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Need some MG insights

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Norton47

Jedi Warrior
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Hi
I am over from the Triumph site. My wife wants an MG. She likes the rounded look that the bodies have.
I have found a 1972 MGB that has some front end damage due to rear ending someone. The hood, grill and right front fender appear to have taken the brunt of the damage. Where the bumper bolts on and the structure behind the grill all seem flat and true. Looks like it slide under the other car. The chrome overider is bent a bit.

1st question is, will a 1974 MGB hood and fender and grill work? Looking at the Moss catalog it appears they would.

There appears to be little rust. Small about in the left rear corner of the trunk and the left lower dogleg on the B post.


Second question is how to repair that dogleg rust? Do you just cut it out and weld in new, as the fender is welded on, correct?

Third question, the doors open and close well and solid but the drivers side door strikes the rear body at the top. On a Triumph this could be a sign of bad rust damage causing the car to sag in the middle. But as this is unibody and I can't find that kind of rust damage what else is lurking about?
It's been sitting inside for 7 years and although a bit tattered and dusty appears to be all there.
Thanks in advance.
 
Question 1: Yes, all chrome bumper bonnets are interchangeable.

Question 2: Yes, you cut it out and buy a repair panel.

Question 3: It could be one of a few things. The easiest to remedy is a misaligned door. It may also be a replacement door which didn't quite fit right. Worst case, the unibody is bent or the sills were replaced without supporting the structure. In this case, it would be a monumental repair job. Most likely it's just an alignment problem.
 
I'd look for a better car, it'll be cheaper in the long run
 
Take a jack and lift the car from the jacking point under the door and try the door again...if it closes easily and properly, figure you need to repair the sills. A little sag is not unusual, but movement is a sign of much needed expensive (or time consuming) work.
 
If you have rust-through in the doglegs and the top doorgaps are closed up, your sills are almost certainly shot. I would open up the dogleg and poke around inside; you might not like what you find.
 
Ok
I have another crazy question. There is a 1974 chrome bumper MGB available that has been immersed in a creek flood.
So it's probably full of silt.
If the body was fully stripped could on cut inspection and cleaning holes and flush the sills and what other area's out and then spray them with LPS 3 or waxoyl and close them back up.

I am thinking of taking the 2 cars to make one. If one has rusty sills and the other doesn't but has been underwater, clean and preserve and swap over everything else from the rusty car.

Insane idea probably, but have time and skills but not enough cash to pay someone else to do work.
 
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