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MG MGB Technical - Chrome conversion?

Well, I've started my search for a GT and seen several examples within my budget of £5k, and have been surprised with the differing expectations of owners as to what their cars are worth!!!

Anyway, I've come across a pretty good RB example, with very sound body work (with a photo history of work carried out over the past 5 yrs), and a few outstanding items to do mechanically (mainly sorting out an UL head, changing the shocks and tidying up the interior). To be honest, it's lovely, but I really would like it to be chrome for it to be perfect with my budget.

So, is the chrome conversion straight forward, and is it worth the effort? I think the MGOC chrome kit is about £350, so financially it still comes in well within my allowance with some left over to lower the ride height as well.

What do you reckon?
Tim Thompson

The kit is only a part of it - there is some cutting and welding which then needs professional paint. You also need the brightwork.

The chrome sold as new by the usual purveyors of poor quality spares isn't worth the money but there is still a reasonable amount of secondhand which you would need to rechrome.

Yes I reckon you should go for it but not until you have got to know the car and sorted out the bugs. Remember when looking at the finances, there is virtually no protection from the chrome - you can collect chips and dings that you won't get in an RB.
R Walker

You might find this useful http://www.kewengineering.co.uk/upgrades4mgs/Body/rubber_to_chrome.htm
Geoff Everitt

Incidentally you don't need an unleaded head as a matter of course, just that if the existing head is knackered then it is worth fitting an unleaded one. It's not going to have any effect on what octane of fuel you can or cannot run, only whether you get valve seat recession or not. And in practice that only happens at full throttle and maximum load for long durations, and if the existing valves and seats were used to leaded when it was available then there will be enough lead in them to last a good while yet. As an engine new to you, i.e. an unknown quantity as far as valves and seats are concerned, then use a lead replacement additive like Castrol Valvemaster in preference to interfering with the engine. Unleaded heads have been known to cause problems in themselves.
Paul Hunt 2010

A genuine chrome bumper model is more likely to be zero road tax, and MOTs will not have the strict emissions test that post 76 attract.
Lead free heads; unless it is going to be your main transport, cost recovery will take decades.
c cummins

Free tax comes with a *build* date before 1st June 1973 and my roadster just sneaks in, emissions limits come with a first *registration* date of 1st August 1975 or later, my V8 just sneaks out. It's not particularly strict (4.5% CO and 1200ppm HC), should pass easily enough if the condition of the engine is reasonable and everything is setup correctly.
Paul Hunt 2010

Ooops, free tax comes with a build date of 31st December 1972 or earlier.
Paul Hunt 2010

Tim
I bought a rubber bumper and converted to chrome because I wanted to do the V8 conversion as well. V8 engine compartment in rubber bumpers. In fact the later doesn't matter anymore, new techniques etc.
However be that as it may, get an original chrome bumper car.
1-the steel in the rubber bumper cars was not as good because of ...well 'Leyland' sums it up.
2-the instruments are all plastic (no more chrome bezels) in the later cars (Leyland again) and the dash boards aren't as nice, with lots of glued on '70's foam bits (nice hey).You can change the ugly dash, with an effort & $. I did.
3-the ride height is 1.5 inches higher, reverse eye springs for the back and lowered spindle/kingpins, or lower uprated springs (and shorted bump stops) fix that, but they are not free.
4-You've got to weld up the rubber bumper front apertures and weld on rear bits under the lights. And paint all that
5-American cars carry power hungry anti-pollution.
6-You've got to buy all the bumpers grills irons bit etc.

It will cost you at least as much as the price difference (between RB and CB cars) plus a whole lot of work plus it will end up worth not as much as an original.


People change to chrome because of the V8 engine compartment, or because the know that the car is very rust free or they are emotionally attached to it (courted wife etc).


P.N. Sherman

Only 77 and later 4-cylinder rubber bumper shells had the V8 configuration, and the plastic dash. Whether you convert to chrome or not is an entirely different decision, and is the same for 4-cylinder cars as for V8s. The 'Leyland' era dates back to 1970, when the steel was bad, if anything it improved in the later years following the severe corrosion issues associated with an increase of winter salt on the roads, and manufacturers (including Leyland) attempts to protect against it.
Paul Hunt 2010

It seems the new chrome bumpers are not popular. Many prefer to source old straight originals and get them rechromed.
c cummins

Heavens above Paul, you're the guru.Put down that jolly nice cab sav. :) Seriously though, I think UK were less severely punished by BL than the rest of the world.
74.5 onwards, V8 steering, inner guards V8, engine mounts V8. Radiator in the earlier position, but the oil cooler tray was V8.
Metal and dash I'll conseed, I can't know, my 74.4 is (WAS) an American car with horrid plastic dash, but nice chrome (albeit slightly smaller) chrome instruments.
Does any one like what Leyland did,ever (Leyland=text book, "don't do this") and when did they have all those steel works strikes.
and yes re-chromed originals are better. I had a Chinese rear bumper destroyed and the replacement a re-chromed original, is better in every way.Right shape, thicker, better steel, better shape, better chrome.
P.N. Sherman

There's a nice article that not only fully covers the bumper conversion it also covers the suspension lowering to the height of a chrome bumper. Bear in mind the prices given are over 10 years old!

http://webspace.webring.com/people/rp/paulhird/mgb_chrome/
Mike

Ah yes, I tend to forget the round mounts came in before the forward mounted radiator.

"Does any one like what Leyland did"

Probably not, I was startled when raising the bonnet of a friends 72 to discover it had a chrome strip on the leading edge a la recessed grille but had the honeycombe. He's had it for all but a few years of its life, one owner before that. I wondered if it was one of Abingdon's famed cross-over cars, with some parts from one year and others from the next. But it looks like it was a late recessed grille bought when the honeycombes were on the way, and the PO replaced it, removing the side and bottom trim strips as the holes left are covered by the honeycombe but would have been visible on the bonnet.
Paul Hunt 2010

This thread was discussed between 17/03/2010 and 27/03/2010

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