Modifying bumpers

[Jim Stabe]

I'm not sure this is the forum for this but maybe someone has some experience. From my sig you can surmise that I had to fabricate bumpers to fit. I basicaly took two to make one and then made small pie cuts to get the contour correct, that's where I am now. I'm happy with the shape but have imperfections from the welding, grinding and filing. How good does the surface have to be before sending them to the chrome shop? Can the minor imperfections be filled with brass by brazing and then finished? Here are some pictures.





Also, are there any recommendations for shops that are good at this? Preferably in So. Cacifornia.

Jim

[steve.murphy]

Hi Jim,
The surface should be smoooth. It sthe same as you would do before painting. Prep work will make the difference between average and great.

You can braze in big holes and dents and file/grind them smooth. You can wetsand the bumper with progrssively finer grade paper, then buff to get where you want to be.

You can also have the bumper plated with a heavy coat of copper after doing some more prep work, than block sand it smooth.

Good luck!

Steve

[Kerry Pinkerton]

Neat project Jim. How about some photos?

[twekd1]

that bumper looks asome do u have any b4 pictures? did you just take out the filler piece and cut the bumper to folow the body line
that looks realy good

did it look like this?
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/twekd1...e2.jpg&.src=ph

[Bill B]

Cool project Jim! I'd like too see more photos too when you get a chance.

I had a friend named ____ Stabe that worked at TGI Fridays in Phoenix about 20 years ago. Any relatation?

[Jim Stabe]

Originally Posted by twekd1

that bumper looks asome do u have any b4 pictures? did you just take out the filler piece and cut the bumper to folow the body line
that looks realy good

did it look like this?
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/twekd1...e2.jpg&.src=ph

This is what a stock one looks like. The bumper fits under a ledge in the bodyI used the center portion of one bumper from just outboard of the overriders and then added the ends of the other bumper cut about 4" inside of the overrider. What that gave me was too much bow in the middle, it stuck out about 1 1/2" to 2" beyond the body edge in the middle. I then had to make a bunch of pie cuts to flatten the curvature which widened the ends which made me have to narrow it and pie cut the outside end curves to bring them back in against the body. I am also filling all the mounting holes so it will be completely smooth. The front one came out with only two cuts because it runs across the grille opening and doesn't have to match the body as closely as the rear. Still have to fill the 6 mounting holes though.

I have it up on stands right now so I can't get far enough away to take a decent picture. I will be taking it down in the next couple months so I'll roll it out in the driveway and take some pictures. I may ask one of the local MG club members to bring his car over so I can take some side by sides. After that I will be taking the car apart to do the final body work and paint (HOK Blue Blood Red).

Jim

[Jim Stabe]

Originally Posted by billb

Cool project Jim! I'd like too see more photos too when you get a chance.

I had a friend named ____ Stabe that worked at TGI Fridays in Phoenix about 20 years ago. Any relatation?

I have lived in about 20 places in my lifetime and I look in the phone book every time. I have never found another person with my name. That said, if I look in the internet phone directories I see all kinds of people with that name. Go figure. Other than my wife and daughter, the only person I personally know with the name is my son Jeff and he doesn't even show up in the internet searches.

Jim