Headlights

[Graham Sewell]

With the imminent rebuild just about to start, the car will need new headlights to replace the original Cibie's from 7 years ago. Are these still available (shells as well as lenses), or do I need to change type.

 

If they are not available, what is the current thinking on which ones are good.

 

Cheers,

 

Graham

 

Low tech luddite - xflow and proud!

[Geoff Dixon]

Try the smaller ones that James Whiting does.

Look much better and lighting performance is fine.

[stutch]

Graham - just following on from the FIA roll bar discussion of yesterday. My understanding was that as the FIA bar main hoop was indeed thicker wall section and therefore stronger but because the bar was angled forward if the car rolled and the bracing bar wasn't in place the bar would be more prone to collapse. As I said it wasn't my opinion it was that of Redline. So do I take it that you can get an FIA bar without a strengthening brace which is indeed stronger than a std. bar?

[Graham Sewell]

Considering the additional area for welding at the joins and the added number of bolts holding it to the chassis, I would be very surprised it is was any weaker than the standard item - plus the height issue alone as my head was well above the standard rollbar so if the car rolled I would probably have major injury even if the bar remained intact. With the FIA style bar, it is higher but maybe not quite high enough.

 

Let's hope that I never need to use it!

 

Cheers,

 

Graham

 

Low tech luddite - xflow and proud!

[stutch]

Graham,

 

Thanks for your thoughts - did you say that you purchased your bar from Caterham themselves and they modified it for you? and does a std. hood still fit over the FIA bar?

 

Like you said lets hope the bar remains in its passive role!

 

 

[R2D2]

I bought some Cibie H180s last year and have been quite disappointed.

 

I used Z180s for years rallying an Escort and was always delighted but they aren't available any more. I assumed the H180 would be good as well.

 

The car was running with Lucas H4 domed lights and I have put them back in as the Cibie was just not as good!! and I lost significant light output. I used the same wattage bulbs in both types of lamp so I am at a loss to explain the difference.

 

Some of the new shells around are made in China and are dreadful. The originals are still around the Autojumbles in good condition. New rims are around for about £7 and you can find the original chrome on brass nuts for about a fiver. (I think Holden may offer original Lucas Spec in their catalogue)

[murph7355]

I lost one of the retaining nuts for the bezel earlier this year and Caterham said that they don't do these lights any more (are yours the ones withOUT the screw on the top? Mine are and I think these were the original Cibie type?).

 

Do you really need new shells or can you get your current ones refurb'd? I hear that these are the better lights to have you see (with suitably meaty bulbs).

 

I personally don't like the look of the smaller lights. Think the 7"ers give it more character instead of looking like it was out on the piss the night before.

 

You could, of course, always try the retro-fit HID type lighting. I'm dying for someone to try this on a 7, but at about 600 quid I have a few more urgent things to spend my cash on. I'm sure all the bits would fit in a 7" shell...

[Rob Walker]

All the lighting bits for the Caterham are available cheap from www.Stafford Vehicle Components Tel 01827 67714