Chinese eye headlamp conversion

[roadterror]

Hi Guys, I'm installing a TTR Chinese eye headlamp conversion and was wondering if anyone has pictures/ instructions on how this is done. The parts supplied consists of a fibreglass flat panel, which I assume is for the mounting of the headlamp(but the outline doesn't match) and the clear plastic outer cover.

Do the original pop up light mounts/ bobbins have to be cut-off?

What's the procedure for posting pictures here?

TIA.

Cheers,
Brian

[garyeanderson]

Hi Brian

The first photo is a S2 with the "Chinese Eye" headlamp and I don't think much of the original lamp system is left



This next one is an S1 26r headlamp conversion (I believe) and it is pretty much just a lamp cover for the stock opening that will save 10 pounds off the front of the Elan. If I am wrong someone will straighten me out, that I am sure of.


Thanks to Clark and Rob for the photos to butcher.

Gary

[cabc26b]

Brian,

Both or these headlamp treatments are applied in addition to the "26R" fender flares/kits. Do you also have these ?

George

[roadterror]

Thanks for the pictures Gary. Are there any showing how the h/lamp and panel are secured to the bodywork?

Hi George, the conversion is going to be carried out on a Sprint without any other 26R body alterations. Hopefully it'll fit....

Would prefer to keep the original pop-up pod attachments but seems like they may be in the way.

[gordont]

I was looking at swapping over from the pop up lights to the 26R version (non Chinese eye) too and was under the impression that the original mechanism (bobbins etc) could remain in place. I was told all that was needed extra was a bit of fibreglassing which could in worse case be ground out if you wanted to reverse the operation.
Can anyone clarify this?

[cabc26b]

Gents,

I think if you were careful you could preserve the bobbins with the non-Chinese eye treatment applied to a non wide arch elan . Here are couple shots of my old race car. - The outer bobbins went away with the the fender modifications the inner were still recoverable. TTR sell a panel kit to mount the small head lamps. the buckets etc are available from a number of cars ( i get mine from old jag XJ's)

G

[1964 S1]

Where did this term come from?

[garyeanderson]

Most folks that start a topic know what they want out of the topic and what it is about. They know what they want but don't convey that to us well. I still am unsure which kit Brian is installing. its tough to help someone when you don't understand the question. There are two headlamp covers and one is a complete change in looks to the front of the elan ("chinese eye"), the other mimics the original pop up lamp shape and just guts all of the mechanical components for a fixed unit. See this post for info

elan-f14/26r-headlamp-covers-t16076.html

Maybe it?s me that?s confused easily, post some pictures of what you are trying to do. They help me to understand what it is you are trying to accomplish and then I may be able to offer something useful. If I can?t, then there are others here that have a great deal of experience with this stuff and they may decide that they can offer something that you and everyone else is interested in.

Here are a a couple of pictures of the ?chinese eye? version (well that?s what I believe that they are called), is this the system you are installing?

These two are off of this site I think and I don't know who took the photos.



I think this is a photo that Dave Hughes sent me of his shell.


So getting back to my part of playing 20 questions and acting dumb as a stump, What KIT are you trying to install?

Gary

[Gray]

Hi

I remember reading many years ago that the fixed headlamp arrangement on an Elan was not road legal in the UK as it made the headlamps below the minimum height. Does anyone know if this is still the case and if it comes up in the MOT?

Regards Gray

[paddy]

t was discussed here:

elan-f14/faired-26r-type-headlights-hid-conversion-t17933.html

I understand that the requirement at the time the car was designed was a minimum of 24", but that requirement has since been reduced to 500mm - which would mean that they are legal.

The last time it was discussed I found this reference:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_9.htm

It says for any vehicle first used on or after 1 January 1956 the minimum height is 500mm.

I don't think anyone has reported getting them through an MOT, though.

Paddy

[roadterror]

Hi Gary,

I was under the impression that both kits are "Chinese Eye" conversions but large or small...

To clarify, it's the larger width kit that converts the Sprint pop up lights...

Looking at the photos, which size headlamp is most suitable? There's a choice of 5" and 7"?

How is it that some examples have the area under the headlamp well covered (like the Europa) while others are left exposed?

Cheers,
Brian

[ripley]

Brian, it's simple, it's just a question of taste. Most of the race Elans with 26R style headlamps don't have the area underneath grp covered, some have.
"Chinese eye" is only called the version which has a narrow opening, just as small as the headlights themselves; the other (non chinese eye-version) has the same measure as the original but without pop up mechanism.
Headlamp sizes differ, most used are the TTR supplied 5", with lot of modification work you can also use 7" Lucas (Jaguar XJ, MGB). Question of taste, too...
Fred

[Elan45]

I was looking at a car at LOG 30 that had a 26R style headlamp kit, the non Chinese eye full width style. The kit was supposedly supplied by TT and the upper pair of four screws holding the plexi covers was through a bent aluminum bracket, the other end simply attached to the normal headlamp pod swivel point using a 1/4-20 hex head cap screw. The lower fixing was a simple straight piece of aluminum with a screw through the body beside the headlamp opening. It was so simple I didn't take a photo. But then again, I might copy the upper fixing, bit not the lower one.

Roger

[bigvalvehead]

Hi Pics att'd of the Chinese Eye light conversion
You have to cut quite a bit away as the new light surround has a lower profile.

You will lose the std mounts.

Cheers Dave hughes 26-R-9

[twincamman]

MINE