Re: [Amc-list] AMX bumper question for experts only!

[Frank Swygert <farna@xxxxxxx>]

IMHO, ANY used auto part should be test fitted before any major work is done to it, PERIOD. A professional shop used to working with older cars should know this. If they are a normal "production" shop working on mainly new cars, they should STILL know to test fit used parts. The chroming shop may not have the measurements for AMCs, not if they don't work with them much or haven't in the past. So if you ask me, the shop doing the work should have checked. Their take on it will likely be that you sent it to them telling them it was a good bumper, so they took your word on it. Personally, I'd have checked before sending it out for plating, as I'd hate to cause a customer to waste money. 

If there are no marks on the bumper and it looks good, there's no way the seller could determine if it was a little off. Two inches might not seem like "a little", but it would be hard to tell without another bumper right next to it. 

The bumper might be right. I don't know HOW it's "off by two inches". The mounts could be off, or the body twisted/tweaked. Only way to know for sure is to use the body pan measurements from a TSM. If they all are within 1/16-1/8" of specs it shouldn't be off by two inches anywhere. 

I'm afraid you're the one going to get stuck on this, though you might get some concession from the shop or the seller. I wouldn't "raise hell" at them, just point out that you're disappointed that you got a bad part to the seller, and that the shop should know to test fit used parts, and see if they will give you something to make up for it. I don't think the plater is much at fault at all. He was sent a bumper and plated it -- you got back what you sent in. I've never heard of it being the plater's responsibility unless he was specifically tasked with straightening the bumper. Sounds to me like he was told "this is a good bumper, it needs plating", and he did just that. But don't expect anyone to readily accept even partial blame for anything. 

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Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:32:53 -0800
From: "bikerfox" <bikerfox@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>

This question is primarily for Joe, Frank, Nick, or Armand, but feel free to reply if you have experience in the task below:

A '68 AMX accident-free front bumper was recently acquired from an allegedly reputable AMC source and was sent out for re-chroming--the old bumper was unusable and was trashed (trust me, it was unusable).  The newly acquired bumper was guaranteed uninvolved in an accident or bent.  The newly plated bumper came back and didn't fit the front of the vehicle by two inches (I believe it was the top of the bumper that was the issue)!  Again, the bumper seller claimed the bumper was in "excellent used condition." I was told by the bumper seller that the plating shop didn't do its duty in "blocking" the bumper before replating and checking the fitment of the bumper prior.  The bumper seller also claims that plating shops have "forms" or "molds" that bumpers can fit into and thus the plating shop can check the straightness of the bumper before replating.  The bumper seller claims that no two AMX bumpers are alike and if switching one AMX bumper to another AMX, this "blocking" procedur
 e must always be done to ensure good fitment.  The body shop claims that the bumper seller gave them a bumper that was off by two inches due to a bumper accident, although upon intial inspection before replating, the bumper appeared to be accident-free, with no apparent "witness marks.."  The body shop has never heard of "blocking" a bumper before replating and didn't test fit the new bumper prior to replating.  The plating shop is closed for the weekend.  What are the facts/fallacies of this situation? Who's to blame? Who's right?

-- 
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Motors Cars" 
Magazine (AMC)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AMC.html
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