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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:26 am 
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TDC Oxfordshire Area Organiser

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Hi folks. Your thoughts please....

I am now at the front end of my Sprint project. Inner valence repair and headlamp panel replacement are order of the day.

I know I have read on here somewhere that many of you have refrained from welding the headlamp panels back in place and have bolted/ screwed them in place instead - thus allowing for this area to be kept clean.

There aren't many points of contact here apart from where they are originally spot welded or tacked in place.

I will make sure it is all well painted and protected after repair, so I'm sure it won't need doing again for many years, but if a better alternative to welding is recommended I'm willing to give it a go!

Any thoughts on how best to fit them in place appreciated.

Regards
MC

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1980 1500HL - OPD
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 10:43 am 
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We're it me I'd certainly weld captive nuts to the back of the lamp panel so the bowls can be bolted in. Hands up who hasn't damaged paintwork riveting bowls in place, anyone?
I'm not so sure about the lamp panel itself but if you can do so in a manner that removal will do no harm to the paint then why not I guess.
I certainly would not entertain self tappers, not straight in to body metal nor into clips.

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1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.


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 Post subject: Yip..
PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:13 pm 
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Another vote for bolting the panels into place.

I will be doing this shortly and not not going to use the OE type adjusters and mounting rings,
instead I am using parts sourced from a (c.1993) Jaguar XJ40, because the XJ system is much better (and simpler).




Ian.

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 Post subject: Re: Yip..
PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:36 pm 
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Location: Harrow Middlesex
Quote:
Another vote for bolting the panels into place.

I will be doing this shortly and not not going to use the OE type adjusters and mounting rings,
instead I am using parts sourced from a (c.1993) Jaguar XJ40, because the XJ system is much better (and simpler).




Ian.
Ian

You said the Jaguar XJ40 head lamp adjusters are much better have you got a picture off there set up,

I made my own only because i needed two sets, for 2 cars and it was going to cost me £80 just for the adjusters,I bought alan key type bolts stainless,drilled a hole through the bolt,then two washers either side of mounting ring,and a split pin to hold it all together

Dave


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 12:43 pm 
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Ive used rivnuts to hold my head lamp bowls in place, and going to use them to mount the head lamp panel in place,

with any luck i shouldnt get any mud and muck under the arches any more,as im going to use a plastic wheel arch linner,like modern cars use,the one ive found so far to be the best fit with a bit of trimming is Saab 9-3

Dave


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:46 pm 
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Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
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Location: Highley, Shropshire
I'm not sure if I started this movement towards bolting or screwing it all together at the front, but i'm surely a big fan of the idea! It seems stupid to weld and rivet everything together in an area with maximum exposure to road muck and water that you then can't access to clean properly or even PAINT successfully in the first place. On the couple i've done so far, i've secured the panel to the body in 5 spots with those tapping bolts that drill their own thread holes (I love these things, so useful) 1 each at the top and bottom of the inside edge, 2 at the Z bracket between the headlamps (the Z bracket can remain welded to the inner front panel) and one to the bracket off the outer edge of the eyebrow panel. (this bracket can also stay welded to the eyebrow) I guess rivnuts would also work well here. I'm using new black self tapping screws and spire nuts to secure the bowls and grille sections and the original design plastic clips to secure the half moon brackets and rubber rings to the outer bowl backing.

For the Dolomega I have some new rubber rings I got from Mark (SprintMWU773V) and though I have 4 more or less serviceable metal half moon pieces, i'm gonna try and make some rot free plastic replacements for longer life. Though I've made the bowls detachable too, the theory is that I can remove the grilles in minutes, then remove the entire headlamp panels WITH bowls and lamps still in, merely by removing the bezels, 5 screws and 2 wiring plugs each. I'm also going to ladle a load of Smoothrite into the backing area and drill a couple of drain holes in the lower horizontal surface near the back. Having put a load of very expensive metal into the front of the car (Steel front panel and NOS eyebrows as well as club panels and headlamp supports) I don't want this planned daily driver to ever rot out on me again! Bolting in also allows you to paint the BACK of the headlamp panel and everything behind it much more easily.

I've used Vitesse steel headlamp bowls for the outers, because I had some in good condition and managed to scrabble a good pair of original inners together out of the dozen or so that I have. I also have a choice of grilles, a standard pair for summer and a pair I got from Stoneleigh with rectangular foglights set into them for winter use when more light is desireable and cooling not so much of an issue!. I've made provision for these to be plug and play in conjuction with the Lucas square 8s i'm mounting in place of the front under riders. These run off the "fog" position of a Stag master light switch through a relay. I've never much liked the bumper under riders, they don't add anything to impact protection and clutter the otherwise clean line of the bumper. I realize they have their place for originality fans, but I said goodbye to originality before i'd even BOUGHT my Sprint!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 1:55 pm 
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TDC Shropshire Area Organiser

Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:12 pm
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Location: Highley, Shropshire
Quote:
Ive used rivnuts to hold my head lamp bowls in place, and going to use them to mount the head lamp panel in place,

with any luck i shouldnt get any mud and muck under the arches any more,as im going to use a plastic wheel arch linner,like modern cars use,the one ive found so far to be the best fit with a bit of trimming is Saab 9-3

Dave
I've got a pair of 9-3 arch liners too, from breaking one last year. I've not done anything about fitting them yet, but I like the idea of supplementing the rather sketchy original underwing protection. On that subject, I have 2x NOS o/s/f plastic panels for the rear of arch vertical piece, at least one of these is obviously spare if anyone wants it. Think they cost me £21 apiece.

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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 Post subject: Aye, here you go....
PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 8:49 pm 
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Location: Caithness, Scotland
Quote:
Ian
You said the Jaguar XJ40 head lamp adjusters are much better have you got a picture off there set up,
Dave

Image




Ian.

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:23 pm 
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Location: West Yorks
Another here for the removable idea.
Just used spires for the bowls and self tappers for the panel.
For all the reasons above it just makes sense.

Image

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 Post subject: Re: Aye, here you go....
PostPosted: Mon Mar 30, 2020 10:57 pm 
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Location: Harrow Middlesex
Quote:
Quote:
Ian
You said the Jaguar XJ40 head lamp adjusters are much better have you got a picture off there set up,
Dave

Image




Ian.
Ian

They look a bit big,the head lamp adjustment rings are not that big,have you tiried to see if they fit

Dave


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 Post subject: Aye,....
PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 1:13 pm 
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Location: Caithness, Scotland
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Ian
You said the Jaguar XJ40 head lamp adjusters are much better have you got a picture off there set up,
Dave

Image




Ian.
Ian

They look a bit big,the head lamp adjustment rings are not that big,have you tiried to see if they fit

Dave
As I stated earlier I am using the Jaguar rings Dave, so they fit fine onto the mounting panels.



Ian.

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 Post subject: Re: Aye,....
PostPosted: Tue Mar 31, 2020 2:55 pm 
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Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2016 9:53 pm
Posts: 1699
Location: Harrow Middlesex
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:



Image




Ian.
Ian

They look a bit big,the head lamp adjustment rings are not that big,have you tiried to see if they fit

Dave
As I stated earlier I am using the Jaguar rings Dave, so they fit fine onto the mounting panels.



Ian.
Ian

Thanks, must have miss read,so are the Jaguar chrome retaining rings the same as Triumphs,would they fit ?

Dave


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