Re-chroming bumpers

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  • #233629
    Shane Jones
    Participant

    @shane-j

    So after procrastinating for nearly a year now, I’ve finally gotten around to

    taking the “almost finished” FF MiGi that I purchased out of my good

    friend’s estate to the body shop. I got the estimate back today, almost

    4K. I’ve taken it to Precision Restorations here in STL, certainly not

    because I think they’re the cheapest shop in town, as they aren’t, but

    hopefully because they’ll finish the car w/the care and detail that I

    want/expect. Their estimate includes mounting the hood, re-carpeting

    the interior, installing engine cover and fiberglass piece it rests against,

    satellite radio w/speakers installed, one seat mount fabricated and all

    seats installed, seat belt mounts fabricated and seat belts installed, some

    minor wiring and a 12V adaptor, AND front and rear bumpers re-chromed

    and mounted. The cost for re-chroming the bumpers is $355/each. I

    notice on MG Magic you can supposedly purchase brand new chrome

    bumpers for $159/each. My question is, is there any reason not to

    purchase the new bumpers from MG Magic and save the $$$? Does

    anyone have experience with re-chroming? Will the quality or longevity of

    the end product differ between the two?

    Even though I don’t feel comfortable/capable of finishing this project

    myself, I want to thank everyone on the Forum for all the info and

    guidance I’ve picked up over the last few months. I’ve also enjoyed

    looking at all the pics of your finished MG’s….thanks for the inspiration!

    #245976
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Bumper facebars from Moss Motors are $175. And Moss is NOT cheap.

    MG Magic’s price seems right on target.

    My bet is the bumpers from MG Magic will be the equivalent to what you are about to rechrome.

    My recommendation…buy from MG Magic.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245977
    Dennis Brock
    Participant

    @dbrock

    Agree!  Although you don’t think you can do a lot of this stuff.you can!  The expertise is here, the help is here.  Vast, and halfvast knowledge is available free.  Most of us have learned, somewhat painfully in a lot of situations, how to do a few things and are willing to share.  Ask for help, I’ll guarantee you will get it!

    #245978
    Shane Jones
    Participant

    @shane-j

    I definitely know the expertise, knowledge, and help is here. The

    members on this forum are incredibly helpful, and most of you seem to

    be very “hands-on” type folks.

    This 4K estimate may push me toward being more hands-on. The more I

    think about, read, and re-read this estimate, for seemingly pretty minor

    stuff, I may be inspired to try and do some of this myself.

    This shop that gave me the estimate has a labor rate of $92/hour.

    They’re charging $211 for 2 lap belts, which I can get on MG Magic for

    $28.95/each. Approximately $500 for satellite radio & speaker, and

    another 3 hours labor charge to install it.

    I know this shop is reputable and does very high quality restoration work.

    However, I guess I’m having second thoughts about putting 4K into a car

    that seem to be selling on Ebay for 6K at best. Hence, perhaps I should

    crack out the instruction manual, socket set, and a beer and try this

    myself…..tis the direction I’m leaning.   

    #245979
    edward ericson
    Participant

    @edsnova

    On car stuff I find that I work at about one third the speed of a pro, and have to re-do it about half the time. I happen to be more profligate with my time than with my money, of which I don’t have much. I also like the “learning experience.” The second time I do the job it goes much faster.

    #245980
    Peter C. King
    Participant

    @bdriver

    For $211 I would expect 5 point racing harnesses not lap belts. Radios you buy from Crutchfield. You are capable of doing everything you described. You aren’t restoring a car. You are finishing a car. There are threads on this forum for carpet, seats . . . if what you want to do isn’t here, ask. Someone will tell you how they did it on their car.

    Part of the fun of a TD replica is the satisfaction of building/finishing it yourself. It’s a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the ride.  

    #245981
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    I’m on board with you doing the bulk of the work your self Shane.

    I built my Duchess in 1982. I was 24. I had some hand tools and could “spin a wrench” and do a tune up & oil change. But that was about it.

    The majority of my car building knowledge was based firmly in plastic, 1/24th and 1/25th scale!

    Long story short, I disassembled the Beetle, refiurbished the pan, and built the car. Along the way, I picked up a lot of new tools and a lot of new knowledge. And it only took nine months.

    Even my older sister said she was proud of me when I drove the car out of the garage.

    Break it down into a bunch of smaller projects. And if you are unsure about something, ask lots of questions before you begin each project.

    So I say go for it.

    We’re here to help.

    And I think you’ll be really happy with yourself and the car when you are done.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245982
    Marc Lipsius
    Participant

    @mrlmd

    I wouldn’t spend a fortune for a radio, you can hardly hear it anyway unless you’re blasting up the volume. And it’s not very secure against some idiot stealing it out of the dash. My car came with the usual sized rectangular hole in the dash and I got a digital radio with 18 FM and 12 AM radio presets and CD player and USB charging port for $49 and it works and looks just fine.
    mrlmd40779.4210416667

    #245983
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Re: The stereo, for a little more, you can go with a classic look, that will fit in well with your “52 styling. Like this one:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&amp ;item=360388868407

    Once I get my car back, I’m putting one of these in the dash. She already has am/fm/cassette, top-of-the line in 1982! LOL.

    I have two six inch round three-way speakers in the rear panel. I can hear fine on the road.

    And as far as theft…I used to worry about it when the car was first on the road. But over the years, she has sat in motel/hotel parking lots, restaurant lots, work parking garages and has never been touched. I stopped worrying about it a long time ago.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245984
    Mike
    Participant

    @mike-n-scarlett

    Man I love that radio. Spending too much money on other projects to buy it now, but someday  soon. Im saving the link to my favorites. I think I have the twin to Pauls 1982 classic in my car.

    #245985
    Shane Jones
    Participant

    @shane-j

    That’s a cool radio Paul. I’m gonna hold off on having a stereo installed.

    The plan was to put the speakers in the seat risers facing the front of the car.

    You mentioned yours are in the “rear panel”, I’m guessing this is behind the

    seat? There aren’t too many options re: speaker placement is there?

    #245986
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    I don’t have “risers” under my seat, just steel supports on the outboard edges.

    Yes, by rear panel, I mean behind the seat, the rear most flat panel in the car.

    You may be able to put shallow mount tweeters in the front kick panels too. Four inch, surface mounts, with only an inch or an inch and a half of back clearance will fit.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245987
    Steve Crites
    Participant

    @ringo

    Shane, the cost estimate for the bumpers is probably on target since like most things on car refurbishing, the preperation is the most expensive part.  To re-do the bumper they have to grind down, repair, smooth and straighten the bumper.  It is labor intensive and therefore expensive. The chroming process itself is still pretty expensive, but if you do most of the prep work, you’ll save a lot of money.

    This goes for almost every thing on the car, the more you do, the more you save.  Honestly, I think anyone can do at least some of the work.  Bag and tag everything you take off.  Take lots of photos, and don’t worry if you think you might screw up….it’s just metal and fiberglass and any mistakes can be fixed. 

    I almost find it Zen like to re-do old stuff.

    Go for it!

    #245988
    Bill Gould
    Participant

    @texag71

    I replaced my lap belts with a pair from O’Reilly’s. Made by Superior, very rugged. Cost $36 for the pair. My trim shop installed them when they redid my interior.

    As for the radio, I just listen to the song of the open road. If I ever do decide to wire it up, though, it’ll probably be from these guys:

    http://www.retrosoundusa.com/
    TexAg7140780.573900463

    1981 Lafer TI
    1600 cc Type 1 engine

    #245989
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Retrosound is a very good source too!

    Very well recommended!

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245990
    Shane Jones
    Participant

    @shane-j

    I mentioned the lap belt charge to my “salesperson” today when I told him I

    thought 4K might be a bit much to spend on this car. When I pointed out

    the fact that they quoted me $211 for lap belts (just the parts, installation

    not included) he said that these lap belts were most likely chosen because

    they were a more authentic match to the original MG. C’mon, really?!! A lap

    belt is a lap belt is it not?! I wonder if the actual 1952 MG was even

    equipped with safety restraints?

    #245991
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Just took a quick look through a couple “original” TD forums.

    Seat belts were not standard equipment.

    If a TD has them, they were likely installed by an owner at some point in the car’s life.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245992
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Even better,

    From: http://www.mgcars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_faq.htm
    (the source of most of the History of the TD pages here)

    What type of seat belts were offered with the MGTD?
    None. Seat belts were not an option offered by the factory. This
    would have been a period accessory.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245993
    Peter C. King
    Participant

    @bdriver

    Back in the day it was considered safer for the driver to be ejected from the vehicle in the event of a crash. There is some logic to that when you consider lower speeds, a solid steering wheel shaft aimed at one’s chest, lack of crumple zones, no side protection, soldered gas tanks and no roll bars. In that context seat belts might have caused more harm than good.

    So, what would have been an authentic belt in keeping with the period of the car? Look at the rest of the estimate in that light.

    Save the money and spin wrenches yourself. You will wind up with a better car and a sense of satisfaction that you built/finished it yourself.

    #245994
    Larry Murphy
    Participant

    @larry-murphy

     I agree with everyone who is advising you to to the work yourself! The radio and seat belt prices are clear indicators that you are getting overcharged both for parts and labor. If you shop around,you’ll be amazed at how much you can save ,not to mention the satisfaction gained by being able to say that you did it yourself.

     The ”professional garage” may be OK for the ”well to do”car owner,but these cars are ”hands on” vehicles. That’s the only way to enjoy them to the fullest.

     As has already been stated, just ask questions here on the forum. You will find that someone here has had the same problem that you may be facing and will be more than glad to share what they did to solve it.

     There will be some major items that may require more knowledge or equipment than is practical for your abilities but most of what you referred to can be handled with little or no problem.

    #245995
    Peter C. King
    Participant

    @bdriver

    It sounds as if you have two lists to work on. One, is the set of tasks you need to complete to put the car on the road. Being able to drive is a big motivator. The second is the group of projects to make it pretty.

    Road list: Mount hood, engine cover and seats, buy/install seat belts. install the bumpers as is. There’s not a lot of cashflow in this list. It’s mostly measuring twice and drilling once.

    Pretty list: Buy new/chrome original bumpers, buy radio, buy carpet. This is where the money is. You could live with the bumpers for a while. You could live with a $17 radio from HHGregg. VW floormats from Walmart would tide you over until you find better ones. This is the list you complete as you find the products to install at the price you want to pay.

    You could finish the road list in a weekend. That might be pushing it but you get the idea. It’s an exercise in bolting things together.

    The pretty list is an exercise in buying things.

    Bolt first.

    Buy later.

     

    #245996
    Paul Mossberg
    Keymaster

    @pmossberg

    Isn’t this great Shane?

    You asked about rechroming vs. buying new bumper faces…and we now have you doing ALL the work yourself!

    Seriously, having built my own car with essentially NO experience and minimal tools (at least at the start), I believe you can do this work yourself. 

    I like BD’s quote, “Bolt first. But later.”

    And I’ll add, “Ask first. Work later.”

    We’ll be with you every step of the way.

    Paul Mossberg
    Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
    2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

    If 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)

    #245997
    Shane Jones
    Participant

    @shane-j

    Thanks for all the encouragement and advice guys! I suppose I kinda

    knew when I typed in my initial post that the estimate was 4K that I was

    gonna take some heat. I suspected it was a bit steep, but knew that once

    I threw out the number I’d get confirmation.

    Another thing the salesperson guy mentioned the other day was that I

    shouldn’t attempt to install things like lap belts on my own as there would

    be a potential liability issue if I were to do it incorrectly…..since they are

    to be attached to fiberglass it would need to be done properly by a shop.

    Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t a clue as to how I would go about installing

    lap belts. However, I’m pretty confident that they’ll be attached to the

    actual metal/steel portion of the chassis….not into fiberglass.

    Unfortunately I didn’t think of this stuff quick enough to make a good

    rebuttal. Between this and the $211 seat belt authenticity remark, I

    should’ve realized I was knee deep in his s**t!

    I think BDriver’s to-do list is right on target! Functionality before

    prettiness! Thanks again to all.

    #245998
    edward ericson
    Participant

    @edsnova

    “I’m pretty confident that they’ll be attached to the

    actual metal/steel portion of the chassis….not into fiberglass”

    Yes. That seems reasonable.

    edsnova40781.3465393518

    #245999
    Rob Baker
    Participant

    @robbaker

    Mine are attached to the glass with fender washers but in my case they are in like new condition (never been used).  The car is in NH which is the “live free or die” state.  I’m not saying you shouldn’t use yours in the MG, it’s just that I don’t.  In my other cars I always use them, the MG is the exception to the rule 🙂

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