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Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 7:47 pm
by sprint95m
Over the years there has occasionally been mention of alternatives to the front sidelight/indicator units
but I don't remember there ever being one?
I think the closest was Mini Clubman, however these have a 50:50 split of the lens.
Looking for alternatives just short ago I came upon the one in the photo,
the ebay seller helpfully had provided dimensions so I was able to confirm suitability.
The application is Massey Ferguson 265.
MF no longer supply these so it is a pattern part. It lacks the protective boot early Dolomites have
and also lacks a chrome bezel on the front. The lens is 8mm shallower than a Dolomite one.
It is held in place by four M5 nuts.
The good news is the price, £25/pair including VAT and delivery.
There are quite a few ebay sellers listing them currently
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... t&_sacat=0
Ian.
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:06 pm
by matt of the vivas
That looks the same unit as used by Lotus on their Excels and later Esprits, originally made by "Cobo". That unit was, as you say, also used on MF Tractors! Interestingly the earlier Esprits used Mini Clubman lights which are identical in fitment and dimensions to our units, only the lenses differ.
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:11 pm
by Carledo
They look OK Ian!
I've managed to put a decent pair of early lights together, complete with back boots, for my Sprint (its a late light car but I prefer the early style lamps)
What i'd REALLY like is a lamp around the same size but indicator ONLY, and use the sidelights in the outer headlights. But I don't want to pay the stupid prices they want for MkI Escort ones, saw a pair for over £200 recently!
Steve
Hmm......
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:08 am
by sprint95m
Carledo wrote: ↑Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:11 pm What i'd REALLY like is a lamp around the same size but indicator ONLY
I had thought of a way to do this using a late Dolomite unit,
which was to remove the orange lens and fit an amber LED indicator bulb and
fit a compact round LED side indicator in place of the side light bulb.
My idea was to make a brighter illumination.
On my car I will be using the sidelights within the outer headlamps as daylight running lamps
so wish to keep the existing sidelights as well.
My car should have late indicators, but I believe the early style work better, that is to say have brighter indicators.
If I am indeed correct, I think this is because the light has to pass through two lenses on the late type?
Ian.
Re: Hmm......
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 7:59 pm
by Carledo
sprint95m wrote: ↑Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:08 am
Carledo wrote: ↑Wed Apr 29, 2020 11:11 pm What i'd REALLY like is a lamp around the same size but indicator ONLY
I had thought of a way to do this using a late Dolomite unit,
which was to remove the orange lens and fit an amber LED indicator bulb and
fit a compact round LED side indicator in place of the side light bulb.
My idea was to make a brighter illumination.
On my car I will be using the sidelights within the outer headlamps as daylight running lamps
so wish to keep the existing sidelights as well.
My car should have late indicators, but I believe the early style work better, that is to say have brighter indicators.
If I am indeed correct, I think this is because the light has to pass through two lenses on the late type?
Ian.
I shall have to have a look at that first idea. There is a tin dividing plate which, if left out, would allow light from the indicator bulb to reach all corners of the lamp, no real need for a second bulb. I have some LED 382 bulbs here, that I took from a car that had been converted but hadn't had the flasher relays changed, though whether they are orange or white is unknown at time of writing this. But I have solid state flasher units and orange bulbs in stock, so no worries there. I also have a small pile of late type lamps to experiment on! I'll put some pics up, or maybe a short video when I have a result. It wouldn't be much effort at this stage to incorporate the sidelight wiring into the headlamp looms.
I'm not really bothered about DRLs, you may have trouble getting bulbs of sufficient output to fit the normally 5w 501 bulbed in headlamp sidelight fitting. But if it floats your boat.......
I'm already putting side repeaters on, these have orange 501A bulbs as standard.
Steve
Yes ...
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 11:53 am
by sprint95m
That is a pretty nifty B post pillar installation, Steve.
That is the type of second indicator that I had in mind. I have bought these for going onto the front wings of my car.
My thinking is that the little extra light is beneficial.
Ian.
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 2:01 pm
by Carledo
Here is the experiment, I did this very quickly last night and it's just a standard orange tungsten bulb, number 343 IIRC. The LED bulbs I have, turned out to be blue-white ones so no use. Honestly, I think it would be adequate like this!
I'm really pleased with the side repeaters, but i'm not sure they represent a good work versus result ratio, you have to cut both the stainless trim and the pillar EXACTLY to make it stay in and yet be easily removable for bulb changes. Then all the door post trim and main carpet need to be out to wire it up AND you must interrupt the main front to back loom at the base of the n/s B pillar to connect into the system. The only good thing is there is a preformed hole in the inner B pillar for the wires to come through. The lamps themselves are of Peugeot origin (I have an Expert Van and noticed the shape matched what was needed) and are dirt cheap at £3 odd each.
Steve
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 2:06 pm
by ab1
I thought i would post as my car has repeaters already. The picture below is the ones my brother fitted about 30 years ago.
My car is already non original with no chrome or coach lines (and sprint wheels on an 1850) so im not too bothered about originality.
At present my car is in the garage getting resprayed and i am replacing them with these ones in the link below They are almost identical shape and they are really good for being seen by pedestrians, as i do a lot of driving in town in and out of side streets.
Not to everyones (or anyones
) taste but they do the job
I dont have a picture of them fitted yet but they go in the same location as the originals in the picture.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RANGE-ROVER- ... 2749.l2649
basically part number 'PRC4562' in any search engine.
They are classic land rover and some Jag i think, they were the best option for me to replace the ones on the car (which werent a standard part and were beyond their best) the thinking was to put a part on there which will be available in the future if required.
They are available from loads of places including Rimmers
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 4:46 pm
by Carledo
I've long since left originality lying dead in the gutter, check my sig!
I appreciate a standard car and enjoy seeing them. But I love driving more so my mods fall into 3 basic categories, a) safety related improvements, this includes stuff like bigger better brakes, more and better lights, lots of extra fuses and relays to save the 40 year old offerings from the "prince of Darkness" Joe Lucas and so on. b) performance related mods, this includes Vauxhall mechanicals from a decade or two later, uprated suspension etc. and c) because I CAN! This is basically anything I fancy, but can't justify any other way!
The side repeaters are mainly cat "a" but the position and light choice is definitely cat "c"! I could have taken the easy way out and put them on the wings, but I wanted something more stylish and always liked the T2000 repeaters on the B pillars. So that's where they went!
I think i'm going to use this mod, nice one Ian! The pattern of the lights without orange lenses but using orange bulbs matches well with the design of the side repeaters i've got. I've managed to sort a pair of later front indicator lights from stock, all but the gaskets between lamp and body, anyone have a source of these please?
Steve
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 5:51 pm
by mahony
Carledo wrote: ↑Fri May 01, 2020 4:46 pm
I've long since left originality lying dead in the gutter, check my sig!
I appreciate a standard car and enjoy seeing them. But I love driving more so my mods fall into 3 basic categories, a) safety related improvements, this includes stuff like bigger better brakes, more and better lights, lots of extra fuses and relays to save the 40 year old offerings from the "prince of Darkness" Joe Lucas and so on. b) performance related mods, this includes Vauxhall mechanicals from a decade or two later, uprated suspension etc. and c) because I CAN! This is basically anything I fancy, but can't justify any other way!
The side repeaters are mainly cat "a" but the position and light choice is definitely cat "c"! I could have taken the easy way out and put them on the wings, but I wanted something more stylish and always liked the T2000 repeaters on the B pillars. So that's where they went!
I think i'm going to use this mod, nice one Ian! The pattern of the lights without orange lenses but using orange bulbs matches well with the design of the side repeaters i've got. I've managed to sort a pair of later front indicator lights from stock, all but the gaskets between lamp and body, anyone have a source of these please?
Steve
There Is a recent post on lens seals here Steve
https://forum.triumphdolomite.co.uk/vie ... ilit=seals
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Triumph-Dolo ... Sw7t9eTUFy
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 6:26 pm
by Carledo
I knew Id seen it somewhere, just couldn't remember where! Thanks Mahony!
Steve
PS just ordered a set, inner and outer, £14.99 incl postage
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Fri May 01, 2020 7:05 pm
by new to this
i found the LED bulbs you buy to replace the side light bulbs come up bigger taller,on my car i used early ford focus wing side lights( there a bit like a triangle)
Dave
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Sat May 02, 2020 5:30 pm
by MIG Wielder
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 11:45 am
by JPSPRINT
If anyone fits the front assembly types, please post pics
Re: Alternative to early front sidelight/indicator assembly
Posted: Wed May 06, 2020 8:03 pm
by Carledo
Spent a fruitful hour this afternoon converting my outer headlamp wiring to operate the sidelights and have made up a pair of later front indicators with ONLY the orange indicator bulbs fitted. The new gasket set has arrived and the quality looks decent so i'm all ready to go on the lighting front.
I've already wired in at the rear a high level brake light, a pair of rear fogs, reversing radar and a plug and play 7 pin Rists socket for the towbar, so I can, if need be, remove the towbar easily. Scotchlocks are banned from my cars, the plug and it's subloom are hardwired into the car! And, of course, the side repeaters in the middle!
Steve