Egg Crate Grill/Bumper BV8

Morty · October 14, 2018, 05:26:58 PM

I'm sure this will be met with mixed reviewes however I really like it and I've never seen it done before. Back story, Car is a build by PO and came to me with the typical overheating problem engine is 3.5L Rover. I have removed the block hugger style headers to be replaced with RV8 style pipes, New aluminum radiator with dual 1000 cfm fans , and this bumper mod.

Morty · October 14, 2018, 11:00:17 PM

-- moved topic --

88v8 · October 15, 2018, 09:47:25 AM

Assuming it was built from new parts and there were no timing or mixture issues, surprised it was overheating with that louvred bonnet n'all.

I don't like anything about the factory rubber bumpers, but if there is some reason you don't want them gone, that is a novel and ingenious alternative. How did you do it?

Ivor

MGBV8 · October 15, 2018, 09:54:44 AM

Very interesting! I like it.

Mine has ceramic coated block hugger headers & no louvers. Has never overheated in 17 1/2 years.

RMO 699F · October 15, 2018, 04:13:29 PM

Shawn..that is very nicely done..very creative..will be interesting to see how that affects engine and engine bay temperatures too...of course another option would be to remove the rubber bumper and convert to chrome. Was wondering if you have you ever met Roger Haber, he is from Black Diamond and runs a beautiful sbc powered 1967 mgb. (His car is listed under photo galleries above). FWIW, my son lives in Douglasbank Mews in Calgary...
Cheers
Mike

Morty · October 16, 2018, 12:41:50 AM

Thanks for the kind words, To be fair I haven't driven the car much since I have owned it I know PO did have some cooling issues so I decided to just dig in and address and eliminate any potential cooling problems. There were other issues because of the block hugger headers, the main one being clearance between the bonnet and air filter. I believe the RV8 headers will produce more torque, allow the engine to sit lower in the engine bay and with the wheel arches cut will allow for more air circulation around the engine.

I do kind of like the rubber bumpers on a red car I have done chrome bumper conversions in the past and the sebring look is something that if I am going to do I would want to go full on and I'm sure I want to take on that project right now.

I used a small rotor with a mortise bit taking two cuts to get just through the rubber outer skin. The rubber cover was removed from the steel bumper to allow the cut out to be preformed, I will cutting more metal away to lighten it as well as the rear member.

Mike I don't remember seeing that car before, I do remember a black V8 in Black Dimond but I didn't get a good look at it as it went by so fast lol ! I belong to the Calgary MG club but don't get out with them as much as I would like.

RMO 699F · October 16, 2018, 01:04:31 AM

I believe Roger runs an auto repair shop in Black Diamond...Roger was able to attend the V8 meet in Colorado Springs a few years ago and actually attended the British V8 meet in Dayton, Ohio this July...he is a great person!

BlownMGB-V8 · October 16, 2018, 11:52:31 AM

The black bumpers never really did look bad and plenty of people liked them better. As far as appearance the design was advanced, all cars have them today. But they are heavy. This new treatment certainly is distinctive. You need to find a way to blacken the cut edges though.

Jim

BenJB · May 29, 2019, 08:30:32 AM

What intake manifold/carb are you using? I really like that air cleaner too. When you put in the RV8 headers did you weld the braces to the inner fender holes?