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MG MGA - Front lights

I've rewired the front lighting from the radiator forward. The buckets are new so I'll be able to aim the lights properly. I installed Cibie units with side lamps and connected the side lamps to the factory "parking" lights. In the dark corner of the garage they appear brighter than usual. The parking lights are led lamps. In order to install the new Cibie units its necessary to cut the buckets to accommodate the extra lamps and wiring. I added a second rubber grommet (same as used for the usual wires) at the top of each unit to feed through the extra wires.

Low beams and high beams are now on relays, mounted under the heater air tube. They are pulling full current from the battery end of the starter switch and grounded with the engine ground on the fire wall. The cut off on the low beam is flat and sharp. Super bright!

The best news is that with testing all of the smoke stayed in the wires! no shorts, no problems.

its going back together now with new front overriders and polished front bumper.

Driving/fog lamps were already on separate relays. This will light up an aircraft runway! Perfect!

Yes, I am running an alternator that was fitted with the blower.

Will post again when its finished.

This has been a very enjoyable project.


Ted Persons

Ted
when you said you "cut the buckets", was this done to make them fit the Cibie lamps or was it to make your new LED sidelights fit?

I have some Wipac lamps which, although they are a heap better than the replica Tripod that I had at first, they are still not as good as I expected.

I have heard good things about the Cibie units but I dont really want to cut any extra holes to make them fit.

The Tripod lamps had working sidelights in them but the original MGA sidelamps were not connected.
So when I fitted the Wipac new headlights I decided to connect up the original sidelights at the same time.

Unfortunately, the DPO had used a black wire to feed 12v to the lights and I naturally assumed that it was an earth wire.
I successfully released the smoke from the entire front loom all the way from the lamp to the igition switch, which was a very expensive mistake!

I now use a battery charger to test any wiring rather than connect the car battery.
That way, if the wiring is wrong, I only get a loud click and a red warning light from the charger instead of a smokey red glow from the loom and a bad smell of burnt plastic!
Colyn
Colyn Firth

Colyn, cutting the buckets was to accomodate the rear of the small side lamps. I have the two adjuster style of buckets. It was easy using an electric jig saw. Without the extra lamps it would have been a straight fit

Ted
Ted Persons

To clarify, I cut a notch in the inner shell, the outer bucket is fine as is. Sorry for confusion! Love when the smoke stays contained!
Ted Persons

For the record, the Hella heads on our cars did not need any mods. I guess the sidelight is in a different position.
Roger
Roger Walker

In the future for testing circuits, I use a long wire with clips on the ends and in the middle of the wire I have a re-set fuse which will blow the fuse which can be reset. I clip one end to the battery and the other to where I want power. This beats letting the smoke out of the wires. This has saved me a lot of $$$$$ or pounds.

Jeff Becker
JEFF BECKER

Try checking circuits with Ohm meter, so simple its almost stupid. I know. I am an expert on so many levels here.

Get halogen lights, as they are less frequently stolen by bands of maurading gypsies and other societal dregs like the North France blue eyed devils who steal all my stuff like it is theirs. I know its them.
Ernie Yuck

This thread was discussed between 17/05/2016 and 23/05/2016

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