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In the MG Magic and Moss catalogues, each mention and give a price for, the front and rear bumper “Backbar”. But there is no mention of this backbar in the CMC Assembly Manual which does list the parts for the front and rear bumpers. Is this backbar a necessary item on the VW based kits or are they for the Ford and/or Chevy based kits.
Thanks
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackAllen, The MG bumpers are not very strudy. The back bar is a flat piece about 3/8” thick and 1 and 1/2 ” wide that fits out of sight behind the bumper to make the assembly much stronger.. It is needed on both the VW based cars as well as the front engined cars. You don’t absolutely have to use one ,but the bumper is mostly for looks without it. You also need spacers that are flat on one side and oval on the other side to match the shape of the bumper. The spacers fit between the bumper and the backbar and prevent the bumper from dimpling when the bolts are tightened. On some kits, the bumper brackets are designed to serve as a backbar. This may be why there is no mention of it in your instructions. Larry Murphy40771.9197685185
Thanks Larry. I’ll have to see if there are any more metal pieces in the kit. I unwrapped the bumpers this evening to check the condition and they are ok on the outer side and some minor corrosion on the inner side. I had hoped there was another piece of metal with each bumper but no joy. Any idea how long they are? I’m guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 inches.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackAllen, The back bar should reach almost the length of the bumper ,from outer bolt hole to outer bolt hole.
Just out of curiosity, how many folks have the bumper back bar installed on their cars.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackMine are installed — good thing too because within 6 weeks of putting it on the road a lady backed into me and only bent the bumper support bracket. I am sure that that light bump would have put a dent in that brand new 25 year old bumper if the back bar was not installed.
Mine are installed.
The “back bar” and the steel spring mounts are the real bumper. The chrome is just a pretty cover.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Why can’t you just go to a machine shop or metalworks place and have them cut a piece of 3/8″ stock and drill 2 ( or 4) holes in it to match up the bumper brackets and bolt it behind the chrome bumper?
I will probably do that one of these days. It sounds like a good idea to beef up the chrome bumper just in case.I checked MG Magic’s price list and they are $42.50 each. Making your own from scrap iron would be cheaper,just a matter of getting the holes in the correct places.
Checked everything I have and no back bars. So…I measured from 1 inch past each outer hole in the bumpers and carried the bumpers down to a local iron works place. He sold me two 1/4-inch thick x 1 1/2-inch wide stock that he cut to length and bent them slightly to match the curve of the bumpers.
46 inches for the front and 48 inches for the back. Total cost for both is $50.00. I feel better having those bars. Color me a happy camper! 
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackIs there a temper issue here? The back bar might be springier than flat bar stock. Could someone with a backbar out of the car suspend the ends and measure it under a specific load? i.e. load it until it defelcts 1″? That would tell us if bar stock would work.
Just my ”humble” opinion, The bumpers on most of these cars are attached to brackets made of flat bar stock . On VW based cars the brackets extend past the engine to connect to the rear suspension. This leads me to believe that almost any type back bar would be as strong as the bracket to which the bumpers are attached. This is not to say that they should not be made stronger.
The bars that I got are exactly the same thickness and stoutness as the bumper mounting brackets. Oh…and I DO have the beveled spacers that fit between the bar and the bumper. I’ll probably have to purchase some longer bumper bolts since I added the back bar. I’ll try to post some photos tomorrow of the bars.
Other than that …..Touchdown Washington Redskins!
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackJust got around to working on the TD again. Question on the bumper back bars. Are they straight or curved the same as the bumper? I can bend them if necessary. Also, what color are they? I’m guessing black. Thanks for the help. I’ll post the before and after photos when I get them done.
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackThe bumper reinforcement bars are black and have a slight curve to them to match the curve of the bumper face plate. They are made of spring steel.
The front and rear reinforcement bars are NOT the same.
There are washers that fit between the face plate and the back bar. The washers are convex on one side to match the profile of the face bar and flat on the other side to match the bumper back bar.
You can see all the components and how they go together on page 26 of Classic Roadsters Duchess assembly manual. Download Part 2 – Body Assembly. Scroll down to page 4 of the PDF, which is page 26 of the manual.
For each bumper set (front and rear):
- Chrome face plate
- Reinforcement Bar
- Four convex/flat washers
- Two sort of u-shaped mounting brackets
- Two bumper over-riders
- Four rubber extrusions (two for each over-rider)
- Four chrome bumper bolts; four nuts & lockwashers
PMOSSBERG40811.0554282407
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
Way back at the beginning of this thread, Larry wrote that you “…do not have to use…” the reinforcement bar.
I respectfully disagree, for a couple reasons.
Without the reinforcement bar, the chrome face plate is worthless. The strength comes from the bar, not the face plate
Without the reinforcement bar, when you install the mounting brackets and tighten the bolts down you WILL distort the face plate.
The mounting brackets HAVE to be spring steel. The reinforcement bar should be spring steel. But I guess flat bar stock will work pretty well.
Believe it or not, the bumpers DO work. When I was building my Duchess, I saw another TD replica in a local shipping center parking lot. I hung around to meet and talk with the owner.
When he went to back out of his space, he missed reverse, ended up in second, and pulled ahead into the car in front of him. The brackets compressed and sprung back. The TD actually bounced off the other vehicle, with no harm to either. Obviously the brackets took most of the energy. But when they compress, they deflect the reinforcement bar too. I think it helps that the bar is spring steel.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
NICE!
So the way forward then, is to get some leaf springs off an old pickup truck or something in the bone yard, and then cut those to the shape we want.
Having cut my own springs once, many moons back, I advise any contemplating this work to NOT rely on their handy hacksaw. It can be done–just like breaking out of Alcatraz can be done. . . .
My 2 cents is it will give you something to bolt the fancy thin bumper to yes.
Most of the cars on the road are trucks and some sort of suv crossover,to wich have a bumper hight 8-12 inches over the mg.
is the correct bumper reinforcement going to stop anything?
Think about this why are none of these kits produced any more?
If you have an “incident” with an SUV….all bets are off. And a dented bumper will be the least of your problems
But in low speed, parking lot kind of stuff, having the right bumpers WILL help.
Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
This was a topic back in the day when VWs and their competitors were first comng ashore. Someone rented a stock car track in Connecticut, put imports in the infield and squashed them with Cadillacs to prove the point that big cars will crush small ones in an accident. He left the Caddies on the field to punctuate the point.
The wrecker who was hired to dispose of what was left squashed the Caddies with his wreckers before he towed all of them away.
There is always something bigger on the road.
The good news is that little cars tend to be deflected in an accident while the inertia in big cars causes them to stay and grind it out.
Drive defensively, the life you save may be mine.
Well didn’t work the TD today. Family problems have kept me at the hospital all day. Home to shower and head back to hospital where I’ll probably spend the night with step-daughter. I’m sure everything will work out…just eating time. Going to be a long night at the hospital. Till tomorrow then folks!
Allen Caron
VW based 53MGTD - "MoneyPenny"
"If one thing matters, everything matters" - from the book The ShackMy prayers go out for your step-daughter.
Hope she is ok!Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica RoadsterIf you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)
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