Griffith 500 rear light upgrade

[Frosty500]

Have been looking on the net at Cavalier lexus type light up grades.

Found a sight / supplier:

www.edworthys.co.uk

They supply BLACK Lexus type Cavalier light units- Don't like the glitzy chrome ones!

The black looks quite low profile and I think they would look OK on a dark coloured Griff. Mines Avus Blue.

Has any TVR griffith owner out there bought a set and installed them? If so any pics?

How easy is it to remove the existing griffith units?

[andy43]

You mean like this



Well, I like 'em

Dead easy to fit, and totally removeable back to standard as well, a big bonus I think. They just need a touch with a sander or grinder to shape them to match the TVR-modded originals (sounds tricky but isn't once you see old and new lights side-by-side).
Toughest bit is the silicone sealing round the edge.
There's about half a dozen Griffs in the NW now with these, only a couple with the black rather than the bling bling silver ones tho'. Man.
Max-power type silvered bulbs look far better than the orange ones that come with the lights, so add on a few quid for a set of them as well

[JoolzB]

Here's a pic should you need it but the removal of the old ones is dead simple, 4 screws to remove from inside the boot behind the carpet and a load of sealant to get rid of. I've deciding on the GSI lights so I'm hoping replacement should be simple, I'll find out shortly...

[Frosty500]

Thanks guys,

The responses look positive.

Definately not considering chrome units. Visit the 'edworthys' site, the black units are different and I think more tasteful.

Did you incur any body damage whilst getting rid of the sealant?

What do you use to rid it? Sealant removal or thumb nails????

Let me know how you get on installing the GSi units, time taken etc, does the existing wiring suit without modification etc.

Thanks again

[FlipFlopGriff]

The GSi lights are identical to the standard lights other than being smoked (Mk3 Cavalier). Some Griffs seem to have them others not - no consitency on year or model as far as I can see. Ours has them but the plastic lips holding the bulb unit and the bulb unit are brittle and have cracks so I've got some replacements with new bulb holder, connector and about 6" of cable. No rush but will get around to it.

I don't like any of the rear or front light upgrades so won't be changing. The car is used daily and no probs with the front lights after the Mod-Wise upgrade and the Osram bulb (+50%) upgrade.
FFG

[JoolzB]

Frosty500 said:

Let me know how you get on installing the GSi units, time taken etc, does the existing wiring suit without modification etc.

Just finished it so I guess 2-3 hours with re-sealing which I thought was fairly straight forward. I also had to file down the lights in a couple of places which was not too difficult - the originals had been shaped/filed in different places but I just copied the approx shape and they fitted on first time.

As FFG says the GSI lights are the same as the originals but smoked lens's which look far better IMO (you may already have them!). The bulb units are the same type as the originals so they just slotted back.

[david beer]

If you do have the GSi type, you can remove the orange filter, they look so much better. You will of course need the orange bulbs, i knocked up some LEDs for mine, quite expensive though(if i had to pay!)Go on Joolz, show the middle of your car.

[JoolzB]

Frosty500 said:

Thanks guys, Did you incur any body damage whilst getting rid of the sealant?

Forgot to answer that.

I used a craft knife to initially cut the old sealant out around the bodywork as opposed to the light. Then removed the light, carefully removed more sealant using the craft knife, then sealant remover, then thumbnail.

The only small body work damage was where the sealant was which subsequently got re-coated in sealant and so no visible damage.

From my original TVR mod'd lights I'd reckon that most cars lights have been shaped to fit with the individual car so yours will prob vary slightly from mine.

It's seriously not a difficult job

[JoolzB]

david beer said:

If you do have the GSi type, you can remove the orange filter, they look so much better. You will of course need the orange bulbs, i knocked up some LEDs for mine, quite expensive though(if i had to pay!)Go on Joolz, show the middle of your car.

David, I can't believe you've just said that the orange bit comes out easily, I was going to give it a go myself but it looked tricky so didn't incase I damaged the light D'OH!

I have 2 spare silver bulbs too, I'm half tempted to remove and refit, hmmmmmmm

[simon.b]

There’s a product called “Silicone Eater” I know Screw Fix sell it or something similar but you can also buy it from plumbers merchants, never seen it in B&Q.

The stuff I’ve got doesn’t damage the paint work (though I’d test it first) just liberally coat the sealant and leave it a couple of hours and it just wipes off.

Cheers,

Simon.

[k77-widow maker]

You mean these?

[Frosty500]

Yes,

Dems the ones Widow Maker

[k77-widow maker]

Hmm got me thinking now......My Griff is black, so it could look quite good tasty.

[JoolzB]

Here's some more pics with the orange filter removed from the GSI lights and Philips silver bulbs fitted

This pic has the nearside orange removed



And a close up



I managed to remove them with the lights in place whilst sat in the boot, twas a bit tricky but got there in the end

[RichB]

Not quite sure I understand the obsession with removing the orange colour from the indicators. Anyone care to enlighten me? Rich...

[JoolzB]

For me it just looks a bit better. The original GSI lights also look like Vauxhall have tried to hide the orange filter. Each to their own tho. Also I'm not sure if it's just a trend but alot of car manufacturers these days are using the orangeless look too.

[antonyj]

I have some Gsi ones, HOW DO YOU GET THE ORANGE BIT OUT?????

[JoolzB]

I managed to get them out with a bit of brute. I used a screwdriver to carefully bend the bottom bits up and then used a small knife to cut a small slit. It was then a matter of using some long pliers to pull and tear the orange filter out bit by bit. The first one came out in about 10 bits but I somehow managed to squeeze the 2nd one out in about 2 by twisting etc.

BTW I used the light bulb hole to get to it and found it easier to get into the boot. I've now got a couple of scratches but I should survive. I'm not sure if there's an easier way, hopefully David will confirm he did his in the same way?

>> Edited by JoolzB on Friday 15th October 16:52

[david beer]

My first one took ages, the second almost fell out! Its easier if they are cold or hot, sounds daft but if they are hot, they will bend, if they are cold, they will snap.As Joolz said, twisting it round the pliers will make it much easier. Joolz, if you only had a few scratches, you did well. Next is to mod for 4 tail lights and four brake lights. And grumpy RichB, did you not go clear fronts in the end ? If i knew how to do an Icon, i would do a "only joking" RichB.

[antonyj]

On the subject of clear front indicators ,I have just picked up four of them for £10 !!!!


David , how do you mean 4 tail and brake lights?


>> Edited by antonyj on Friday 15th October 19:16