MG TF Rear grille and heat shield.

Sorry, I don't have a picture but I think people will know what I am talking about.

Ever since I've had my TF, the rear grille in the bumper has been missing. The front and side grilles were all black, rusty and generally skanky!

I've been spending a few hours during the nice weather with tin snips and some stainless steel mesh and have so far replaced the front and side grilles and cut pieces for the boot-lid. So far, so good.

Now I'm looking at the rear grille. Instead of seeing my shiny exhaust, I can only see the bottom half of the rear heat shield. My question is:

Can I cut away the bottom part of the heatshield? Undoing the bolts doesn't look like an option. It is filthy and doesn't seem to have any purpose behind the grille. Or does it?...

Your rear bumper mesh was missing ever since it was made, it was never fitted to any car from the factory.

I wouldn't remove any of the heat shield as it protects the bumper.

Thanks for the info and the advice, TC. It's interesting that they had no rear grille as standard. I see so many with a rear grille, all shaped around the lashing point, I assumed they were standard.

I also had to cut about 10cm of the heatshield as it had contact to the toyosports backbox. Last year I replaced the heatshield (the original one was broken) and did it the same way.
Regards

Definatly fitted to TF's as standard. Both my 2002 and 2003 had them. Outer framework shaped to go around the towing eye.

G0RSQ wrote: Definatly fitted to TF's as standard. Both my 2002 and 2003 had them. Outer framework shaped to go around the towing eye.

My pre-production 2002 TF didn't.

The heat shield on my mk1 F was looking really tatty so got a make over with an ex chrome kitchen bin being repurposed and riveted on top of it.