BritishV8 Forum

When I purchased my '80 MGB LE I noticed some problems with the RB's. Out back the bumper seems to be pushed upward and makes contact with the license plate holder, so much so that the plate is hard to match the holes to. Up front there seems to be too much space between the hood and top of the bumper, at least 3/4 of an inch or more. My belief is that when the car was painted the front bumper may not have been replaced/located properly. In back of course a little jolt from another vehicle may have done some damage. My question: I don't mind the rubber B's on the black LE....I have heard that they can be taken off and the armature removed then re fitted. I also like no bumpers...or chromes ...but might miss the LE's spoiler. Anyone got an answer for problem?

Hi Doug,
I think you will find that MG Experience will get you some good answers on generic MG stuff.  This forum is mostly for mods to British cars that involve engine transplants.  I'm stuck in a hotel room so I can probably answer your question.  If I remember right there are 4 bolts on the front with 2 being through bolts and 2 being threaded into a welded nut in the frame rail.  On the back I think they are all through bolts.  You should be able to loosen those and adjust the bumper location to any place you want it unless it truly has been in an accident and it is bent.  You might have to use a jack to hold it in position as you tighten them up.

I'm not a big fan of rubber bumpers but some cars look OK  with them.  I took mine off my 77.  I used a aftermarket spoiler for the front and some early bumpers in the rear.  There are some slight differences in the mounting but nothing a little ingenuity won't take care of.  I also re-formed the grill opening for more air flow and a little different look but it is not neccesary.  I think the older grill fit in with the addition of a few brackets.  The area under the tailight is flat instead of coming to a rounded point but I don't think many people really notice.  I had intended to put the back up lights there but never got around to it.  

  http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2973575/1977-MG-MGB

Cheers,
Bill

Rubber bumpers are a PIA, they get curly , dull , you can't really fix em,nicely, I wonder if there is any interest in a fiberglass
version of rubber bumpers? maybe they wouldnt have the same crash worthiness, but they would look a hell of a lot better, and you could paint them body color !  also they would weigh about  HALF, even with some steel mounting points included.
Dave Craddock

Dave, Your a crafty guy, throw-in some downforce and let's discuss ? Thanks, roverman.

QuoteMy question: I don't mind the rubber B's on the black LE....I have heard that they can be taken off and the armature removed then re fitted.

Not gonna work. The metal behind the rubber helps the bumper hold its shape as well as support it.  If I remember correctly, just the rubber (front bumper) weighs 11 lbs.

Dave, Tim Nagy did just that years ago before he stopped making FG parts.  I'm with Art, how about something similar to an RV8 with built in spoiler & splitter?

Back in the early 1980s in the UK you could buy glass fibre copies of the rubber bumper to let you "modernise" a chrome bumper car!  John Hill used to sell them.

Here are some options:

http://www.morspeedperformance.com/parts.cfm

I got some B rubber bumpers from Brian Mccullogh , just don't have the time and money right now for another product development, we're still trying to get our SEBRING kit ready for sale by May.
Dave Craddock