Lancia Beta Forum
March 28, 2024, 08:29:20 PM *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
News: NEC Restoration Show 22nd-24th March 2024
http://www.betaboyz.myzen.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=5015.msg36852#msg36852
 
   Home   Help Contact Admin Search Calendar Gallery Articles Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Fitting Lucas headlights to a Siem-equipped car  (Read 1562 times)
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
Nigel
Hero Member
*****
Online Online

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 861



« on: August 26, 2021, 08:39:52 PM »

My hpe had fairly poor headlights, rusty reflectors and a foggy beam pattern. I acquired another set last
year but these weren't much better, and the MOT test flagged them lousy.

After some research, I knew I could fit complete new units with bowls etc, but the adjustment would not
be so accessible.

So last week I ordered a pair of standard Lucas lamps. Then the fun started.
I stripped out the Siem lamp down to what I needed: removed the chrome ring, removed the glass,
[breaking it out pretty much the only way], and cut out the lamp holder.

I then centered the new lamp with the ring, marked out and drilled 3 x 5mm holes in the rim, and made them into
slots with a file. Then 3 more holes at 4mm just above the slots. Once the primer and
paint had dried, I then cable-tied the lamp to the ring. The chrome ring fits well, but can't
be tabbed over like the original method, so several spots of CT1 secures it.

The end result, at present, is ok, but the lamp does protrude forwards about 10mm.
I think I can set it back with some mods to the backplate, more to come on that.

 


* 20210826_182249_resized.jpg (164.8 KB, 1008x490 - viewed 227 times.)

* 20210826_182310_resized.jpg (168.44 KB, 1008x490 - viewed 224 times.)

* 20210826_195811_resized.jpg (183.26 KB, 1008x490 - viewed 232 times.)

* 20210826_195831_resized.jpg (226.9 KB, 1008x490 - viewed 230 times.)

* 20210826_195923_resized.jpg (233.7 KB, 1008x490 - viewed 238 times.)
Logged

1984 2.0 Carb HPE [ex Aus] Grigio Finanza.
2007 Mazda 6 2.3 [current daily, highly recommended]
The past:
1980 2.0 HPE White in South Africa [hope it survives!]
1976 1.6 Coupe Lancia Blu [PFG 76R] [probably deceased]
oh,and an Uno Turbo 1997 also in SA [stolen,never recovered]
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2021, 09:24:03 PM »

Well done, looking good. If you have a coupé, or for that matter if you are not bothered about self leveling an HPE, the easiest way to fit more generic headlamps is to fit coupé Carello type backing plates.     
Logged
Nigel
Hero Member
*****
Online Online

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 861



« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2021, 10:44:37 PM »

Hi Alan
I can't recall what the Carello backing plates look like, or how they adjust,
 but I'm assuming they take 'standard' lamps?

As it happens, my self-levelling system never worked, so that issue never arose!
As you suggest, there are easier ways to do this.

Regards
Nigel

duh..spelling edit.
« Last Edit: August 27, 2021, 11:10:27 AM by Nigel » Logged

1984 2.0 Carb HPE [ex Aus] Grigio Finanza.
2007 Mazda 6 2.3 [current daily, highly recommended]
The past:
1980 2.0 HPE White in South Africa [hope it survives!]
1976 1.6 Coupe Lancia Blu [PFG 76R] [probably deceased]
oh,and an Uno Turbo 1997 also in SA [stolen,never recovered]
peteracs
Administrator
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 3822


Peter Stokes


« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2021, 11:02:54 PM »

Hi Nigel

In my Carello based ones, I used Hella lamps which were originally used in the likes of Capri and same era BMWs, so yes they do appear to adhere to a standard fitment.

Peter
Logged

Beta Spyder S2 pre F/L 1600
Beta HPE S2 pre F/L 1600
WestonE
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 1695


« Reply #4 on: August 27, 2021, 09:56:19 AM »

Hi Peter and Nigel

I sent back Lucas lights and generic H4 ones recently I had hoped to use with my spare Carello plates and bowls. The fitting tabs on the back did not line up with the Carello bowl slots and I would have to get busy making all new slots. Which I might have done if the quality of the light units had not been so poor. Apparently now the generic and Lucas items now come from the same Indian factory with Quality control not a priority. The lens moldings were obviously soft edged which is not good for lights.

The only high quality H4 & H1 units I could find are Hella units BUT they are flat fronted which looks wrong on our Betas. I am using NOS SIEM units and back plates on the car which have stainless trims that sit nicely forward on the curved lenses. I also have stainless retaining rims for my Carello set up but these do not sit forward in the attractive way the SIEM ones do. It took ages to find new usable dust shields for the H4 units.

We have a real problem now finding decent RHD H4 light units with rounded lenses (Dip units). The H1 are easier because they are the same for RHD & LHD and last far longer.

I have enough to get buy for now, but many owners are barely scraping through MOTs on their lights now.     

It was not hard to get the Carello backing plates and bowls blasted and powder coated and the springs and adjusters plated BUT new headlight units now!

Eric   
Logged
rossocorsa
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 2373


« Reply #5 on: August 27, 2021, 11:11:48 AM »

I sent back Lucas lights and generic H4 ones recently I had hoped to use with my spare Carello plates and bowls. The fitting tabs on the back did not line up with the Carello bowl slots

That's strange Eric, I always thought that the standard tab pattern was what is known as 'sealed beam' style aligning with the sealed beam lamps that used to be compulsory in North America. Very odd for aftermarket lights not to comply with this.   
Logged
peteracs
Administrator
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 3822


Peter Stokes


« Reply #6 on: August 27, 2021, 10:42:36 PM »

Hi Eric

I actually prefer the Hella flat face style just to be awkward….

Peter
Logged

Beta Spyder S2 pre F/L 1600
Beta HPE S2 pre F/L 1600
WestonE
Legendary Member
******
Offline Offline

United Kingdom United Kingdom

Posts: 1695


« Reply #7 on: August 29, 2021, 08:35:46 AM »

Hi Alan

I was surprised they did not line up and frankly annoyed so I went and got out all of my 10 Carello bowls and it was just the same.

Eric

Peter

With your early grill the flat front lights look fine and Hella units are great quality. However I still think the round lens units look right with the VX & IE set up.

Eric   
Logged
mtulloch
Sr. Member
****
Offline Offline

Posts: 177



« Reply #8 on: August 29, 2021, 08:01:21 PM »

Hi Eric

I actually prefer the Hella flat face style just to be awkward….

Peter

Me too, I've had a set fitted to my VX for 20 years.


* SAM_5386.JPG (282.98 KB, 1024x768 - viewed 191 times.)

* SAM_5633.JPG (284.98 KB, 1024x768 - viewed 198 times.)
Logged
Pages: [1]
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.21 | SMF © 2015, Simple Machines
SMFAds for Free Forums
Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!