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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Humps, bumps and flares??

Has anyone attempted to make metal fender flares or hood bulges on their conversions?

I was looking at a first edition (1990??)Plymouth Laser/Mitsubishi Eclipse /Eagle Talon the other day and thought, might it be possible to cut out the very nice hood bulge it sports from a junkyard wreck, cut a hole in my MGB hood, flange the joints and weld it in??
I'm told I "might" need half an inch to clear the FI on the V6.

Has anyone tried something similar?

Same idea for fender flares. Late model Volkswagen Jettas have a nice shape. Just thinking that since I'm hacking away at the car anyway, why not? Has anyone tried to massage the metal that is there for some mild flares?? What is the method??

Thanks,

Brian Corrigan

72 BGT, 67 Sunbeam Alpine

Brian Corrigan

Yes indeed. Try this link: http://www.foresight.cc/Graphics_Content/MGB%20F%205%2001.jpg
If you liked that one, try this mpg (quicktime): http://www.foresight.cc/Graphics_Content/Hood_Opening.MPG
Jim Blackwood

Brian, I am thinking in the same direction and have already cut the bulge out of an old eclipse. I laid it on top of the "B" hood and it fits perfect as it is made for it. Now I need to cut a hole in the hood and start welding. I just don't know yet if I should butt weld it or just leave an overlap and weld it together. The last option would be stronger IMO . I also heard that it is better to weld the bulge in place before cutting the hole in the hood. This way there is less chance for warping. Any advice on that?
I would go with VW Beetle rear fenders and modify to fit the rear fenders of the "B". Kind of like the Sebring kit look. You like it or hate it. Personal taste I guess.
Werner
Werner Van Clapdurp

Werner,

Use an air body saw, you should be able to find one for about $50. It is like an air powered jigsaw. Small, easy to use, and won't warp the metal. Cheaper than good metal shears. Think about an adhesive to bond the new scoop on, that hood will be awfully EASY to warp welding on the scoop. I haven't put my scoop on yet, but I will be bonding it on as per some advice on an auto body BB.

Mark
Mark Marchbanks

I plan on cutting out a rectangular base with rounded edges (no 90 degree corners) in my old MG hood and then flange the edge all around. Then I'll cut out a rectangular shaped section of the Eclipse hood and trim it to fit on top of the flange.

Next, punch a couple holes around the edges and then a few plug welds to tack it, then follow up with seam welds all around. The trick to prevent warpage is to do a series of short welds at opposite corners so as not to concentrate too much heat in any one spot for too long. I got this air powered combination punch/flanger from Harbor Freight tools for like $30, so I couldn't pass it up. I figure numerous tack welds all around until it is a continuous bead should do it. You can also get soft easy grinding welding wire for the MIG specifically designed for panel patching.

Brian C.
Brian Corrigan

Brian
I welded a shortened 67 GTO scoop to my hood. It is a VERY slow process!
First thing you'll need to do is mark out the center lines on the B hood and the scoop/bulge so you can get it properly located.
Then trim the edges of the bulge so when you lay in on the hood there are no gaps. The more time you spend now to get a proper fit less metal work and warpage you'll have latter.
Dont cut the hole untill you are done welding.
When you weld, use spot welds untill there is a solid bead all the way around,also alternate to different sides of the bulge and allow plenty of cool down time between welds to reduce warpage (this is the slow part, dont be in a hurry!) It also helps to have water soaked rags laying on the hood for cooling.
When you cut the hole out, go at it slowly and cool the metal with water soaked rags, I used a cutoff wheel due to the angles I had to work with. You may find that it is necessary to do some additional finsh welding from the bottom side.
When you grind the welds again go slowly and cool it down often. Oh yeah I almost forgot, watch for fires!
HTH Bill bill_jacobson@hotmail.com
bill jacobson

Jim,

http://www.foresight.cc/Graphics_Content/Hood_Opening.MPG

Oh my yes. Very subtle. You twisted sick little monkey, how the hell did you do that??!! I hold my manhood cheap in your presence. Ahhh, nothing like a purist laboring away at a faithful restoration.

Very Niiiiiiice.

Brian
Brian Corrigan

Hi Brian

I had front Sebring flares professionally fabricated by a local car restoration company. They came out very well, but were expensive.

http://www.mgbv8.co.uk/sebringfront.htm

The rears are a much harder job and therefore more expensive, so for the moment they are fiberglass.

The photos give you an idea how they were constructed in 3 parts.

Nick



The did a buitifull job
Has anyone attempted to make metal fender flares or hood bulges on their conversions?
Nick Smallwood

I have a file which is a scan of an article which appeared in one of the English publications showing how to cut-form-braze the rear fenders for a very subtle flare which will allow for wider tires. It does involve using some fiberglass filler to achieve a totally smooth appearance or I am sure guys more expert than I at welding may be able to achieve this with little or no filler?? I plan on doing this mod on the 75 B which I have on my homemade rotator. This car will have a 3.4 L Camaro engine and tranny with LE wheels and perhaps 65 series tires so I am not looking for the huge Sebring type bulges. Email me and I will forward it if you want it.
Thomas Rynne

Guys

You should check out Larry Embrey's website. www.embreyfamily.com/mgb Click on MGB photos, then V8 conversions. There's lots of good info.

Lyle
Lyle Jacobson

I have a tool I HIGHLY recommend for cutting your holes out and (if tou have portable air) to take to the yard for cutting out the bulge. It is called a Nibbler. Anyone that has used one will know what I mean. These tools cut through sheetmetal like butter AND are easy to make smooth curved cuts with. It too me only 10min to cut the holes in my wheel well and that included learning how to use the tool.

Once you have the new scoop on and fully welded all you have to do is drill a hole through the hood under the scoop so you can get the tool started and you will be done in a moatter of minutes and should have a nice smooth edge that needs little grinding. PLUS this took does not heat up the metal as it cuts..
Larry Embrey

Yes, Brian, I'm afraid you're right. The purists think I'm a monster to desecrate a perfectly restorable car (I didn't), and the V-8'ers won't claim me either. Seems like Dave is about the only one who really appreciates my craft, and they only accept him because his car is shiny I suspect. (Or because of the large contingency of wannabe Cobra owners. Sorry Dave, no jab intended there, I think yours is great.) Truth be told, I've been driving a V-8 MGB longer than 95% or more of them and I think they're just jealous. I also began incorporating modern parts and innovative design into the car long before most of them began to be concerned about things original. Yet somehow originality seems to be the main thing. OK, fair enough, let it be known that I have gone to great pains to retain the original lines of the car, making it readily recognizable as an MGB, though admittedly on steroids from all appearances. Things certainly didn't start out that way and I have the photos to prove it. *And* if you think about it, I've not been doing anything the guys at the MG works hadn't either done or would like to have done, so the purists and the pseudo purists can all just go off and do their own weird thing for all I care. Personally I don't think it would have made much of an impression on Kimball.
Jim Blackwood

Hey Jim, I think your car is cool! As a long time V8er I can appreciate how much work it takes to build one!
Bill
bill jacobson

Hey Jim,Very well said,How could you not like a customized MGB,When you see what other guys on this forum have done to there cars its really great to see what custom tricks one can come up with its great,When you put a V8 in it you might as well make it look like its got a V8 in it thats what I say,As far as the purists I like what they do with their cars too they spend alot of time perfecting the car to original thats their thing. But they shouldnt tell us how to do it.
My MGB Dave
http://pages.prodigy.net/chevy_dave/mgb.html
Dave

I feel better now.
Jim Blackwood

Jim
Most modern MGB owners are unaware that the attractive, safe and rather dull MGB took off because of the attractive, safe and lively modified cars which appeared very early on in the car's life - the rally and race cars (all highly modified) carried the flag but there were hundreds of private owners with anything from high compression heads using 100+ Octane fuel to full race Cosworth engines - and using the power on the highways and byways too.
The B might still have been the car of the moment without the modifiers but I doubt it and by the time Americans became really interested in the car, it was a real mess and only fit for conversion. From this you can guess what I think of those narrow minded blinkered purists who decry your work - Go to it ! when you guys stop, the mark will be relegated to the history books and museums !
Roger (MGs since 1961 - now; modified factory 3.5 to 3.9i)
Roger

Hi All,
I'm looking into doing a "humps and bumps" thing to my V8 conversion. I would be very grateful if anyone who has done this could post some photos or URLs of their work.
Thanks Alan
Alan Boother

Alan, did you look at the links in my post and the one in Dave's? Admittedly both are extreme examples but demonstrate what can be done. In my case I'm able to run 265/50-14 BFG's all around. I think Dave has even more room, in the rear I *know* he does. There are some other good sites out there, maybe someone else can give you one or you could just do a search for MGB V8 and I think you'd find them.
Jim Blackwood

I saw the radical Bs... scary :-o
Alan Boother

This thread was discussed between 09/11/2001 and 14/11/2001

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