change headlights and swop rear fog and reverse light ?

[Bob vanM]

Hi,
for the Dutch registration I have to change headlights to LHD reflectors and swop rear foglight with the reverse light.

I'm struggling about how to get the front reflectors out (later Chim. type with light covers)

and how to get the rear foglight unit and reverse light out to swop them (fog must be on the left side in LHD countries) should I cut the covers off from the body to get the white and red glasses out ?

advise welcome,
thanks

[V8NRG]

Yes. The later rear lights with four separate lights each side only come out towards the rear. You have to remove the outer clear cover then take them out.

[Bob vanM]

thanks
what is the best way to get them off ? cut through the sicaflex, what is the best way to do this ?

Edited by Bob vanM on Monday 13th December 22:31

Edited by Bob vanM on Monday 13th December 22:43

[Krautchimaera]

it depends what year your car is. if your car is up to mid 97 and has Ford Fiesta rear lights it is dead easy.
Just buy a second hand pair of fiesta rear lights from ebay ( I did about 3 years ago and paid 13 € incl postage. they are fitted from the inside and easy accesable after removing the carpet.
you could also go for Lexus style rear lights for Fiestas which usually are about 70€ new.

if you have a later car, I am sorry I believe it is more difficult

Bernd

[Bob vanM]

thanks for the reply Bernd,
I have a 99 Chimera, so the more difficult rear lights
I assume that cutting the Sikaflex is the only way.

are the covers still available anywhere ( in case I damage them ) ?

Edited by Bob vanM on Wednesday 15th December 23:05

[loud430]

hi, most of the tvr parts suppliers will have the rear covers still

[Bob vanM]

as you might have guessed, I am new in the TVR world, the Chimaera is next to my Lotus in the garage
thanks for the info.

[bigdods]

I have previously had to remove the rear perspex covers on my 97 chim, cant be that different on yours. Get a thin bladed craft knift. You will want the blade to be flexible if possible.

Put masking tape all around the paintwork outside the perspex in case you slip. Push knife blade into sikaflex as far as it will go. If its a flexible blade it will bend in towards the lights. Then just gently run it all the way around the perspex.

You may find the perspex just pops off now. If not then get something with a rubber cover (I use a screwdriver with a rubber covered blade), insert at one corner and gently prise up. Repeat at each corner it should eventually come away. This is the point where you risk cracking the perspex so genty does it. If it cracks you can get replacement perspex from the ususal TVR suppliers but it isnt cheap.

Not sure how the lights come out, I assume they just unscrew.

Before refitting you may need to repaint the black line on the inside of the perspex (if you have the black line that is). I used black enamel paint.

Refit using sikaflex NOT black silicon.

[Bob vanM]

that is usefull information
thanks

anybode can give me an idiot guide to change the headlight from RHD to LHD units ?

Edited by Bob vanM on Wednesday 15th December 16:33

Edited by Bob vanM on Wednesday 15th December 23:04