Lupo Headlights

Lupo Headlights

Author
Discussion

ProjectChimaera

Original Poster:

197 posts

112 months

Friday 19th August 2016
quotequote all
I've just removed my Mk11 Chimaera headlamps and reflectors. What an awful design! I need two reflectors and one lense.
The Lupo headlamps look like a better option as much more modern design and sealed.
I can't find a step by step guide, could anyone point me in the right direction?
How much cutting is involved and how was the modification process?
Any advice would be most welcome in helping me decide which way to go.

I have also considered the Mk111 mod and using Mk 1 golf lamps but I actually think I prefer the original headlamp look?

Engineer1949

1,423 posts

143 months

Friday 19th August 2016
quotequote all
i fitted them to nicks chim some while ago have fitted some since but no record of them pictorialy but if you can find my (johns chimaera rebuild)and trawl through it it shows the work needed


john

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Friday 19th August 2016
quotequote all
Go for MK111 ,Lupo lights have a rubbish beam.

Bassfiendnoideawhathp

5,530 posts

249 months

Friday 19th August 2016
quotequote all
SILICONEKID345HP said:
Go for MK111 ,Lupo lights have a rubbish beam.
Yours seem to (and I know others have mentioned it too) but loads of other people don't seem to have issues ... TBH I think I prefer the look of the Lupos to the originals or even the "Mk3" lights...

Phil

bobfather

11,171 posts

254 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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As I understand it the Lupo lamps have a poor beam because the Chimaera cowl restricts the outer edge beam pattern. There are several Mk III conversions that work well though I personally prefer the original look

Engineer1949

1,423 posts

143 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
your right about the bezel restricting the beam but if correctly fitted and the bezel then painstakingly reworked to fit ezactly around the periffery of the lens as i did with nicks which involves reshaping the bezel totally i used a thin copper tube soldered together in a circle then shaped around the lens edge and finally using epoxy and fine tape refashioned the bezel but result is brilliant in more ways than one

tvr_9_march 7 by Brundall Motorsport, on Flickr

john

Edited by Engineer1949 on Saturday 20th August 08:02

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
So that's it then ,remove the bezels get the lights setup perfectly then go from there.

ProjectChimaera

Original Poster:

197 posts

112 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
Engineer1949 said:
your right about the bezel restricting the beam but if correctly fitted and the bezel then painstakingly reworked to fit ezactly around the periffery of the lens as i did with nicks which involves reshaping the bezel totally i used a thin copper tube soldered together in a circle then shaped around the lens edge and finally using epoxy and fine tape refashioned the bezel but result is brilliant in more ways than one

tvr_9_march 7 by Brundall Motorsport, on Flickr

john

Edited by Engineer1949 on Saturday 20th August 08:02
Thanks John, I've had a look at your blog and it's a big help.
How easy was it to actually mount the lamp units? Fashion some brackets and sikaflex to body?
It would be easy to just spend the money and go back to stock but I hate the design and probably the likely beam quality. I just want to be sure it's worth the effort? Looking at Nicks car and others I really like the fresher original look when done.

tofts

411 posts

155 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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I don't lnow weather it is possible on the Chim, but on the cerb I actually used the cowl as the mount for the lights, this makes them removable if one breaks or becomes mikly with age!





Edited by tofts on Saturday 20th August 11:25

portzi

2,296 posts

174 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
tofts said:
I don't lnow weather it is possible on the Chim, but on the cerb I actually used the cowl as the mount for the lights, this makes them removable if one breaks or becomes mily with age!



Is that your place of work tofts?. Nice idea.

tofts

411 posts

155 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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I shoudl really put my name!

yes, i work on TVRs for a living, I just don't tell many people!

Jody

portzi

2,296 posts

174 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
Well l am more than happy with my Lupos too.




DangerousDerek

8,655 posts

219 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
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What are these bezels and cowls you all speak of?




ProjectChimaera

Original Poster:

197 posts

112 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
tofts said:
I don't lnow weather it is possible on the Chim, but on the cerb I actually used the cowl as the mount for the lights, this makes them removable if one breaks or becomes mikly with age!





Edited by tofts on Saturday 20th August 11:25
j

Thanks, that's really interesting, presume you moulded those fixings around the Lupo lamp shape. What did you use to create the shape? Do the cowls still mout the same way with a couple of lower fixings and sikaflex at the top?

Car looks great btw.


ProjectChimaera

Original Poster:

197 posts

112 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
DangerousDerek said:
What are these bezels and cowls you all speak of?



,
That looks cool too! That amount of bodywork is way above my talents I'm afraid. If it doesn't involve a spanner I get nervous!

SILICONEKID345HP

14,997 posts

230 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
[quote=SILICONEKID345HP]I cant remove my cowls , the bolts have been snapped off and then glued in ,what a bodge and a waste of money


MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL !

tofts

411 posts

155 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
ProjectChimaera said:
Thanks, that's really interesting, presume you moulded those fixings around the Lupo lamp shape. What did you use to create the shape? Do the cowls still mout the same way with a couple of lower fixings and sikaflex at the top?

Car looks great btw.
Pretty much, I carved most of the "inner" cowl away, leaving parts at the top and bottom to accommodate the fixings. The fixture i created by covering the light in cling film then placed glass over the approx area I needed. I then went on to make further molds of these so I could do the job in the future on other cars to make it easier. Thankfully, there is enough meat in the inner cowl to support the mods, but im not certain it could be done this way on a chim. I do have a potential conversion for a customer on the horizon, so if it is possible this way, I will put something up about it. I never liked the idea of having the light fixed permanently!

Jody

ProjectChimaera

Original Poster:

197 posts

112 months

Saturday 20th August 2016
quotequote all
tofts said:
Pretty much, I carved most of the "inner" cowl away, leaving parts at the top and bottom to accommodate the fixings. The fixture i created by covering the light in cling film then placed glass over the approx area I needed. I then went on to make further molds of these so I could do the job in the future on other cars to make it easier. Thankfully, there is enough meat in the inner cowl to support the mods, but im not certain it could be done this way on a chim. I do have a potential conversion for a customer on the horizon, so if it is possible this way, I will put something up about it. I never liked the idea of having the light fixed permanently!

Jody
Thanks Jody, I've ordered one Lupo lamp so that I can offer it up. I'll post accordingly when I've had a look. The creation of the mould technique is pretty cool!
Where are you in Essex, I suspect I'm not that far away in Suffolk?

ProjectChimaera

Original Poster:

197 posts

112 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
quotequote all
A really frustrating day trying to get the Lupo headlamps in.
John kindly advised that he reshaped the bezels to get a decent fit, has anyone ever fitted these without modifying the bezel?

It doesn't look like that I can get the lamp unit in anywhere near upright or square without relieving the lower edge of the bezel?

No matter how I try I either get an unsightly gap at the top or bottom between the lamp an bezel.

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Monday 22nd August 2016
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No way will you fit the unit without trimming the bezel.

Don't worry about it, trimming the bezel is the easiest part!