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MG MGF Technical - New headlamps - opportunities

Dear all,

Opportunity strikes since I am planning to remove the front bumper and install new headlamps. Crimped and woven mesh grills are out of range at the moment, so I was thinking of going with the cheaper, if more temporary spray-can solution. What have people had the best results with?

However, "chrome" grills means clear indicators, I think. Does anyone have or know of a picture online of a Flame Red MGF (Mk1 in my case) with chrome mesh and clear indicators?

Does anyone recommend replacing the front bumper bolts at the same time due to rust?

Anything else I've forgotten?

Thanks

Chaz
C Golvala

I was in Halfrauds the other day and saw they did various sheets of mesh for about £20 - about 3 feet long and a foot wide so if you are handy with tin snips you may be able to do your own(no idea how they fit to the bumpers etc so this may all be useless :) )

Tony
tony

Chaz,

>> http://www.hometown.aol.com/ap1000000/images/bumperscrews.jpg <<

:-)

SF
Scarlet Fever

Chaz,

>>a Flame Red MGF (Mk1 in my case) with chrome mesh and clear indicators

Sounds like mine. Here's a photo that's already online

http://www.mgs-on-track.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=379&sort=1&cat=3006&page=1

I have better shots that are front on and give you a better view of the chrome grilles. If you want a high res image I can email it to you. If you are happy with what can appear online I'll post it up to the members gallery at MGoT for you.
Dave Livingstone

Chaz

I recently replaced my front and side grills for metal ones. You can buy a kit from the usual MG places for about £80, or you can do what I did and went to B&Q - bought a sheet for £15 and do it yourself.

With the front bumper, take it off, and then you'll see that the standard grills are just held on with screws. Undo these and use the black grills as a template (make sure you have them straight), draw round them and cut out.

The side intakes are exactly the same, just prise out the originals and use as a template. (They aren't held on with screws - just mastic)

Result - nice shiny grills all round for £15. B&Q has a much bigger selection of grill designs than Halfords and cheaper too. (Send me an email and I’ll email you some pictures - don't know how to do fancy links!)

If you got some grill left over, you can do the boot lid as well - the vents. A bit different.

Paul
Paul Lucas

Chaz,

Here's one of the front shots I mentioned

http://www.mgs-on-track.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=400&size=big&sort=1&cat=500

Taken at Emerald's rolling road - that's Stu Dickens in the background BTW :-)
Dave Livingstone

Solar red instead of flame red, but a blind man running for a bus wouldn't notice the difference :-)

http://www.csmgf.co.uk/cars/david_clelland/clelland_car2.jpg
David Clelland

also check around for powder coaters in your area, its a lot cheaper than most options, and gets a perfect finish.

i got my front grills and side grills powdercoated, for much cheapness.

paul weatherill

Paul,

Links

Include the @ symbol, i.e. A@B.com and the BBS will automatically turn it into a link.

Likewise, include the http://www part and the same happens, i.e. http://www.rubbishlink.com

:-)

SF
Scarlet Fever

SF, but don't you need to have the pictures published on the web somewhere anyway?
Thanks
Paul
Paul Lucas

Chaz,

Mine is a Flame Red MGF with clear indicators and colour coded headlamps.

Pictures available at

http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/catchpolechris/detail?.dir=/MGF&.dnm=Front+View.jpg

Out of interest what are you doing with your old headlamps as I am looking for a rear reflector for my passenger headlamp if you are interested in selling let me know.

Chris
Chris Catchpole

Thank you all for your contributions. Any concerns I had about the losing the warmer look that the orange indicators give are resolved. Powder coaters and mesh sellers will be duly investigated.

Chris, I was intending to take the old lights back to B&G for abuse in a race car, but contact me at cgolvala@velaw.com if you are interested.

Anyone had problems knackering the front bolts when taking them off after 8 years of rain?

Cheers

Chaz
C Golvala

Bolt should all be fine - BUT be very careful with the indicators!

They are sprung loaded - if you find yourself levering them out then you are breaking them!

Insert a thin screwdriver into the notch , use the screwdriver to push the clip sideways - the lights will jump out - if not then you are not pressing the clip.
Will Munns

Thanks Will. Knowing how cack-handed I am is one other reason/excuse for getting new indicator lenses!
C Golvala

Most people make an ar*e of removing the lenses, if one doesn't come out easily try the other side, the clip may have been bodge repaired because of a ham fisted mech changing a bulb, and once you can see what it looks like it makes more sense.
Will Munns

This thread was discussed between 28/04/2004 and 29/04/2004

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.