2 Door Range Rover project
Discussion
While the car remains at the trimmers the fettling continues. I’m hoping to find the time tomorrow to make another pair of tailgate striker plates and the upper tailgate gutter section still needs careful reshaping by swinging it against a wall so that it’s profile matches that of the new tailgate.
I dug out one of the bubble grills that I have to have another look at whether I want to use one on this car. The car definitely needs additional lights. My Overfinch has a pair of small spots on the bumper and on main beam it was akin to driving in daylight. I don’t particularly want to fit lamps to the bumper and fitting some Lucas 8s under the bumper is the fallback. But I’m undecided as to whether to use a bubble grill.
I think they improve the look of the car but because of the deeper core radiator, the transmission radiator and the intercooler there probably isn’t enough depth to fit standard lamps and it may transpire that the only solution is LEDs. I actually prefer LEDs and would arguably fit them on the standard lamps also but my reticence is that the design of the glass always seems a bit ‘Barry’.
This is an original Italian one, as per the image below. I have another German version but I don’t think the design is as elegant.
I dug out one of the bubble grills that I have to have another look at whether I want to use one on this car. The car definitely needs additional lights. My Overfinch has a pair of small spots on the bumper and on main beam it was akin to driving in daylight. I don’t particularly want to fit lamps to the bumper and fitting some Lucas 8s under the bumper is the fallback. But I’m undecided as to whether to use a bubble grill.
I think they improve the look of the car but because of the deeper core radiator, the transmission radiator and the intercooler there probably isn’t enough depth to fit standard lamps and it may transpire that the only solution is LEDs. I actually prefer LEDs and would arguably fit them on the standard lamps also but my reticence is that the design of the glass always seems a bit ‘Barry’.
This is an original Italian one, as per the image below. I have another German version but I don’t think the design is as elegant.
Edited by DonkeyApple on Thursday 13th June 11:26
I had a closer look at the two different bubble grills over the weekend. It’s mildly amusing how they fit their cultural stereotypes so well. The Italian grill looks better but in the true style of Bella figura, under the surface it just isn’t brilliantly made. Whereas the German grill has weaker aesthetics but is well made.
The German one used a 140mm Bosch lamp that doesn’t appear to still be on sale today. A few are knocking about on Ebay and they seem to have been used as spots on Audis and BMWs backnin the 80s.
140mm or 5 1/2” doesn’t appear to be that common a size in contrast to 5 3/4 and many are 6v bike lamps. But I’ve found a Wipac unit that may possibly work as a replacement. I’ll find out when they arrive.
The German one used a 140mm Bosch lamp that doesn’t appear to still be on sale today. A few are knocking about on Ebay and they seem to have been used as spots on Audis and BMWs backnin the 80s.
140mm or 5 1/2” doesn’t appear to be that common a size in contrast to 5 3/4 and many are 6v bike lamps. But I’ve found a Wipac unit that may possibly work as a replacement. I’ll find out when they arrive.
You can see in this image that this German style one has a nicely made bezel that holds the lamp well and has four points of adjustment for the beam. It is also made from thicker plastic.
If the Wipac lamps fit then I think I'll give the grill a light sand blast and then half a dozen coats of satin black to see how it looks in general.
The aperture on both is 6" so technically 5.75 will fit. I reckon this will be easier with the Italian one as below as it will be easier to adjust to fit a different mounting style:
[img}https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48079625651_b135588d12_z.jpg[/img]
If I could find some LEDs with a traditional lens they might be easier as I still have to consider the gearbox rad and intercooler which will be making space behind the grill tighter than normal.
[img}https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48079625651_b135588d12_z.jpg[/img]
If I could find some LEDs with a traditional lens they might be easier as I still have to consider the gearbox rad and intercooler which will be making space behind the grill tighter than normal.
Cibie do a 5.75 and 7 that look to have the same glass design so would allow me to change the main lamps to match. The question is finding a 5.75 mounting bracket that results in the smaller lamps sitting inline with the standard ones.
What doesn’t help is that I’ve little knowledge of whether lamps have standard fittings etc.
What doesn’t help is that I’ve little knowledge of whether lamps have standard fittings etc.
Spent the afternoon trying to track down the right lamps for both grills and have finally done so. I’ve found a pair of Carellos in Italy and managed to work out that the Bosch units are from a 70s spotlight fitted to various BMW bikes and Opel cars.
Anyway, after all of this I’ve been measuring up clearances behind the grill because my car has a transmission radiator as per the later cars fitted in front of the rad and I don’t think there is clearance to use either of these grills any way!
Anyway, after all of this I’ve been measuring up clearances behind the grill because my car has a transmission radiator as per the later cars fitted in front of the rad and I don’t think there is clearance to use either of these grills any way!
Two replacement special bolts for the Carello lamps have just arrived so the Italian Bubble grill is now complete.
I still need to wait for the car to return from the trimmer so that I can see if there is space to fit either of these grills but I am still thinking that the transmission oil cooler will prevent this.
I still need to wait for the car to return from the trimmer so that I can see if there is space to fit either of these grills but I am still thinking that the transmission oil cooler will prevent this.
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