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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TriPod Headlamps

I am going to fit sidelamp bulbs in the TF's headlamps and use the current sidelamps exclusively as indicators - with amber bulbs. To do this I will need new headlamps. I currently have two original Lucas sealed beam units. I have been searching the web and can buy two halogen tripod lamps, with side lamp "holes" for about £50. However our MGA collegues report the quality of these is poor. Has anyone experience of the tripods currently on offer?


Jan T
J Targosz

Two thoughts cross my mind:

have you considered the dual white/orange LED sidelight/indicator bulbs on the existing sidelight units

are there legal limits on how far inboard the side lamp can be installed?
Ian Bowers

Off topic but I am always surprised how other areas deal with antique cars and making them 'compliant' to today's standards like your sidelight issue.

In California, which prides itself as the location that tells everyone how to act and what they can do environmentally and safety wise, cars so far have escaped this wrath.

Basically your car only has to operate like it did when it was made. They don't force any new standards or issues on us. No turn signals, no third brake lights, no air bags, no seatbelts, no emissions controls ...

And once registered, they never want to see it again. Its up to law enforcement (mostly highway patrol) to spot any issues with the cars and cite you accordingly with a 'fix it' ticket. Mostly if you ever get pulled over, its because the officer wants to talk cars. Sometimes they pull you over stating they 'thought they saw an issue' but up close it 'disappeared'.

We must have one powerful old car lobby in California.
Christopher Couper

I bought a dual bulb socket kit from a UK based firm, Staffordshire vehicle components. It really does the job.

"The L1130 torpedo light conversion kit is for a pair of lights, each unit consists of 5w side light & 21w amber indicator bulb within one bulb holder unit, front mounted push fit bulbs. This keeps the light looking original but gives the additional safety of a bright amber indicator. This unit is designed to fit the original type or die cast 1130 bodies. A PRODUCT DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED EXCLUSIVELY BY SVC!"

www.s-v-c.co.uk
Jan Emil Kristoffersen

Hi Ian,

I believe the max distance for sidelamps to the edge of the car is 400 m/m but the regs are in legal gibberish and I would really appreciate an expert commenting on this. I have considered using clear/amber LEDs but isn't there a problem with the wattage of the replacement bulbs which mean additional electronic circuitry?

Chris the UK has a sensible reponse to upgrades and most new regulations are not retrospective. However, even though not compelled to do so I think it common sense to pay attention to the safety aspect of direction indicators. Even in the 60s most drivers, following a T Series / MGA / Morris Minor, would have been confused by one brake lamp illuminating and the other flashing. On todays' roads the original directional indicator system is down right dangerous and I am keen on upgrading mine but don't want to screw motor cycle flashers to the rad shell and petrol tank. I had hoped to use the lamps on the front wings exclusively for flashers with amber bulbs. At the rear I hope to fix two surface mounting amber flashers (ex Land Rover and exactly like standard TF rear lamps)to the top corners of the tub - as per TF 1500s and then use the wing mounted lamps for brake lights (21w) and side lamps (5w)


Jan T
J Targosz

I put these on our 72 B and they give much more light. Probably wouldn't look right on a T series. PJ




Paul S Jennings

Chris Couper: Yes there is a car lobby in California (Association of Calif Car Clubs, ACCC) but they have never been able to get the legislature to revise it's extremely strict SMOG check requirement for ALL cars 1976 and newer which slowly squeezes out the collecting hobby for cars newer than that due to the never ending hassle of the bi-annual smog test. They have continually advocated, unsuccessfully, for a rolling year exemption for collector/special interest cars. One of the main reasons I moved to Oregon which allows cars over a certain age to be given permanent registrations albeit with usage restrictions.
John Quilter (TD8986)

Oklahoma has no restrictions! Oklahoma has no smog checks or vehicle inspections, just don't break the speed laws, 75 tops where posted. PJ
Paul S Jennings

Sort of took Jan's advice. Looked at the picture of the side lamp with two bulbs but didn't like the £35 cost. Went to the scrap yard and took excatly the same bulb holders plus amber and clear bulbs from a Honda. Cost was £3. Now need to spend a couple of hours making up brackets but that should be a pleasant job

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan T,

Your smarter than me, I just payed SVC for the setup. Anyway, I dont think there are any proper carbrakers in my area anymore, all old cars seem to crushed and recircled in Norway these days.

regards

Jan
Jan Emil Kristoffersen

Hi Jan

It's not that I am relucant to spend money, converting the lamps will be an enjoyable job for me.

What did you do with you do with your rear lamps? I have some lamps off a Land Rover that look like the ones in the wings but have flat bases. They have festoon bulbs. I am thinking of mounting them in the top rear corners of the body tub similar to TF 1500s which have reflectors placed there. There just isn't space in the original rear lamps to take two bulbs.

Like your name!


Jan T
J Targosz

When I got my TD, back in 1965, The PO had added "period" directional lamps to the rear wings. (See Pix.)
This was accomplished by cutting very large holes in the wings.
During restoration this added great complexity to the program, requiring forming new metal wit the appropriate crease and welding it in and grinding it flush.

He addressed the front lights by soldering wires to dual filament bulbs and mounting them with a semi force fit into the housing using a lot of black cloth tape.

Jim B.


JA Benjamin

Yes, Jan is indeed a nice name, but rare among kids today. In 1953, the year I was born, 4% of all newborn Norwegian babies were christened Jan. As I have two first names, Jan Emil, I usually say that I was named after Jan Masaryk and Emil Zatopek, although that is not quite true..

At the rear I have a high brake light on top of the spare wheel which is a memory of my days as a Vincent 1000 cc owner, the famous Miller "Stop"light, and two Amber bullet lamps mounted under the crash guard, with diode bulbs inside. They are coupled to the brake light wires, so that they both work as turn signal lights and as a part of a fairly funky brake light set up, with a total of five lamps shining bright when I brake. The diodes using a very small amount of amps mean that the standard relay is not stressed.

Regards

Jan
Jan Emil Kristoffersen

This thread was discussed between 04/01/2015 and 05/01/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

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