Small Headlight Recommendations?

[skov]

Hi All,

Ages ago I bought a pair of kitpartsdirect 7" headlights for my build.
Think I may have made a bit of a c0ck up though, as I recently test fitted them and my wheels touch them on full lock, even without the cycle wings fitted :rolleyes:

Really don't fancy chopping and welding the headlight supports at this point, so can anyone recommend some small, relatively cheap, IVA passable lights please?

I know you can get 5.75" ones, but I suspect they might be a tad too big too.

Ta,

[shh120m]

to get my full 7 inches in without interference i had to ram them tight into the side of the nosecone with about half inch gap.

hmm that sounds really really wrong:eek:

[shh120m]

just checked. Exactly 95mm from centre of hole to edge of chassis. It cant be a lot longer for 5 3/4 only 16mm in it.

[Johno]

Hi All,

Ages ago I bought a pair of kitpartsdirect 7" headlights for my build.
Think I may have made a bit of a c0ck up though, as I recently test fitted them and my wheels touch them on full lock, even without the cycle wings fitted :rolleyes:

Really don't fancy chopping and welding the headlight supports at this point, so can anyone recommend some small, relatively cheap, IVA passable lights please?

I know you can get 5.75" ones, but I suspect they might be a tad too big too.

Ta,

Thats a bugger..:confused:
I know you don't want to chop and weld on new light brackets but could you cut the old light bkt off and bolt a new one on similar to this....

http://i1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa472/JohnoSS1/SAM_1028.jpg

Look familiar to anyone....
This would be your cheapest choice.

Johno

[shh120m]

hey!

I thought they were a massive improvement cosmetically but to be honest when the headlights on you dont notice them especially with the 7 inch dustbin lids.

the main reason i came up with the idea was that andy forgot to weld some on before powder coating the chassis!

If you made some like mine, but swept them up at 45 degrees they would look well cool, it would also bring the lights up out of the way, and bring them higher, caterham style. Dead easy to make, if you do them symetrical, you only need to make one jig, and it ensures they both come out identical, as only one or to mil out and youll see the difference when looking at thwe car with the lights on.

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj482/ntsengineering/SAM_1227.jpg

[skov]

Just checked mine - 135mm from chassis rail to centre of hole!
Don't know how I decided on that spacing now :confused:

I did think about chopping it off at the rail, but it's going to be tricky without messing up my side panel and/or top shock mount at the same time.
Bolt on brackets do seem like a good idea in hindsight!

[Davidbolam]

Can you not put a spacer under the light to raise the unit slightly and give you more clearance ?

[shh120m]

Something like this perhaps.....

http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj482/ntsengineering/headlampbracket.jpg

100 by 25mm 5m strap

Headlamp bracket 50mm dia tube 25mm long.

Centre of mounting hole 95mm from centre of strap both horizontally and vertically to get 45 degree rise

Tubes 20mm

[shh120m]

hey your in luck skov, dont do owt drastic just yet ive just found these, il pop them in with pedal plate. They are 128mm to centre of hole though so youll either need to shorten them or use the 5 inch lights.



http://i1264.photobucket.com/albums/jj482/ntsengineering/SAM_1241.jpg

[PorkChop]

I was originally considering a pair of Dominator lights for my car. They cost £35-40 each, are supposed to be IVA compatible (although some, Ash included, have had these fail) and are extremely popular with MEV cars.

After looking at some fitted to cars in real life, I'm now leaning towards some more traditional lights. Boltonbits on eBay sell a pair of 5.75 or 7 inch headlights for £60 delivered, which is a very good price.

[skov]

I'd been looking at those dominator ones too. I reckon they'd definitely fit!
Just reluctant to part with that much cash if there's any chance they'd fail IVA.

I'm starting to think I might just chop the middle out of the brackets I've got and re-weld them shorter. Got to be the cheapest solution!
I might have those brackets off you if it all goes horribly wrong though Nathan ;)

Either way I think I'll hold off till I've fitted the front wings now so I know exactly how much space I've got to play around with.

[baz-r]

alot of reports say thay have a flat dipped beam pattern! and only support lower wattage bulbs so someiva testers fail them

a normal uk dip beam pattern is like 60% of an oval pie angled up with the near side higher than the off side

a bodge is to angle the lense or bulb to have a stright but angled beam pattern but i would be safe and iva with somthing more suitable