Lowering Speedster Headlight Height: Feasible? Legal??

Little b@st@rd · Post by **Little b@st@rd** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:01 pm

How big a job would it be (post IVA pass) to lower the headlight height on a speedster replica?
Afaik all speedster replicas in the UK have a headlight posistion a couple of inches higher than on genuine speedster to meet minimum legal height requirements.

Here's a pic of a (Chesil) speedster replica-

Notice how much higher the headlights are in comparison to this real speedster-

Assuming the mod is within the realms of possibility, would the new lower position of the headlights be road legal? In the sence of passing an MOT test? (unsure wether headlight height is tested during an MOT?)

Any views appreciated.

Stevie B · Post by **Stevie B** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:14 pm

I wouldn't worry too much about the mot. The mot man cant believe he is moting such a beautifull car and half the things are missed.Mine passed with black plates, dodgy wiper switch and a horn operated by touching two wires together.(all fixed now except plates) let me know if you struggle and you can take yours where i go!

Stevie B

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:15 pm

Height isn`t a problem for an MOT, they only measure the beam pattern. If you can fibreglass, you can move them no problem. It`s amazing how many people comment on mine, and how much better they look being low.
[img][img]http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy27 ... 0002-1.jpg[/img][/img]

Little b@st@rd · Post by **Little b@st@rd** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:18 pm

Stevie B wrote:I wouldn't worry too much about the mot. The mot man cant believe he is moting such a beautifull car and half the things are missed.Mine passed with black plates, dodgy wiper switch and a horn operated by touching two wires together.(all fixed now except plates) let me know if you struggle and you can take yours where i go!

Stevie B

Lol, don't doubt what your saying, however it would be a bitch to raise them again should it fail for that reason

Little b@st@rd · Post by **Little b@st@rd** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:19 pm

speedstars wrote:Height isn`t a problem for an MOT, they only measure the beam pattern. If you can fibreglass, you can move them no problem. It`s amazing how many people comment on mine, and how much better they look being low.
[img][img]http://i799.photobucket.com/albums/yy27 ... 0002-1.jpg[/img][/img]

Real steel tho right? v.nice

good news, cheers.

Stevie B · Post by **Stevie B** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:23 pm

Little b@st@rd wrote:
Stevie B wrote:I wouldn't worry too much about the mot. The mot man cant believe he is moting such a beautifull car and half the things are missed.Mine passed with black plates, dodgy wiper switch and a horn operated by touching two wires together.(all fixed now except plates) let me know if you struggle and you can take yours where i go!

Stevie B
Lol, don't doubt what your saying, however it would be a bitch to raise them again should it fail for that reason

if it did I know a man..................

mdmax72 · Post by **mdmax72** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:18 pm

Dan,
if go through the IVA then the headlights do have a minimum height 500mm from bottom of headlight to groung level. So you will fail if you drop them, maybe don't bother painting until after the iva as i'm doing... once all mods are carried out.

Little b@st@rd · Post by **Little b@st@rd** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:29 pm

I was just reading bonerp thread and noticed Pilgrim Speedsters seem to have the headlights at the the correct height as standard. Pilgrim seems to be out of action, are they still going? What are there kits like?

Pilgrim speedster (note the headlight height)

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:24 pm

I think Vintage Speedsters sold by Mc Gurk are the only ones with the headlamp in the correct place, but I maybe wrong, there maybe others? Theirs are only turnkeys too

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:03 pm

Pilgrim use the old L&B molds, hence the headlights are at the correct height. Don`t know what the laws are in Europe, for height, but Chesil moved them up for SVA/IVA regs. Building a Pilgrim shouldn`t be any harder than building an L&B, and I`ve built three of those. The shut lines on the old L&B were poor, not much better on the new ones, so I would assume that is still the case with the Pilgrim. Last time I spoke to Pilgrim they weren`t bonding in the inner panels which would make the build trickier.(Pilgrim builders jump in here if this not the case anymore)

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:19 pm

What's the difference in height? Could this be overcome using ride height height adjustments prior to the IVA test?

speedstars · Post by **speedstars** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:38 pm

I`m guessing it would be about 25-30mm. If you could raise the front up that would overcome it, if the beam would go that far, and the dampers would allow. You`d need to raise the back as well, as the rear lights would drop a little. I don`t really know about IVA, all my builds were pre SVA, but I`m willing to learn. Someone must have IVA`d a low headlight replica!

mdmax72 · Post by **mdmax72** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:27 pm

Micheal, that right chesil lifted theirs for that reason. l went through the IVA with the chesil kit last year, used a adjustable front beam and was set to highest ride height and only just past the indicator height minimum of 350mm from ground to bottom of lense, just measured the headlight and this would have scrapped through by 10mm. So using adjustable suspension will not give you more height if you lower the headlight prior to IVA. Another thing your supposed to have a full tank of fuel on the test which would also lower the front by ???mm. Not sure what a standard beam would give you???

Sorry Paul if your headlights are set lower the this may be a problem for you?? dont know what suspension your running, just measure yours to be safe. Bottom of indicator lense from ground up minimum 350mm and bottom of light lense minimum 500mm.

mdmax72 · Post by **mdmax72** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:29 pm

Micheal,
that's right chesil lifted theirs for that reason. l went through the IVA with the chesil kit last year, used a adjustable front beam and was set to highest ride height and only just past the indicator height minimum of 350mm from ground to bottom of lense, just measured the headlight and this would have scrapped through by 10mm. So using adjustable suspension will not give you more height if you lower the headlight prior to IVA. Another thing your supposed to have a full tank of fuel on the test which would also lower the front by ???mm. Not sure what a standard beam would give you???

Sorry Paul if your headlights are set lower the this may be a problem for you?? dont know what suspension your running, just measure yours to be safe. Bottom of indicator lense from ground up minimum 350mm and bottom of light lense minimum 500mm.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 11:32 pm

you can modifiy beams that would raise the car even higher ... just needs the adjusters welding in slightly further around , so it would be possible to get it through, although it would look like a baja 356 !

( this is assuming the SVA test allows cut & welded beams ? )