723 replies to this topic

[chippy2710]

Just read all 28 pages talk about putting in the effort and getting the results. Lovely.

[stevede]

Thanks once again for the kind comments chaps.

It's been a little while since I have posted an update. Lots of other things going on including driving the mini.

Some time back, I showed a picture of some spotlamps I had bought. I needed to get some brackets but was finding it difficult to get what I wanted.

I mailed a couple of TMF'ers who kindly sent me some drawings and pictures of theirs (thank you), so I had something to work from.

At the weekend, I dropped by my pals place and whilst he was doing some fabrication work, and played around with some stainless bar.


Lots of space to work




Made up a template using some ali welding rod.





Bar was a bit tough for bending on a vice, so I found this!



I made a "first" attempt as a template!! Honest!



And then bent some more bar as a pair





Cut some plate to act as the support for the lamp



Tacked it, and the tested for level etc.





Before handing over to the master for a bit of quality TIG welding.





Cut some support plates to go behind the front panel



Now just need some cleaning up and final trimming before fitting.

Hopefully I'll get that done over this coming weekend when I'll update with some more pictures.

Thanks for looking

Regards

Steve

[mighty mini jack]

Very tidy indeed, nice work guys.

[carboy001]

Good work Steve, looking forward to seeing them all on

[danrock101]

Just read this from start to finish, took me nearly 2 hours. Makes me want to hurry up and get a project, what an inspiration!

[stevede]

Bit more of an update on the lights.

Been off work today (long weekend) and took the opportunity of some decent weather to get the lamps on.

I re- tested the fit on the brackets and they needed a little bit of tweaking



Bit of levelling, some back plates marked and drilled up and some mounting holes drilled in the bars.





I can't tell you how tough the bar was to drill through. After burning out some bits (even using lube), I bought some ultra tough 6mm bits and they seemed to do the trick.

An extra check on level & position before finally going for it and drilling the bodywork.





Not perfectly matched, but you'll never tell with the lamps on.

First lamp



Couple more



And last but not least...........





Think I may need to do something with the number plate.

Just need to get them wired up now, and get some caps for the bolt heads to keep them nice and neat.

The original wire route is through the mounting bolt but I think that looks untidy so I'll drill some holes in the back of the shells and run the cable through a gromet.

More pictures to come once wired up and working.

Thanks for looking

Regards

Steve

[Timty]

WOW! there great i love big rally lights, great job as usual.

[stevede]

Wasn't sure of I'd done the right thing putting them on at first, but they are growing on me.

Got them all wired up and played around with the aim.

Didn't realise until I wired them but 2 have 130w bulbs in them, other 2 have mere 100w.

Went for a test drive and nearly blinded myself from the reflection off a roadsign.............. Need a bit more tweaking on the aim!!



Need to get on with the grille now.

Regards

Steve

[carboy001]

They look immense Steve! Job well done

Do I spy a Passat Coupe behind?

Also a little side note; I think I may have secured a loom for mine

[stevede]

They look immense Steve! Job well done

Do I spy a Passat Coupe behind?

Also a little side note; I think I may have secured a loom for mine

Cheers Chris.

Yes the new Passat arrived last week out of the blue. Still getting to grips with all the gadgets.

Good news on the loom, let me know when you need a lift.

Regards

Steve

[chrisandsarah]

Cant say i like the lights - but the rest of the car is frikin lovely!

[reallybig]

wish i'd been able to do that myself to my mini, had to pay a garage a fair few £'s

[mk3cortina]

its funny how ive just read this page today where you have made up some lamp brackets like that, ive just today made some up myself. looking great!

[JGunn]

Hi Stevede, thanks for your comment. ive just looked through your whole project, im liking the use of leds, also your roof lining looks amazing! Is that material quite stretchy? Mine had no give in it at all, hence the creases I have.

Now for the even wierder bit, while reading your project, I though I had seen your car before. The first giveaway was the light sunken into the bootlid and the leds in the c pillars sealed it! It turns out that we met at Stanford Hall, I dont know if you remember but i came over asking about arches and spacers etc.

The car looks really good, liking the lights on the front. I know what you mean about being blinded by road signs, i get that in my landrover.

Also fair play to you doing it all outside!

Jgunn

[shellspeed]

You will have people getting up thinking its dawn when you put those on - luv it mate