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Previous Page MGB rubber to chrome bumper conversion Next Page
Step by step photo journal of a 1980 MGB being converted to chrome grille and bumpers.
After removal of the bumper, remove the lower valence. This will be replaced with a valence from a chrome bumper car. The cutouts for the rubber bumper enxtensions would be incorrect with the chrome bumpers. Here you can see the front frame end pieces with the big square mounts for the rubber bumpers. These will have to be removed to make room for the new grille.
This shows the resulting cuts off the frame rails/bumper mounts. This was done with a cutting wheel on a 4 inch angle grinder. The remaining openings will have a finish plate welded on to close things up. The other modification required in the front is the area around the light. The rubber bumper front fender has a cutout for the housing of the light that sits in the bumper. This now needs to be modified along with reconfiguring the hole for the new light which of course mounts directly onto the fender. The more expensive alternative is to replace the entire fender with one from a chrome bumper car. Here I've made a template which shows me where to cut and what needs to be welded closed. Here the new light area is cut out, and the lower right section is the existing area that will require a plate welded in and finished.
The frame rail has been welded shut and the light area modified. chrome grille trial fit.
Front chrome bumper temporarily fitted. Some final fiddling will be done after paint. rear rubber bumper removed. Bolts are easily accessed inside the trunk. CAREFUL...don't let it fall on your foot, its HEAVY!
Another shot of rear bumper removed. Note the reinfoced plate on the rear valence. This is where the rubber bumper mounts and is actually the end of the chassis rails. Also notice the area below the rear light. It is flat, without the filler piece found on chrome bumper cars. This is the only body modification required in the rear. Filler pieces are available new or can be removed from a parts car if you have one available. Piece welded in place, making sure the fit with the light is correct.
rear piece welded in place, welds ground down and body filler applied. Ready for final sanding. rear bumper being trial fitted with aluminum template brackets. bracket template allowing bumper to mount to original reinforced plates on rear panel
Finished bracket product. 3/16' steel plate with mounting bolt welded on from behind for ease of installation. New chrome bumper fitted onto new brackets for fit and adjustment
Car has been re-painted
The completed project. Suspension lowered 1 1/2
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