i thought Alfred Neubauer invented that?

for the trivia buffs NODE can be spotted in the background

 

I did the Hella H4 bulb conversion on my FC head lamps - it wasn't too expensive and the results are well worth the effort.

 

Actually, the E-type's "devolution" over the years is a good example of my point. The Series 1 with the small taillights and covered headlights approached perfection. The Series 2 (like mine) because of US Govt regulations lost a lot of purity with the exposed headlights and big taillights. The Series 3 like in the Tullius pictures has its proportions wonked out to accommodate the V12.

In software, we have a problem where we have a technology and we try really hard to find a problem to solve. It always ends badly. The trick is to put aside all of potential solutions and focus on clearly identifying the problem. There is a technique called "Five Whys" where you ask "why?" five times and you'll end up at the root problem. I dont think we need 5 whys here since it appears the problem is the OEM lighting is insufficient for you to drive safely at night. But we also need to identify all the constraints against which you can evaluate the potential solutions. Cost, aesthetics, ease of fab, sense of accomplishment, built not bought, etc.

We put the Silverlight bulbs in and it made a huge difference. Another avenue would be to see if you can integrate high powered bulbs into the OEM fogs. Maybe LEDs or something. Or maybe since you don't like the aesthetics of the OEM bumper, maybe design and build your own with FG; potentially finding a way to seamlessly integrate your deer hunter lights.

 

I have Hella E-code H4 (H6054) headlamp housings and 100/55w H4 bulbs that do very well at night. Housings are nice quality, and you only have to replace the bulbs instead of the entire assembly. In addition, I have Hella MicroDE fog lamps that are very small yet put out light very well and have the same high quality (bulbs and housings); though I decided to make my own wiring harness and use a different switch.

I originally purchased them here:

Fog Lamp
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Products Catalog

ECE Headlamp conversion H6054 200mm
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Product

DOT Headlamp conversion 200mm
Susquehanna MotorSports - Auto Performance Product

 

in racing the hard part is figuring out what problem(s) you have, once you do that the solution(s) are usually really simple.

i agree on the E types too, until i saw the Tullis cars, now i would almost rather have one of those!

 

Tullius did in the sense that he was the first to cultivate sponsors and create media events for them.

OK, what is "NODE"?

This is very interesting.
I assume the ECE are Euro-spec housings?
Anyway, much cheaper than I'd been lead to believe.
A few years ago I contacted Daniel Stern Lighting and was told to expect about $300 for decent housings/bulbs, which was a bit excessive.
$100 for the pair of Hella housings (with base level bulbs) is definitely do-able.
Thanks for the info.

BTW, the round Hellas are now off the car and no longer besmirching the FC visage. Apparently, Cindy Crawford can pull off blemishes and I can't.

 

Yes, E-Code is Euro-spec. Basically, the difference between E-Code and DOT is how it projects its light on the road. DOT headlamps require some of its light to go up to light the overhead reflective signs. E-Code has all the light put down on the road; in other words, it has a very sharp cut-off.

I actually posted a review six years ago.
https://www.rx7club.com/interior-ext...-lamps-504888/

 

Those are the same folks that I order my 200mm headlamp conversion kit from.

 

It took me a moment or two to remember Daniel Stern Lighting; they sell Cibie, which is also reputed to be high quality but very expensive. I think they're the only seller of Cibie in the US.

 

ah i didn't know that, i know nothing about Tullius actually

who is NODE

 

where is NODE

 

Just mount one light askew. I'm sure that'll look better.

5-why's was taken from Toyota. It applies pretty much everywhere though. The trick is to start wayyyyy further back than necessary. And assume the person you're explaining it to is a moron. Or your boss. Who is a moron.

1-Why is Clokker fiddling with his car now? - Lighting.
2-Why lighting? - He ran over a squirrel.
3-Why did he run over a squirrel? - He didn't see it.
4-Why didn't he see it? - It was dark. (Or his glaucoma according to this prescription card...)
5-Why couldn't he see in the dark? - His car has a lighting system from the 80's.
Ta-Da!

+1 on the $40 Silverstar bulbs instead of stock "flashlight through oatmeal" headlamps.

 

1- Why is clokker fiddling with his car now?
Because it's 23 years old and the minute you stop fiddling, it commences falling apart.
Also, because he can/likes to.

2- What is he fiddling with?
Lights, ATM but they are a part of a larger problem.
The windshield is badly pitted and I'm looking into options.
That hatch is horribly tinted, that gets replaced tomorrow.
Both of those affect vision day or night and then there are the puny sealed beam (albeit new) Silverstar lights, which are really pathetic compared to more modern solutions.

3- OK, so clokker knows how to solve the glass problems and what to buy for headlights, so why isn't he doing it?
Money?
The rear glass should be fine after tomorrow. Picking up a wipered hatch locally and hopefully it's tint (if it has any) is better.
I'm casually looking into "refurb" options for the windshield.

4- Having played the poverty card, what's clokker's next move?
Who knows?
Realistically, I'm fine for the moment. It may be I exaggerate the faults and I have no long trips planned till next September, so there's time.

5- This isn't how the Five Whys works, is it?
Don't think so.

 

who does number 2 work for!

 

Yesterday was big in many ways, progress on several fronts.

 

Yesterday was big in many ways, progress on several fronts.

The administrative side of the project began, the car is now legally mine and has temp tags.
First I needed to have the VIN verified at an emission station. I was surprised that they only check the VIN plate on the dash, not the one stamped into the firewall. I mentioned to the tech that a simple dash swap could change the plate...he didn't care.
That completely useless "verification" cost $20.

Next, the DMV.
First, let me state that my experiences with the CO DMV have all been overwhelmingly positive. I think the longest I've ever waited is 20 minutes.
First step was the title transfer (for which the VIN check is a prerequisite) and it all went to hell from there.

I have only a hazy backstory for the GTU, so I have nothing to go on but the paperwork in hand, a California title.
This title was signed over (reputedly) from son to father in 2005.

The father never transferred the title into his name.
For me to do so meant that I had to pay all the fees/penalties for the last eight years.
Actually, what she really wanted me to do was somehow track down the assignee on the title (the Dad) and convince him to transfer the title and pay all the fees, then take the new title and transfer it to me.

Take a minute and imagine that happening...

Although she repeatedly told me that she really shouldn't, I was allowed to pay the $146 extra and get the transfer.
That was a chunk 'o cash I hadn't planned on.

Oh well, she's legally mine now, insured and temp registered.
I have through March to get through emissions.

With the boring paperwork part of the day finished (less than 15 minutes at the DMV this time...), I returned home and pulled the hatch off.
Rear windowless, I drove 30 miles through town and met up with Mad Science 7 who donated a wipered hatch to the GTU project.
(Although I won't discount the potential dangers of driving like that, I noticed no ill effects and the drive was surprisingly uneventful)

The hatch had been in storage, so was quite dirty and I haven't examined it closely yet but there is no tint (YAY!) and it has a wiper, so it's already a winner.
And it was free, so again...thanks, Andy.

Not only did he have the hatch though, he'd also come up with a dome light and a set of H4 housings w/ bulbs.

What an unexpected hookup and a screamin deal to boot.

I'm hopeful the predicted snowfall will hold off long enough that I can clean up the hatch today. I want to take it off because it's easier to work on laying flat. Clean it up good on both sides and examine the wiper motor.

I'll be needing the wiper motor plastic cover (I assume there is one) and whatever electrical harness I'm missing. Apparently, the stock setup involves a special strut with a contact switch...I'll figure something out.

Pics to follow.

 

$145 is nothing! i paid $167 to register my Rx8, and it was current! registration was $42, but they tack on a long list of BS fees, there is a CHP doughnut fee, a governor moonbeam fee....

 

I know this is kind of 20-10 hind sight, but I would have thought that getting the title legally in your name would have been the very first thing that you would have done. I know that is always the first thing I do when I buy an out of state car, even before I put a full tank of gas in the car. Heck I even go as far as getting a temporary tag in the state that I purchase the car in if I am driving it home - although you can carry a valid plate off an other car if you want to save a few bucks and skip that step (just don't get stopped on the way home).

It would have been really bad if something even more strange would have come up in the VIN search, like say the car was reported stolen 20 years ago or the dash VIN does not match the firewall VIN. If that had been the case, all your work, effort and expense would have been down the drain. Just saying that next time with an out of state purchase, get the legal paper work done first to be on the safe side.

 

No, no, no...you misunderstand.
I haven't even registered the car yet (I'm on temp tags till she goes through emissions), the $145 was just to transfer the title.
Which normally costs $7.50.

@Deacon:
Of course you are right and I was of the same mind when I first began working on her.
I went to the DMV back in Sept. but found out the VIN had to be verified -at that point there was no motor and I couldn't afford to tow her somewhere for the check.

All in all I was lucky, it was a risk to proceed and could have been a lot worse.

 

Eh, Colorado requires you register the vehicle within 30days of titling it, but the DMV won't tell you that. If you haven't registered it, they will charge you late fees. I got hit with this when I bought a non-operational vehicle, titled it, spent a few months fixing it to be operational, then had to pay ~$150 in late fees just to get temp tags, and then the tags were only good for a week, instead of 60 days which is the norm because of the "lapsed registration".

You are also lucky you got a title for a CA car. Its been my experience that since you can transfer titles in CA without actually signing the title or anything, most people download the form from the CA DMV (since they don't have/lost the actual title), fill it out, and hand it to you, which of course is useless outside of CA, and you have to title and register the vehicle in your name in CA to get an actual title.

 

OK, I need some stuff!

The new wipered hatch must be significantly heavier because my old struts (probably marginal to begin with) will not hold the hatch up any longer.
So, I need some struts.
I'm specifically looking for a strut set that has the wiring/contact for the rear wiper motor.
(It probably makes more sense to buy new struts and make my own connector harness for the wiper motor but hey, this is worth a shot...)

Also need the cover for the wiper motor...I have no idea what it's supposed to look like, my set up appears to have three mounting points for the cover, if that helps.

It's gotten stupid cold again (currently, 0° in my garage) which somewhat dampens my ardor for car work.
And the Broncos play at 2:30, a game I'm genetically obligated to watch.

Prolly won't do much today is all I'm sayin.

 

i have a brand new one i can cut you a believable deal on.

 

I am all ears, please PM me.

 

i have one you can have for the cost of shipping

 

You have a PM.