy, in that you could twist it with your hand. It wasn't solid like the OEM stuff. I'm not sure if that's the case with all of the repro units but I was a little unimpressed to be honest. The chrome didn't seem that good either.

 

I'm also convinced that if I got the Autosol out and steel wool I could clean mine up quite good.

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Rare spares in SA are sold out of rear bumpers and won't be getting any until March when i spoke to them a week before christmas.

 

Gav i'd be interested in knowing where that flimsy bumper came from because the one i have from Muscle car parts in NSW is solid as, althought a little thinner than stock it is also much lighter as its stainless rather than chromed steel, but in no means flimsy. Maybe there are several types being sold.

I also bought rare spares tail lights and quality is amazing.

 

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Yeah I'm not sure where the other reproduction unit was from. I can ask the owner when I get a chance.

 

With the Aussie Muscle Car parts bumper would I be correct in assuming there is no provisions for the rubber strips or overriders?

http://www.allmusclecarparts.com.au/webshop/index.php/datsun/240-260z/datsun-240z-70-73-bumper-rear-chrome.html

 

I'm not sure what restoring the original OEM would cost but I'm guessing a re-chrome alone would be at least $300. Which makes this seem like good value, although I kinda like the rubber trim pieces. I know the 432-R went naked but it kinda looks a bit naked without in my opinion. I'm also a bit partial to the overriders too! Seems it was something our market got more so than other markets.

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Only problem I have with the reproduction stuff is that the last 1 I saw was actually quite flimsy, in that you could twist it with your hand. It wasn't solid like the OEM stuff. I'm not sure if that's the case with all of the repro units but I was a little unimpressed to be honest. The chrome didn't seem that good either.

 

I'm also convinced that if I got the Autosol out and steel wool I could clean mine up quite good.

 

Geez Gav, a Zed bar is flimsy no matter if it is a repro or OEM......

 

Well compared to real steel bumpers anyway.....

 

I could flex and twist the OEM bumpers on my old blue 260 almost as much as the body shell would twist and flex, thanks Jason...... ;D

 

Compare to any 70's aussie car and you'll know what I mean, ZG Failrane bars are almost a two man job to remove or fit and my VH Charger bumpers aren't much lighter.

 

For anyone in Brisbane who needs any chrome work done, see Tony at Pacific Plating on Kingsford Smith drive out at Pinkenbar just near the Sugarmill road intersection. He aims for perfection and pretty near gets it, I was more than happy with the job done on my Charger bars and for what I though was a more than reasonable price for the work needed.

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  • 1 month later...

... the one i have from Muscle car parts in NSW is solid as, although a little thinner than stock it is also much lighter as its stainless rather than chromed steel, but in no means flimsy. Maybe there are several types being sold. ..."

 

I looked at the link in Gavin's reply to this post;

 

With the Aussie Muscle Car parts bumper would I be correct in assuming there is no provisions for the rubber strips or overriders?

http://www.allmusclecarparts.com.au/webshop/index.php/datsun/240-260z/datsun-240z-70-73-bumper-rear-chrome.html

 

Looking at the ad on that page - the bumper bar is described as;

 

"Datsun 240Z 70-73 Bumper Rear Chrome"  and  "Brand new reproduction part. Chrome rear bar to suit 70-73 Datsun 240Z."

 

There is no mention of stainless steel. This must be a chrome-plated steel reproduction bumper.

 

As far as I know, The Harrington Group is the only supplier of S30 stainless steel reproduction bumpers, and I don't think they are sold by any Australian retailer.

 

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Harrington bumpers are all made in Vietnam. Same place rare spares and musclecar parts get theirs from. I've mentioned it somewhere on this forum in the past. I have relatives that live down the road from the factory that makes it on consignment for Harringtons.

 

I have 2 in storage under my bed. They are stainless steel. The ad is probably referring to 'chrome' as the colour/finish.

 

Here is a link to the seller in vietnam

 

http://www.alibaba.com/countrysearch/VN/datsun-240z-260z-stainless-steel-bumpers-supplier.html

 

 

Edit: link to old thread http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php?topic=13975.0

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I have just rung Rare Spares - they do not sell any bumpers for S30's.

 

I then rang Muscle Car Parts Aust - and confirmed that their bumpers are chrome-plated steel.

 

I also rang Mazda Phils Rotary Products Rubber (the only other Australian eBay seller offering S30 bumpers) and confirmed that their bumpers are also chrome-plated steel.

 

The link that Retro Z posted does not work - it just takes you to the alibaba home page.

 

I have a set of Harrington bumpers in my parts collection too - and they are now substantially more expensive than the steel bumpers sold locally.

(As of today - GBP 699 + shipping fee of GBP 59 = GBP 758 OR ABOUT AUD $1,496)

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  • 1 year later...
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I spoke with Vinny's in Dandenong about re-chroming my rear bumper. They gave a rough estimate of starting around $450 - pending seeing the condition of my bumper and overriders.

 

I looked on eBay again and found Muscle Car Parts bumpers for a similar price.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Datsun-240Z-70-73-Bumper-Bar-Rear-Chrome-/272200579883

 

However I'm still unclear if you could add the rubber strips to these? From the photos the holes are missing? Is anyone able to confirm? If I cannot add the rubber trims this will be a no go for me. It also looks like it's sans overrider holes and I want to add those also.

 

@Gongz / Ian - if you go to Alibaba it's this company that is making them.

https://apexauto.en.alibaba.com/company_profile.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.S5CElI#top-nav-bar

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I find this topic quite confusing, and maybe I am not alone. As previously stated, I have a set of Harrington bumpers, so this is all pretty academic for me now.

 

@Gongz / Ian - if you go to Alibaba it's this company that is making them.
https://apexauto.en.alibaba.com/company_profile.html?spm=a2700.7724838.0.0.S5CElI#top-nav-bar

 

That link shows a company called 'Apex Auto Parts Inc' who make 'chrome' (therefore, I assume, chrome plated steel) bumpers. This is probably the company that makes the bumpers that 'Muscle Car Parts' sell.

I originally added my 2 cents worth to this topic because it was suggested that the bumpers from Muscle Car Parts are/were stainless, which I doubt.

 

...the one i have from Muscle car parts in NSW is solid as, although a little thinner than stock it is also much lighter as its stainless rather than chromed steel...

 

The Harrington Group stainless bumpers are considerably more expensive than the Muscle Car Parts, as you would expect compared to chromed steel.

If the Muscle Car Parts bumpers were stainless - I am sure their ads would make this very clear.

 

 

...I looked on eBay again and found Muscle Car Parts bumpers for a similar price.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Datsun-240Z-70-73-Bumper-Bar-Rear-Chrome-/272200579883

However I'm still unclear if you could add the rubber strips to these? From the photos the holes are missing? Is anyone able to confirm? If I cannot add the rubber trims this will be a no go for me. It also looks like it's sans overrider holes and I want to add those also....

I just rang 'All Muscle Car Parts' at Moorebank, and the guy there confirmed that the rear bumper they sell does NOT have holes for the rubber pieces. I asked if he could get bumpers with holes and he said 'no'. They only have the bumpers as shown in the eBay listing above and painted bumpers.

 

He also re-confirmed that their 'chrome' bumpers are chrome-plated steel.

 

Phil's Rotaries sell front bumpers with or without holes - but no rear bumpers of either flavour.

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So I pulled the original bumper out of storage and decided to see if it would clean up. I figured it can't hurt to try and polish it and see if it comes good. Considering the paint on my 72 is not perfect anyway a perfect looking bumper may be out of place. So a bit of patina would be fine.

 

I water blasted it clean first. Which took a lot of the dirt and grime off.

 

IMG_20160427_160555.jpg

As you can see in this photo, not a brilliant shine. Quite dull and average.

IMG_20160427_160601.jpg

IMG_20160427_160608.jpg

 

After removing the old rubbers (what a PITA! with snapped bolts etc..). I gave it some elbow grease with steel wool and braso metal polish etc..

IMG_20160427_165720.jpg

 

Looks better here.

IMG_20160427_165724.jpg

 

Unfortunately in some places it's just not a great surface anymore.

IMG_20160427_165732.jpg

IMG_20160427_171256.jpg

 

1 snag, under the rubber on the left hand side (passenger side) there was a hidden / concealed dent.

IMG_20160427_171302.jpg

IMG_20160427_171306.jpg

 

I managed to hammer it out as best as possible.

IMG_20160427_182547.jpg

IMG_20160427_182550.jpg

IMG_20160427_182558.jpg

 

I also managed to remove the rubbers from the overriders, everything is in ok condition. I think a sandblast and re-chrome and it should come up great.

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So I managed to drop the rear bumper off in Dandenong today at A.A. Vinney's Metal Polishers and Electroplaters. I spoke with Anna who was very helpful, she knew what car the bumper was off even though it was in 3 pieces when I walked in the door, she said "off a 260z", and I said "240z actually" and she said "same thing" and I was like "no no no no no, you can't say that!", we both had a laugh out of that.

 

Anyway she showed me around the facility and the bumpers they were doing or have done and talked about the process involved etc..

 

I mentioned I was looking at aftermarket bumpers and she warned me to say that many of the aftermarket stuff isn't up to par and will rust again in short time, many of her customers have gone through that already. Of course she's talking her own book but I'm inclined to believe that could be true in many cases also, especially with the cheaper stuff. I'm not saying the Muscle Car Parts bumpers are not up to spec, as I'm not seen them myself or used them but I won't doubt that the process they go through at Vinney's is likely a better finish and quality than a lot of aftermarket stuff.

 

The cost is a little higher than aftermarket which appears to sell around $400 AU mark.

 

The quote I have is $450 for the bumper and $50 for each overrider also. That won't include some fasteners needed (which it looks like rare spares do some generic ones that would work at about $6 a set) and the rubber trims which will add up no doubt by the time I'm done.

 

I also spoke to Anna about yellow zinc plating and what can be done with regard to keeping stuff organised. Unfortunately not much because of the process and the way it's all done you kind of have to get everything mixed up.

 

The main reasons are that you cannot do a small amount of items in the tank due to the current put through it, you'd burn the items in the tank. Also when they clean individual nuts and bolts etc.. They put it into a bucket / acid clean it etc.. She showed me that each job has a job sheet and they take photos of all the items and catalog them. The only items they say could go missing are small fasteners and bolts etc.. that may fall off the wires when dipped into the tank but that shouldn't happen too often. She did try and reassure me that they do a lot of items where there is only 1 of them in the world or very few / rare items etc..

 

Of course nobody can guarantee anything but I did feel a little more confident with sending stuff in bulk to be done.

 

I think what I'll have to do is take a lot of detailed photos of items with descriptions written next to them and measure the size and pitch of each bolt so I can sort through the mess later when I get the stuff back. Pretty sure George did this with his stuff.

http://www.viczcar.com/forum/topic/11477-hs30-00019/?p=165573

 

Perhaps we can make this a public resource so that others can reference the photos and information when doing their own restorations?

 

I'll be sure to create a recommended business thread if everything goes well with A.A. Vinney's of Dandenong.

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