Cal Import - getting it ready for MOT - tech. questions (lig

[kaferboy]

OK, SO I've got the car, now its running those US spec lights up front and the rear's are red lenses. Do I need to change the front ones for UK spec and will I pass on the rears? WHat do I need to change?

ANy help would be greatly appreciated.

Car is a 74 911 by the way.

Cheers!
Jamie

[pmjt]

Something I've tripped over before are reversing and fog lights

hth

p

[Ian Donkin]

From memory the rears just require a lens change (and the side marker bulbs taking out) whilst the fronts need the side markers disabling and a side light wire running up the the back of the headlight (assuming you buy H4's with a side light included).

At the front you will also need to disable the orange side light that is a function of the indicator (it's a dual purpose stop / tail bulb) - for now, I just taped up the connector for the sidelight portion and left the same bulb in.

I almost bought UK style front lenses, but these will not work unless you also buy new housings. Sadly these are as rare as the proverbial rocking horse sh!t.

Hope this helps.

[kaferboy]

Thanks Guys!

Ian, a quick Q if you don't mind, and you'll have to excuse me for not knowing - but what are H4's? Are these a light unit that will fit in my US spec front headlight housing?

What I'm getting at is do I need to source a pair of lights like these:


or can I keep my lights (or modify them) which are like these:


Sorry if I sound a bit thick, I just don't know anything about these and am feeling out the info I need so far!

Thanks!
Jamie

[Ian Donkin]

Jamie

The front light info I gave you was for Pre impact bumper cars (doh!) so I'm not sure about the challenges you will face with a '74 car. I suspect it may be the same, but don't know as I've not had the pleasure of converting a post '74 car for the UK.

H4's are in the top picture, H1's (?) in the bottom. IMHO, H4's look so much better - both fit the same headlamp bowl and you'll need lights to dip the correct way, so why not go with the European (H4) look at the same time?

Where are you based? Maybe someone close by will be willing to assist.

[Nick Moss]

all you need to do is put some tape on the front lenses to prevent the LHD lenses dipping up to the right and make sure you have orange indicators at the rear which you can achieve by fitting euro lenses. You have US spec sealed beam headlamps which you can change at a later date to H4s. You don't need a rear fog light on a '74 car

[kaferboy]

Thanks for that Guys!

Cheers
Jamie

[g3ngs]

Here's a cost effective and pretty quick way-

As said before rear lights, pop out the reflectors and bulbs on the side of the car that are the running lights.

Fronts, mini spares £23 a pair, 7" lamps with side lights. Twist of the 3 lugs with pliers and replace the US ones.

Wiring, in the connector that in on on each inner wing as yoou look dowin into the trunk that feeds each front lamp and indicator, unplug and pull back any cover to reveal the wires. You should see a grey and black or grey and red red wire (can't remember of the top of my head but will double check in the am) this is the side light wire that makes your indicators stay on as side lights. cut wire and then reroute to the side lights of your mini spares lights and hey presto.

i

[g3ngs]

its grey and red on the right (as you sit in the car) and grey and black on the left.

[Herr Kuult]

On my Cal import I still have the original "red" rear lenses, and it's passed at least 4 MOTs like that. It's been converted to have the rear indicators where the reversing lamps should be, using orange bulbs. The rear brake lights and side lights are a single bulb. I like the look of the car without orange at the rear, but the downside is that I don't have reversing lights.

Since my car is a 68, all of this probably doesn't help those with later cars, where reversing lights are (presumably) required by law.

Cheers,
Paul.