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MG Midget and Sprite General - 1500 bumper options?

Hi All

Whilst working on the car at the moment and getting it ready for its summer use I've been looking at those dam heavy bumpers again and still want to get rid of them!

I know this has probably been gone over many many times before but what are the options apart from the chrome conversion kits, also are their any options for that missing bit of metal under the rear lights, ideally I'd not want to weld in new pieces and repaint.

Had a look on the net but the only stuff I can find are really bespoke projects, any info appreciated.

Thanks
Arron
A Burgess

loads of people go bumperless (both rubber and chrome owners), sure someone will post some pics.

as far as the holes in the wings, could replace them with fibre glass ones (i just asked that question today), or get a new front end?

the rubber bumpers weigh a lot, and its a big difference when you take them off. You may need to get a lowering kit to compensate for the raised ride hight

and there are no midget chrome conversion kits because there is alot of panel changing required!
Rich K

There are actually conversion kits IF you must take this route - but, it's really rather the worst option ....

Use your imagination - there's loads and loads of ways to take them off - and there's millions and millions of threads in the archives - I would really suggest that you decide what you can and can't do - what you'd have to get someone else to do - what you can afford to do - and then look for the options in there!!!!

Yes, most are bespoke - because everyone answers the above questions differently :)
rachmacb

i didnt think there were any "off the shelf" kits, the only one i found, was the one i had 'issues' with (remember that post lol), not going to name and shame the company again

agree with rach though, have a look at previous threads, or google pics of midgets to get an idea of whats out there and whats been done

i quite like the frog-eye conversion, though thats a bigger change than taking off your bumpers :)
Rich K

Cheers guys

I'm thinking whip the bumpers off and maybe installing some small overider type things over the holes, main thing I'm strugglu with though is the rear lights look off with the bumper missing.
A Burgess

LOL - that is a big change ...!

The Bhive used to do the kits - still do for the B I think - but, it's not my scene, so ....

There are loads of photos of that in the archives - you might get lost in there and never come out - but, it's a wealth of information, about this, and loads of other things. Just a word of warning though - it's NOT that simple (as Rich is finding out ;))
rachmacb

but its a nice change :)

yeah i remember them doing kits, they now just sell the mgb ones, easier to convert i think

yes as rach says, any website that tells you that you just take off the rubber bumpers, and slap on the chrome ones is very misleading (i should know lol). if you can afford to get the bits, and dont mind having your car off the road for a while, then a chrome conversion is ok

also stay clear from a certain company that sells a conversion kit for only £250 for used bits.....
Rich K

LMAO - this is rather scary - you agreeing with me ... and yes it is - and yes it goes like stink :) (My uncle wants me to do the change, but I won't, although, I have heard of what it can do ... ;))

One thing we will NEVER agree on is the chrome bumper thing though - but thanks for picking up on the Bhive question - shame really, as they are totally safe to buy from.
rachmacb

i know, its a scary day when that happens eh ;)

you should post some pics of your motor, would be interested to see it.

yeah i think the chrome bumpers will always be an issue between us, but then there will be those who think that even removing the bumpers is a no no. i love the chrome bumper cars, and i really like the track car look of the bumperless midgets. could never really like the rubber bumpers

i think the main issue mgbhive (in fact any company selling the conversion kit) has, is that when you buy a kit, it should be a simple bolt on job. like buying a lowering kit, or halogen light conversion. If you provide a kit with all the shiny bits, and then say, oh you will have to do some welding, or replace the panels, its a big turn off to people (not me, i like a challenge)
The mgb is different, as there was little change between the chrome and rubber cars
Rich K

Not after chrome at all, like the clean look, once back on the road I'll take them off and see what I can think off.
A Burgess

get the repair panels to fill in the back bits (under the lights), and weld them into place. you will still need to do something with the indicator holes. Could weld them up completely and put in mini indicators (though not to everyone's taste)
Rich K

LOL - one day perhaps ;) Then you'd see it's not for the purist you thought I was ..... :P Might even bring it up to visit the parents one day!
rachmacb

This is my 1500 now, smooth too without reversing lights.

Steve

Steve H K-ser

The front, I stuck with the 1500 valance for added cooling.

Steve H K-ser

Here for example - took half a minute ...
rachmacb

1275 wings bolt straight on to 1500's however you still have to buy and wire in indicators and the car always looks slightly too high (mine does at least).
Peter May does a one piece fibreglass front end which incorporates everything, but I have a feeling that flip fronts bring up a million and one problems of their own.


BH Harvey

"I have a feeling that flip fronts bring up a million and one problems of their own."

Not really, I did my bumper conversion using a GRP flip front and hinge assembly from Mr May. Started the conversion on a Thurs and spent an evening and all day Friday doing it including painting. I had driven the car 120mls and taken it round a track by Sat mornin :o)

I also half-frenched the rear plate and moulded infills for below the rear lights. Looked a real neat conversion all in until the car met its fate at the hands of a vandal with a hammer... :o(
Bob T

Cheers guys, much appreciated, certainly food for thought and gives me some ideas as where to start, if I do ;-)
A Burgess

There's the rub... bumper conversions are well and good, but there's no proper way to do it that doesn't entail cutting, welding, and panel replacement.

Even filling in the parklight holes in the front wings brings complications due to the fact that the 1500s, with their raised ride height, had different arches to match - i.e., the arches were "moved down" on the wing to remain concentric with the wheel. As suggested above, using a set of proper chrome-bumper wings is a better solution, and then lowering the suspension to chrome-bumper spec would complete the picture.

Steve did a really nice job on his rear panel, pictured above, but it needs to be noted that the 1500 panel includes prominent flat spots, corresponding with internal structure, for bumper mounting. Even if you add the fillets below the taillights, you still have those obvious hardpoints where the bumper mounts used to be.

Other details include cutting back the front bumper mounts to permit fitment of a proper grill - or using them to mount driving lights or overriders, etc.

Looks great... 'taint easy! :-)

-:G:-
Gryf Ketcherside

I made separate piece to fit under the rear lights with no attempt to hide the join. I started by fashioning a piece of hardwood to roughly the right shape, I then screwed it in place and finished shaping it until I was happy. This could of then been painted as it was but I then made vac formed ABS mouldings rom the pattern and fixed them in place. I then made a simple cover panel from flat ABS and bonded it over the bumper mountings, not perfect but quite neat.

Carl

C Bintcliffe

Carl, you have done exactly what I was thinking of doing! Making some 'bolt-on-blocks' and not worrying about the join.

What colour is your car? I was thinking of MG Rover metallic BRG (if and when I get round to finishing the body!)

Cheers,
Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

I too did what Carl did,hardwood blocks carefully shaped to accurately fill the gaps, then painted body colour and screwed in place.
In my case the chrome bumpers nearly completely obscure them anyway, so the "join" being visible is not a problem.
JB Anderson

I have been wanting to do the same thing when I get my 1500 back on the road.

I spotted a couple of relevant pics on this MGCC page for mod'ed cars where the guy has welded in new metal to make good the holes left open - also a shot showing the bumper mounts cut back inside the boot area.. (See link below)

( oop's just worked out this is Steve H's car ! from earlier in this thread....)

Anyway good work Steve - I am going to do the same...


However wasn't aware the wheel arches are different. Makes sense though.

what is the fix - new 1275 f.wings... what about the rear .. assuming you want to get to 1275 type ride height?

Is that the best height to go for a road car?

Has anyone had experince of lowering and how does it look with std 1500 wings?


http://www.midgetregister.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=75&Itemid=67
John Barber

This is my 1500, all i did at the front was make some bolt in plates for fitting into the 1500 original wing holes and fit MGB indicators onto them as they are nearly a perfect fit. The extra spotlights cover the original bumper mounts, so i can always revert to my rubber bumpers if i feel the need for originality.
Steve L.

PS its also slightly lowered in the usual way.

s lowiss

Rear view, just made some offset brackets to mount the chrome bumper using the original mounts and mounted it higher than is the normal position on chrome bumper cars. Again, all mods totally reversible (ie. bolt on only stuff)

s lowiss

I'm looking at converting rubber bumpers to chrome, but my local mechanic thinks it's a big mistake. Too expensive, too complicated and the rubber bumpers do a better job of protecting the vehicle than did chrome bumpers.
His advice is buy a chrome MG if that's my goal. He also thinks that going bumperless is an unsafe idea.
I've seen pictures of bumpers painted the body color. Some look pretty good. One I saw at a show was terrible, but the paint job was homemade and poor quality, so that may have taken away from what may or may not have been a good idea.
KA Vogel

s lowiss - I really like what you've done with the chrome bumpers. Didn't think of raising the rear bumpers to save fabricating up some rear "bumps" under the tail lights. Does this also cover the large "flat" areas, or make them less noticable?

With the front bumper, did you just cut holes through the grill to allow the longer RB "horns" to stick through? If so, I guess you then attached the spotlights to these "horns"?

Not really sure about the need to "fit MGB indicators" but I guess I'll work it out when I sit down in front of the car in the morning.

Thanks for the pics, and I now have some more thinking to do before I start cutting and welding.

cheers
Wazza
w butler

This thread was discussed between 28/03/2011 and 02/05/2011

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