Stainless steel bumpers

[John33]

I asked a company who manufacture very high quality stainless steel bumper blades for classic cars if they would ever do them for minors? They are interested but are not sure how much take up there would be, so I offered to put a post up to get some feedback. They would be like chrome, highly polished, guaranteed for life against rust, able to be repaired if dented, but, a full set, including over-riders could cost around £500. I should add that I have no financial interest in this! Would there be interest in stainless steel, and at this price?

[charlie_morris_minor]

is a full set
both front and rear blades and over riders
or
one blade and 2 over riders i.e. enough to do either the front or the rear but not both ( and yes i know that the front and rear are different before any one says anything)

[John33]

Full set means the whole lot, front and rear bumper blades and over-riders. They prefer to sell the whole lot as a package, but I think they would also sell front and rear separately (blade and over-riders).

[chickenjohn]

The price doesn't look too much if the bumpers are a quality item, but one problem with using stainless steel parts next to mild steel is the mild steel corrodes a lot more than it would as it acts as a sacrificial anode.

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_ ... cial_Anode

This is why you should NEVER use stainless steel bolts or screws in a mild steel car.

May be less of a problem if you use fibreglass bumper valances.

[bmcecosse]

I agree! There could be a sacrificial problem with stainless against mild steel. How about a price for just bumper blades - no overriders? The Minor looks SO much better without overriders - and of course Travellers only have the front bumper bar anyway, and the two rear 1/4 blades of course. I think it's unlikely many will spend £500 on a full set..... but I'm guessing the overriders will be relatively difficult to make - and perhaps blades at ~ £80/100 each may have a market?

[simmitc]

Subject to price, I would definitely be interested in the rear blades for the Traveller, but would want to be able to buy them individually. Also, can they do the domed bolts to fix the blades in place? At a later date I might want the front blade & bolts, but on its own, no overriders.

I think that we need prices for the individual components as more people might upgrade in stages than would layout for the complete set in one go.

[jagnut66]

I have to say that it is an investment I would make, just my opinion but I think polished stainless steel looks just as good as chrome.
Plus without the rust issues!!
So that's a yes from me, please let me know if they start producing them.
Best wishes,
Mike.

[dp]

Ditto, If I got another Minor I would invest in them. I had stainless steel hubcaps and they stayed looking like new with no polishing whatsoever

[John33]

Thanks for feedback - I too bought some stainless steel hub caps years ago and they are like new still! Reason why I'm thinking stainless steel. Guess the anode problem could be addressed to an extent by using a fibreglass valance? Anyway, more responses welcome please!

[tysonn]

Stainless steel was the norm for car brightwork at one time and I cant recall there being any particular sacrificial anode problems.

[twincamman]

The price doesn't look too much if the bumpers are a quality item, but one problem with using stainless steel parts next to mild steel is the mild steel corrodes a lot more than it would as it acts as a sacrificial anode.

http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Analytical_ ... cial_Anode

This is why you should NEVER use stainless steel bolts or screws in a mild steel car.

May be less of a problem if you use fibreglass bumper valances.

Or you could use some form of insulating material twixt blade & valance? A thin sheet of plastic should do it. Add chrome-on-brass bolts into the equation for nigh-on complete corrosion resistance.

[tysonn]

The stainless part isnt touching a steel part its touching a PAINTED part.

[kevin s]

I have used stainless in many places on my landrover over the years on steel, alloy and galv steel, none of them or the surrounding metal has shown any significant change in corrosion over the mild steel fastners.

I understood that the steel corrosion is only marginaly increased by proximity to stainless.


Don't used them on structural joints though as they are not as ductile, also if starved of oxygen such as in timber boats they can corrode very quickly.