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MG MGB Technical - Rubber Bumpers

I recently had my 74 ½ MGB rubber bumpers painted. I was blowing air thru the vapor recycle line into the tank to make the line was clear and when I pulled the gas cap off the tank, gas spewed out onto the freshly painted bumper, by the time I got a rag the gas had lifted the new paint.
My questions are:
I understand the bumpers are originally made out of Urethane/polyurethane compound. Were the bumpers originally painted? And if so, what are they painted with?
Because the gas lifted the paint I am wondering if they have been painted with the wrong product, sorry I don’t know what they are now painted with.

Thanks


Bruce
Bruce Mills

To my knowledge, the rubber bumpers were not painted - unless there were a few they tried it on? Mine are just plain old black rubber stuff.

TheMiz

I have chrome bumper midgets but I will offer this advice. Use acrylic urethane with flex agent added, and use an adhesion promoter. BTW, that would be on a striped and cleaned bumper. That should hold up to fuel spills.
Stan Williams

Bruce. The bumpers were not painted. I purchased a new 79 in November of 79, so was an original owner. People who have decided to paint the bumpers seem to have been able to do so with no problems. I was told that a "plasticizer" had to be added to the paint to allow for the flexing which may take place with the bumpers. Hence, Stan's advice is in line with what I have heard. Depending on the color of the car, the black bumpers can look good. My original 79 was carmine, a dark, burgundy red. I thought the car looked quite attractive. My current 79 is an LE and the black/black color looks fine. My daughter's 77 is a darker turqouis (sp) color which is not original, but gets many compliments. I like the look of the black bumpers on the darker colors myself. Les
Les Bengtson

I was also told by someone who painted their bumpers that all traces of treatments (Armorall, ect.) must be stripped off. Quite a job since most of them penetrate to some extent. His quote was that next time he would start with a new set of bumpers rather than clean the old ones.
Ed Emery

Les, I was just reading some MG book (can't remember which off the top of my head) and thats exactly the comment the author makes. The bumpers look better on darker cars.

I always hated the rear bumpers where they come up to the rear lights. That bit always looked unfinished to me.

Now I have the bumpers off my B I like to get everyone to pick up a bumper then pick up the fibreglass I am replacing them with. Quite a difference in weight there!

Simon
Simon Jansen

Thanks all for the info.
I like the idea of the fiverglass bumpers, that would shed some un-need weight.

Bruce
Bruce Mills

Fiverglass? Are they made out of banknotes? :o)
Paul Hunt

Bit of a typo, should have been
Fiberglass
My fingers were moving faster than my mind. Since I reached the ripe old age of 50 today I ask for your forgiveness.

;)
Bruce
Bruce Mills

I just finished refinishing my rubber bumpers and I used a product called (Bumper and Trim Black)It goes on like shoe polish and was very easy to apply. We did clean the bumpers first with a wax remover and sanded them first. What I like about the product is the fact that it will never peal off and when they start looking bad you can coat them again. I found the product at a local Auto Paint store. But you can check out the web site. http://www.urethanesupply.com/
N Pearce

For anyone interested in the fiberglass bumper replicas which are easily painted as well as losing roughly 100 pounds in weight:

http:/www.morspeedperformance.com

No fiver's are used in the production of these parts!!Lots of fibers however.
Thomas Rynne

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2004 and 24/08/2004

MG MGB Technical index

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