re plating Front side indicator lamps

[bob_rich]

Hi Folks

The side/ indicator lamps on the +2 appear to be the Lucas L797. Understand these cannot be obtained new. Mine are not too bad but plating looks a bit poor. Anyone tried re-plating these? if so any suitable contacts around London, SE England area?

cheers

bob

[Robbie693]

Hi Bob,

There was some discussion on Mazac re-plating a while ago, I don't remember if anyone actually re-plated theirs though.

You can buy them new from Paul Matty (and possibly others) but they're not cheap, there is also a set on ebay at the moment but they are not much cheaper than the new ones:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lotus-Elan-Plus-2-OS-Right-Hand-Sidelight-Unit-/270689484559?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f0659bf0f

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lotus-Elan-Plus-2-NS-Left-Hand-Sidelight-Unit-/270689483828?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f0659bc34

Hope this helps

Robbie

[jono]

Derby Plating will re plate Mazac.

[bob_rich]

hi both

thanks for the info. Have checked with a local plater and will tke lights to him 2 C what he says. he sounded hopeful but without seeing them he commented that success would depend on how badly they are pitted. will report back how things go. to re-plate have to drill out the rivets and remove the indicator assembly as well as uncrimp the side light--that all went straight forward.

As an aside Paul Matty have made tooling and can provide complete new ones at ?145 +VAT. so worth a look to see if re-plating looks on! Interestingly ,as well, both my lights are marked LH (left hand) and the Lotus parts list for the +2 indicates that both LH and RH units are listed for some models but the Paul Matty Units are according to the parts guy the same for either side.

wonder what this difference LH to RH actually meant?

cheers

Bob

[Jason1]

elan-plus-f13/elan-front-indicator-lamps-t13250.html

Link to the previous discussion on this above, may be of interest?

They sided as one says LH and the other RH. I would assume the lenses would be slightly angled out so you could see the indicator flash better, but in reality the angle is probably so slight that it would not make any difference.

Jason

[mr.vman]

I have had the front turn signals replated. In USD about, $35 a lamp. My lights were pitted, the chrome shop had no problems with them. As for left and right. It appears the bulb holder and, bulb reflector are at a slight angle. The palted metal surround appear to be the same, right or left. I had to drill out the bulb holders before the chrome shop would take them. The bulb holders and reflectors are now held in with adhesive (JB weld) and, "pop rivets". There are also two types of front markers. The older type? has two light bulbs, the other, a single light bulb. By the way, I also had the rear tail-lamps replated. The plating shop I use in Tucson Arizona, seemed to make quick work of it with no pain (at least I heard of none). I paid, $65 USD a lamp to replate (rear lamps). Hope this helps, this is for the USA.
Steve V. +2 going together in Arizona USA

[1964 S1]

I've got two sets and will switch the lenses around tomorrow to see if indeed, there is a right and left surround and lens.
All my plastic lenses are solid amber, to USA specs I suppose, I noticed the one pictured on the eBay link appears to be half and half.
Eric

[Jason1]

noticed the one pictured on the eBay link appears to be half and half.

The UK lenses are in 2 parts; half amber with full clear lens on top.

[oillite]

Reading this thread prompted me to go and have a rummage in my stock of spares and lo and behold I find that I have for the +2, 2 pairs of new and unused genuine Lucas left and right uk. spec. front side/indicator lamps.

As I've only got the one car I was thinking of parting with one pair. Now for the 100 dollar question, what do you think they are worth?

[john.p.clegg]

I'll give you twenty quid for them....Cash.

John

[RichC]

maybe the RH LH have different colour wires? It's been a while since i looked but i seem to remember that there is 'handedness' to the wiring . Certainly the family Midget (of the MG variety) has different colour coding for left and right
RichC

[Sea Ranch]

I have had the front turn signals replated. In USD about, $35 a lamp. My lights were pitted, the chrome shop had no problems with them . . . The plating shop I use in Tucson Arizona, seemed to make quick work of it with no pain (at least I heard of none). I paid, $65 USD a lamp to replate (rear lamps). Hope this helps, this is for the USA.
Steve V. +2 going together in Arizona USA

"Good 'ol American know-how" is what I have to say!

Thanks for the encouragement, Steve!

[stugilmour]

maybe the RH LH have different colour wires? It's been a while since i looked but i seem to remember that there is 'handedness' to the wiring . Certainly the family Midget (of the MG variety) has different colour coding for left and right
RichC

Good point Rich on the wire colours in the loom. The turn signals are coloured side to side, (left - green/red & right - green/white). On some British cars the running lamps are coloured separately as well (left - red/black & right - red/white). However, the Plus 2 light assembly wire colours are the same side to side and front to rear in the pigtails attached to the lamp assembly. Colours are black - ground, red - running light, and green - turn signal. Rear assemblies additionally have stop & reverse (green/purple & green/brown).

For the life of me I could not see the "handedness" difference in my collection of lights, but did not look closely at the reflector location inside the housing.

[vernon.taylor]

I'll give you twenty quid for them....Cash.

John

?30. Let's start elanbay.

Seriously though, I would like them - for my car and not to sell on.

@+

Vernon