headlamp chrome bezell gap

Gotta love that wiring . . .
geoff
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headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby geoff » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:12 am

at a meeting yesterday it was pointed out to me that the large gap between the headlamp and its chrome surround can be eliminated and that it would look much nicer. I never even thought of this before. My car is a 2000 injection USA model to which I have fitted european headlights. A freind showed me his 1.8 european model and he is right - it looks much better. Is this a well known mod that I have missed out on, or just some european initiative?
geoff

baltobernie
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Your car is a: 1973 Spider [sold]
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby baltobernie » Mon Sep 25, 2017 10:28 am

I'm not familiar with this mod; I thought all Spiders looked alike! This does sound like an interesting modification, and I wish I'd have thought of it during my restoration project. It isn't a trivial job, however. Those headlamp buckets are welded in, so removing and reinstalling would result in body work and paint. I painted my "gap" satin black to minimize the visual effect. This is probably more noticeable on light-colored cars.

Can anyone confirm that the headlamp recess is a USA spec? That doesn't seem logical; the E-code headlamps are the same depth at their circumference as the US sealed beam. Some E-code lamps have less of a dome in the center, but even these are approximately the same thickness at their edges as the PAR-56 sealed beam.

geoff
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby geoff » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:21 am

the car I was looking at yesterday was just like yours - same colour too, and I must admit, the lens was flush with the bezel and it looked good. The owner told me that it was simply a matter of packing out the 'rear of the light' and was not difficult. this was all in my poor French though so probably lost something in translation. When I have time I will strip mine down and have a look.

baltobernie
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby baltobernie » Mon Sep 25, 2017 3:17 pm

I suppose it would be possible to use extra-long adjusting screws and shim the capturing ring away from the bucket by a half-inch or so to reduce the gap, but how rigid would it be? Interesting possibility.

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RRoller123
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby RRoller123 » Mon Sep 25, 2017 8:24 pm

Just curious, can anyone confirm that "European" headlights are a larger diameter? That would be odd, I think? Never heard of that before, would think that they were all to a common international standard of some sort.
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AriK
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby AriK » Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:22 pm

Another Fiat owner once told me that the original headlamps had more of a bubble face on them thus eliminating the gap. He seemed pretty confident that this was true but i never ran into anyone else who can confirm that fact. Anyone here?

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spiderdan
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby spiderdan » Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:40 pm

My 68 doesn't have a big gap. I guess my lights could be called "bubble face", they aren't flat. I don't think the lens affects the gap.
I have always noticed that later Spiders have a wider gap.
I would post a few pics, but that photobucket thing...(ya I know I got to get an Imgur account)

The vid below show my lights at 1:00min
https://youtu.be/aMsXioaQu7E

Note: due to copyright music in this video it is unavailable on some devices
Dan
1968 124 Sport Spider
"Angelina"
2015 Toyota Camry XSE (hers)
2016 Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited (cottage toy)
http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/68spi ... t%20Spider
http://www.youtube.com/user/Coontache/videos

geoff
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby geoff » Tue Sep 26, 2017 4:53 am

all the lights have the same diameter, and the 'bulging' of the glass is not a factor. I guess the use of extra long adjusting screws and some suitable packing would be the answer, but I have not looked yet. (too busy trying to solve the overheating problem !)
geoff

AriK
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby AriK » Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:00 am

Image

geoff
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby geoff » Tue Sep 26, 2017 8:05 am

certainly seems to show the difference between the earlier car in the foreground and the USA spec blue car.
geoff

PhillySpider
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby PhillySpider » Tue Sep 26, 2017 9:35 am

maybe unpopular opinion, but I like the recessed light in that pic better than the foreground light. I'm going to have to check mine out...

geoff
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Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby geoff » Tue Sep 26, 2017 1:26 pm

yes philly, I guess unpopular - but hey who knows - I was only 'alerted' to this at the weekend and there may be some out there like you ;)
I just had a quick look and on my car it would be easy to just move the bucket forward a little using spacers - so no big deal; I think I will do it.
geoff

geoff
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Your car is a: 1982 Spider

Re: headlamp chrome bezell gap

Postby geoff » Mon Nov 06, 2017 4:59 am

well for those who are interested, I did it - on one side at least. Bugger of a job. sounds easy but not really and the result is truly wierd!
I used a hard rubber spacer to move the bucket 10cm. away from the body - and what has this achieved - well the gap at the top of the headlight is now gone - but for some reason I cannot figure out, the gap at the bottom has remained the same at around 13mm.
I have no explanation for this and wish I had never started the project.


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