From bumper to bumper

Post by **rob.hardy1** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 10:15 pm

I am about to pick up a spanner for the first timein many years and approach with caution my first MM. A 1967 trav. I have decided my first job will be to replace the chrome bumpers front and rear. The rear looks simple enough but do i need to remove the front valance to remove the blade and over riders?

Post by **MoggyTech** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:48 pm

Not really, but the front valance is only held on by the front bumper anyway. Once the bumper is off, the valance falls off the spring bar.

You will likely find rust behind the chrome blade and on the hidden portions of the valance and this will need cleaned and painted.

Expect a few of the chrome headed coach bolts to be rusted solid as well.

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:59 am

Moved to Bodywork as its not a useful tip

Post by **rob.hardy1** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 9:32 am

Thanks for that, i have got relacement bolts/nuts and i am preparing to grind off the front of the bolt if neccesary. (sorry mod i WANTED a useful tip

)

Post by **Kevin** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:12 am

(sorry mod i WANTED a useful tip )

No problem at all, and dont forget while you are at it to get some new buffer rubbers that go on the bottom of the wing lip between the wing and the valance without them you can get some strange noises under heavier braking conditions.

Post by **Willie** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:19 pm

Just remember to paint all threads and nuts etc with Waxoyl when you refit them, and liberally coat the valance and the inside of the bumper blade too. Then,in ten years time, you will find it easy to undo the fittings again.

Post by **rob.hardy1** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 5:50 pm

Thanks. I will do the job properley ( my wife will say thats a first)

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:03 pm

Plenty of plus gas on the nuts/threads before you remove them. And, get some Whitworth open ended spanners for this job- metric or AF OR WORSE an adjustable spanner is likely to round the flats off.

You can remove the whole bumper assembly for ease of access if you like (7/16 whitworth open ended spanner) and if you've got a decent vice (with soft jaws) to hold the bumper assembly.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 7:54 pm

And if the valance turns out to be rotten - the fibreglass ones are an excellent substitute and last 'for ever' - provided you don't stand on it!

Post by **rob.hardy1** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:48 pm

DOH!!!! i just went out and bought a selection of spanners. I thought i was being clever by getting A.F. Are all the nuts/bolts on a MM whitworth?

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:52 pm

The ones on the engine are AF and the bodywork are Whitworth.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 11:31 pm

AF will be useful, cheapest place to buy Whitworth is autojumbles.

Post by **dunketh** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:28 am

In my experience the bolts on Minors could be anything!!!

Previous owners often bung any old rubbish in there to do the job.
Collect as many spanners and sockets from auto-jumbles and the like that you can!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:31 pm

dunketh wrote:In my experience the bolts on Minors could be anything!!!

Previous owners often bung any old rubbish in there to do the job.
Collect as many spanners and sockets from auto-jumbles and the like that you can!

I agree, my cars got AF Whitworth and Metric, and a few nuts and bolts that don't seem to exist wrt any spanner fitting them