Front Head LIghts
Front Head LIghts
Author
Discussion

ibroker

Original Poster:

658 posts

281 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
My 400 has had the original circular lights removed and replaced with a bodge Hella Square something or other. All now removed and heading for the bin pending original replacements.

However..Does the pod raise and stop at a set point as the bodge lights had a bracket attached on the bottom edge that effectively caught under the front nose stopping the pod going any further. With the lights removed the pod raises and stops all on its own a what appears to be a reasonable position?

adam quantrill

11,627 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
Are you sure that was a bodge as it sounds very much like my original square ones (400SX originally 400SE).

JamesMK

556 posts

274 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
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I thought the 400SE & 450SE did have rectangular units and smaller pods?

Number 7

4,111 posts

285 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
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My '89 400 has rectangular lights as standard.

ibroker

Original Poster:

658 posts

281 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
All I can say is if they were original the fitting and materials are a disgrace. I dont think I have seen a wedge with rectangular lights only round?

ibroker

Original Poster:

658 posts

281 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
Anyone with rectangles have a pic?

celcius

703 posts

278 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
All 400 and 450s had rectangular lights

adam quantrill

11,627 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
I'll see if I can get a piccy Andy.

In the mean time I agree with your assessment of the materials and while mine were off recently for a front-end respray I cleaned and re-painted mine plus passivated the motor mounting brackets that were quietly rusting away and then painted them.


Number 7

4,111 posts

285 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
Finest Blackpool engineering. If you want something more detailed it'll have to wait until Friday. The hardboard is to cut glare as I couldn't be bothered to pull the fuse.
Edit - looking at that pic, I realise that I've got a screw missing wink
Hardly ever use the headlights.


ibroker

Original Poster:

658 posts

281 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
OMG thats the exact ste thats on my car. Really they put that on at the factory......Christ....I was trying to keep it original.ish but I am not putting that back on I have spent a lot of money on the car and its in the shop for a respary and thats not going to spoil my look.

adam quantrill

11,627 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
It looks better after a paint - honest!

Anyhow you don't really see them - the only time they are up the lights are on and it's dark and you are blinded by the glare - even on dim dip.


ElvisWedgely

2,715 posts

188 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
As far as I know all 400SE's have rectangular lights. To tell you the truth, I'm not a great fan of rectangle lights either. In my eyes, and earlier years of driving, all sports cars worth owning had round lights. But, like Adam says, they may look better after a pint. I wouldn't know, because I don't drink.

Tony. TCB.

adam quantrill

11,627 posts

265 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
quotequote all
Oh I forgot to mention the other reason you don't see them, because you can't see them from the driver's seat!

Campbell

2,500 posts

306 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
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The SEAC has rectangle head lights but this winter they will be upgrades with a newer design light unit designed for H4 bulbs

TVRleigh_BBWR

6,553 posts

236 months

Wednesday 14th October 2015
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As for the bodge bracket, that standard also, normally with a bit of rubber hose on it.
the pods are on a cam, so it goes up and down on same rotation, the motor, has switches so it stop in the right position.
The bodge stops, are to give it some pre-load when they are up, so they don't vibrate too much.

The Hatter

988 posts

193 months

Thursday 15th October 2015
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I identified the source of the headlights on my SEAC - Austin Allegro! The 400SE lights pictured above look different to mine though.

JVaughan

6,025 posts

306 months

Sunday 25th October 2015
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I have a quad conversion on my 400se. Replaced all the original mounts with carbon fibre

TVRleigh_BBWR

6,553 posts

236 months

Sunday 25th October 2015
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I did a quad conversion also.




ElvisWedgely

2,715 posts

188 months

Sunday 25th October 2015
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Leigh, those twin light conversions look awesome. I can just imagine them on the car. My headlights are good at the moment and it would be a waste to get rid of them, but if they give me any problems, I would love to convert them to four round ones. Not to mention, the existing ones are pretty useless at night. I don't know why TVR ever fitted the rectangle ones in the first place. If I was a customer having a TVR built for me at the time, there's no way I would have accepted those useless rectangle lights considering the amount of money paid for the car at the time.

Tony.TCB.

TVRleigh_BBWR

6,553 posts

236 months

Sunday 25th October 2015
quotequote all
ElvisWedgely said:
Leigh, those twin light conversions look awesome. I can just imagine them on the car. My headlights are good at the moment and it would be a waste to get rid of them, but if they give me any problems, I would love to convert them to four round ones. Not to mention, the existing ones are pretty useless at night. I don't know why TVR ever fitted the rectangle ones in the first place. If I was a customer having a TVR built for me at the time, there's no way I would have accepted those useless rectangle lights considering the amount of money paid for the car at the time.

Tony.TCB.
Agreed, it one of the only area's that they skimped on for the SE cars most of the equipment on a SE was a lot better than the later cars.

I got carbon-fiber covers that go on the front also to hide the adjustment screws. I'll show you next time your down. they was a pain to get them to fit right. but I put in twin hella's as used on the later Tuscans.

I've still got the patterns I used so if I had to do again would be a bit easier. my mod also does not completely remove the old bracket, so you could always put the old system back. if they ever become classic and someone wanted it original.