Removable access covers for the headlamps
Discussion
Some time ago an owner fitted removable covers to the rear of the headlamps (Boat waterproof hatch covers) instead of having to cut the sealed fibreglass covers. I am in the process of fitting some.
It could have been for a Chimera but the Search facility does not bring up anything. Does anyone know how to find the post?
Thanks LB
It could have been for a Chimera but the Search facility does not bring up anything. Does anyone know how to find the post?
Thanks LB
Having realised how poor the headlights are on a Griffith I have decided to fit LEDs. As the legal position regarding LED headlights is very confused I do not wish to have to hack off the original fibreglass covers and change back to Night breakers at an MOT station if the tester choses to fail the LEDs.
From memory it was quite a straightforward job on a Chimera but the Griffith is a bit more of a challenge, nearly there though.
From memory it was quite a straightforward job on a Chimera but the Griffith is a bit more of a challenge, nearly there though.
I did this mod a couple of years ago, (not my original idea I have to say) and found it really worthwhile and satisfying to do.
You will need to keep them as flat to the wheel arch as you can or there is a chance that on partial lock the edge of the tyre could touch the cover. I didn't have a problem on my Griff but just something to watch out for.
You will need to keep them as flat to the wheel arch as you can or there is a chance that on partial lock the edge of the tyre could touch the cover. I didn't have a problem on my Griff but just something to watch out for.
Alex,
Thanks for the pics. What size hatch covers did you use? After the original post by a Chimera owner ( I believe) years ago I bought the same size hatch covers but they were far too small for the Griffith.
Went for the next size up, 5" hole but maybe should have bought larger as the 5" ones needed a building up at the bottom using the old fibre glass blanking plate inverted and carved. still fettling but as you say very satisfying and a big improvement.
Thanks for the pics. What size hatch covers did you use? After the original post by a Chimera owner ( I believe) years ago I bought the same size hatch covers but they were far too small for the Griffith.
Went for the next size up, 5" hole but maybe should have bought larger as the 5" ones needed a building up at the bottom using the old fibre glass blanking plate inverted and carved. still fettling but as you say very satisfying and a big improvement.
Paul,
The size I used was 6”. Don’t be tempted to go larger because as the wheel arch is curved it will cause the cover to stand even further away than it would with the 6” size. I filled the gap at top and bottom with body filler.
I bought mine online from......
www.seaware.co.uk. Part No. 25107. £5.64 each +vat + £3.33 p&p + vat
The size I used was 6”. Don’t be tempted to go larger because as the wheel arch is curved it will cause the cover to stand even further away than it would with the 6” size. I filled the gap at top and bottom with body filler.
I bought mine online from......
www.seaware.co.uk. Part No. 25107. £5.64 each +vat + £3.33 p&p + vat
Many thanks Alex,
I had not considered the tyre possibly rubbing on the cover if it was too proud. Did a quick check and OK but for those owners who have changed to 17" wheels it could be tight.
There is plenty of space between the cover and heat sinks for LEDs I will post some pics when a bit further forward.
Replaced the original front sidelights with LEDs, the difference is amazing. Some pics later when the car is off the 4 post lift.
I had not considered the tyre possibly rubbing on the cover if it was too proud. Did a quick check and OK but for those owners who have changed to 17" wheels it could be tight.
There is plenty of space between the cover and heat sinks for LEDs I will post some pics when a bit further forward.
Replaced the original front sidelights with LEDs, the difference is amazing. Some pics later when the car is off the 4 post lift.
Got my covers off at the moment and they need some TLC before they go back on, so would make sense to do the mod now.
Link added that work for me as Hedgehoppers didn't.
https://tinyurl.com/w9w2u23
What size to go for and wonder if I can have black base and clear hatch so some wheel arch lights to shine through could be fitted?
Link added that work for me as Hedgehoppers didn't.
https://tinyurl.com/w9w2u23
What size to go for and wonder if I can have black base and clear hatch so some wheel arch lights to shine through could be fitted?
I opted for hatches with a 5" Hole, Alex ( Hedgehopper) went for 6" but which ever you chose there will be some fibreglass patching to do to fill the original aperture.
I stand corrected but I would guess that 6" ones would stand prouder from the wheel arch than 5" and that could be a problem especially with larger than standard 15" wheels.
With 5" ones I had to cut the original aperture away at the edges to get a good fit and that made them sit flatter to the original wheel arch profile.
I hope this makes sense.
Alex may have some advice as his have been fitted for a while now.
I stand corrected but I would guess that 6" ones would stand prouder from the wheel arch than 5" and that could be a problem especially with larger than standard 15" wheels.
With 5" ones I had to cut the original aperture away at the edges to get a good fit and that made them sit flatter to the original wheel arch profile.
I hope this makes sense.
Alex may have some advice as his have been fitted for a while now.
I used the 6" covers on my car and they more than covered the cut-out in the inner wing. In fact one day I mean to cut away the two pieces of fibreglass each side of the aperture to the left and right of the opening to tidy it up a bit. The only filling I had to do was between the back of the backplate and the face of the inner wing and for that I just used body filler.
The outer diameter of the 5" back plate might not cover the aperture in the inner wing but would stand less proud, on the other hand the 6" does cover the aperture but stands prouder.
All I can say is that on my Griff with 15" wheels and 205 tyres it worked for me...but of course no two TVRs are the same!
The outer diameter of the 5" back plate might not cover the aperture in the inner wing but would stand less proud, on the other hand the 6" does cover the aperture but stands prouder.
All I can say is that on my Griff with 15" wheels and 205 tyres it worked for me...but of course no two TVRs are the same!
If I was going to start this again I would go for the larger 6" hatches as Alex has done, with 5" there is quite a big hole to fill below the hatch.
To do this I inverted the original fibreglass cover and carved a suitable piece, a right faff! and it still needs filler to finish the job.
In case there is any confusion regarding the sizes mentioned, the 5" and 6" refer to the diameter of the removable hatch, the retaining ring is wider.
Chandlers tend to advertise the hatches by the size of the cover i.e, the dimeter of the aperture not the overall diameter.
To do this I inverted the original fibreglass cover and carved a suitable piece, a right faff! and it still needs filler to finish the job.
In case there is any confusion regarding the sizes mentioned, the 5" and 6" refer to the diameter of the removable hatch, the retaining ring is wider.
Chandlers tend to advertise the hatches by the size of the cover i.e, the dimeter of the aperture not the overall diameter.
Edited by Loubaruch on Thursday 9th January 21:23
Thanks for this advice, I went for the 6" versions, but to get them reasonably flat I had to cut away some of the fibre glass and let in a steel plate to support one edge. A bit fiddly but pleased with the result. It may be that the wheel arches vary a bit in shape but there was quite a hump in mine which prevented them sitting anywhere near flat and would have required a lot of filler. Now for the near side.
Mike
Amazing the difference in shape side to side, the near side was much easier to fit and required only a small amount of filler at the bottom to give a flat surface to fix the rim to.
Headlamp access mod NS (11) by Mike Sanderman, on Flickr
Mike
Amazing the difference in shape side to side, the near side was much easier to fit and required only a small amount of filler at the bottom to give a flat surface to fix the rim to.
Headlamp access mod NS (11) by Mike Sanderman, on FlickrEdited by mikanel on Tuesday 16th March 19:22
Even with 5" hatch covers It still needed patching up with filler see here:
http://www.bertram-hill.com/tvr-griffith-lighting....
Now that the MOT regulations have changed effectively banning LED headlights in QI housings I am glad I fitted the hatches as its an easy job to put back the original QIs for the MOT if the tester requests it.
http://www.bertram-hill.com/tvr-griffith-lighting....
Now that the MOT regulations have changed effectively banning LED headlights in QI housings I am glad I fitted the hatches as its an easy job to put back the original QIs for the MOT if the tester requests it.
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