MG Sports Cars

The stock wheels on the B tuck up into the wheel wells, of course. If you're using a wide enough tire or wide enough track to require flares, you are going to have to cut the wheel wells. Here's what my car looked like with the wheel wells cut out far enough to clear the wheels through the full suspension travel.



I have not added any extra metal to join the inner edge of the flares to the car. There's not really much need as they're rock solid.

I've been told that Rabbitparts no longer has the rear patch panels available. Seems I got the last pair in my last order, although I expect they're replenishing their stock. However, Rockauto does have them for around $27 - killer price.

If the demand was higher, I'm sure that someone would offer a direct fit steel flare for the MG. The old supply and demand always control the availability of a product. Flaring fenders is a modernization that brings the old saying "it's a two cutting edge sword".

If too radical, I feel that the original "MG" appeal can easily get lost; this is why I prefer the soft look of a steel flare grafted from a donor car design. The other side of the coin, the higher horsepower V-8 demands traction and a wider track; can't be done without flares

To someone, it may depart too much from the traditional look and to a different crowd it may be acceptable as retro-modern. I personally would like to see more sellers get involved in offering readily available modified body sheet metal. As an old school mechanic, I really don't feel comfortable with body work/modifications and if I can help the situation by buying an already made part then I'll do it.

With all of the familiar sellers that advertises on this website, I wonder why can't someone acquire some of these (still available)Rabbit flares and modify them to facilitate the wider/modern tire. I for sure would buy a set/kit.

Does anyone have any experience using the "WheelRite" tool?

[www.summitracing.com]

Keith,

I'll be in Junction Wed and Thurs, perhaps we could meet?

Brad

Brad - responded via PM.

Jacques, there's always going to be bodywork involved in adding flares to a car. You can't unbolt the rear fenders of a B and bolt on new ones, so welding is required. I'm not sure it would be possible to make the rears any easier to install, especially given the tendency for every V8 MG to be built a little differently. The fronts are a bit more difficult, but if you have enough skills to install any flares, you'll have enough to install these. If you don't have enough bodywork skills to install the easiest flares, then you should be able to find help.

As for width to clear "modern" tires, I think the Rabbit flares will clear a 255-section tire or more without problems. There are 195s in the picture, and that's on a car with a 4" wider track than normal.

We'll have something entirely new to look at in the way of rear flares when the MG-Roadmaster gets back from paint. I think it will be a flare design that a lot of people are going to like. But of course, these flares were hand formed on the english wheel so it's a custom part. For a knowledgeable wheel user though it'd be an easy piece to make. With that thought in mind, it might be something that could be run in small batches at a fair price to the builder if we found someone willing to do them.

JB

I'm (finally!) done with paint, so here are some finished pictures. I ended up reshaping the right front to be more muscular, I wasn't happy with how it blended into the fender in the earlier pictures.

No side mirrors or trim, but the flares look pretty good. The stance of the car isn't quite right, I need to lift the front slightly and it really needs a slightly taller wheel/tire combination. But I'm pretty jazzed about it, I've been working on the paint job for months.








And my new desktop wallpaper.

Looks good Keith. For lifting the front you might consider the air bag upgrade.

JB

Right now, it's running 8" springs in the front and I'm out of adjustment range. I might still change the rates and I have a good collection of 8" springs to play with. Once I've got that nailed down, I'll order longer springs in my desired rate to give myself a bit more room to adjust. Early days yet, sorting out the handling is particularly fun for me.

what size rims can i use with stock motor to achive this look

That car is sitting on 14" wheels with 195/60-14 tires in the pictures. They stick out about 2" more than stock. I have an adjustable height suspension as well so I can control the ride height.