DVD3500

3 hours ago, Rosbif said:

Wait until it is nearly 30 and you are almost 70 years old . . .

Sorry,what was the question? 😵

Actually I started a project with most of the people based in UK and because I pretty much watch UK TV all the time my American accent was nearly gone and they thought I might have been from somewhere "down south" like Portsmouth or something.

It wasn't until another American joined the call that I realized I was talking "funny".

It always takes me a few days to start talking "native" when I am "back home".

The kids pointed out to me that I seem to have split personalities. I act and move different y when speaking German and again when speaking French (mostly the body language) but they think I am "coolest" when speaking my "native" American.

13 hours ago, thescrapman said:

Stinger over here, hollow spikes so the tyres deflate in a controlled manner.

I've been outside of an English-speaking country for nearly 3 years so sometimes the words fail me...

😄

"Owned" would by a '72 Triumph Spitfire. Drove would be '76 Pontiac Firebird that I had fixed up with my Dad. I destroyed it (rolled it twice, maybe three times [I had my eyes closed]) and got the Spitfire.

Drove it in all weather with meter high snow (Southern Michigan).

Then got an '80 Porsche 924 and then a '90 Pontiac Sunbird.

Relatives who live in the UK came to visit us in March and were not stopped on the border (drove from south London) neither on the way there or back....

The French/German is an EU border so no real controls ... I have even been to France and on my way home realized I didn't have an identification on me!

We were only ever stopped once at 11 PM when there had been a big robbery at a depot on the Alsatian border. Luckily a BMW going into France was going well over the allwoed 30 kph and the police threw a tire burster (chain with lots of pointy nails sticking out) to stop him and they waved us through...

How hard was the swap? Did you just glue the convex over the flat?

These are Philips direct replacement for H4... seems they have a tiny fan (just double checked the posts) https://www.goingelectric.de/forum/viewtopic.php?f=388&t=58689&p=1764201&hilit=lüfter#p1764201

You mean the H4 LED bulbs?

No clue. Technically they are not legal in a Spitfire (yet) but when I am close to finishing up I may try to fit them and get them approved by the German MOT (TÜV) so others can use them.

My car will have non-standard running gear which mean I have to get TÜV approval for everything else... why not the lights while I am at it?!

For the cars for which they are legal (Up! Citigo etc.) they seem to be a straight drop in replacement. Only issue is you can hear the fan at a standstill sometimes. (I think)

There are H4 bulb replacements that are legal on some car here that look the same (apart from the light being more of a cold white rather than warm white).

Some countries do not allow LEDs (yet) .

The (legal) H4 ones I have seen are much brighter and show signs a lot better. They can be a little "blotchy" though but I think it is worth the compromise...

5 hours ago, Clive said:

classiccarleds sell a "dual filament" bulb that is used to replace a std reversing light bulb. So it still works as a reversing light, but can also be a red rear fog light. A b-very neat idea.

At the front I have used soem Ring DRLs, simply connected to ignition live. They are thin, so fitted tight to the underside of the bumper. However, a couple of he leds in each have failed, luckily the same ones so doesn't look too daft. I will eventually replace them, I have thought of using new headlight units with sidelight facility, making that a DRL. 

As to foglams at the front, there are some small types available. But you are right, the leds tend to be a very white light, I prefer a more yellow tinge. Esier on the eyes at night. (same reason I hate the LED instrument bulbs, I like my instruments to dimly glow at night, rather than causing white glare in the cabin)

Oh... I like that idea... stealthy. I would have to double check legality of course.

5 hours ago, Howard said:

UK regulations specify a minimum distance between the brake lights and the fog light which is a problem I ran into when planning to change a reversing light on my TR7 to a fog light. This probably applies in Europe so it may well be illegal in Germany

Yes there are of course rules around that. Particularly the distance from the edge of the car and in relation to the plane of rear lights etc... Still I need to check it to be sure WHAT the rules are...

4 hours ago, Craig said:

On a similar subject, has anyone found a suitable high level brake light either OE or as an after market item that will look ok on a Herald? Not yet sure if the rake of the rear window glass will make any difference. I want it to look as period as possible - even though such a thing wasn't around in the 1960s - and not look like an accessory from the Carlos Fandango catalogue.

There are tons of lights in various shapes and lengths.

I have been looking at a few. One for the Körbler hard top I have and possible one that is a similar profile and height to the rear trunk/boot trim that I can integrate into the lid of the trunk/boot.

Hi all,

I have a problem… as I wait patiently for work to continue on my project my mind wanders.. and then wonders about solutions seeking problems.

Seriously though, I have always liked fog lights. I live near a forest and it is not uncommon to have fog.

Also our cars are so small anything to make them stand out is probably a good idea. My plan is to make my car a daily driver so “being seen” is bit of a concern of mine. I am also making more or less a custom dashboard so looking for good places to put switches while keeping things close to original (note: I will not be installing a radio so that space is free).

Here in the EU a rear fog light has been mandatory since the early 80’s. Daytime running lights since the early 2000’s. Googling has not really brought up a lot of examples, mostly rally cars that are too big and bodacious.

Can we please not have discussions on whether putting any of these things on a Spitfire is a good idea or not. As I have said often: there are actual people who actually enjoy Morris Dancing; to each his own!

This is purely a thought exercise. Nothing more nothing less

Regulations in Germany are over and above those of most EU countries but don’t let that worry you.

Questions/musings/general inconsequential incoherent ramblings:

1.      I know the last batch of European Spitfires actually had rear fog lights. I think I have a pick in one of the books I have:
Does anyone have a picture of one that was originally fitted?
Ideally I would like to see the standard switch on the inside as well as any clues as to how it was wired.

2.      Front fog lights were fairly common in the 60s and 70s. I would like something subtle and close to period but I am really open to anything.
Any pictures appreciated with switches and ideas for wiring.

3.      Daytime running lights tend to be cold blue/white and could clash with the soft warm white/yellow our cars produce (until LEDs become legal where I live).
Nevertheless I am looking at options.
Please post. I promise not to judge.

 Thank you all in advance!

I also am not sure what lateral flow is...

As Antonia mentioned, Germany is a federal republic so you have to find out what the rules are in each state that you go to.

I was in the Palatinate (Pfalz) on Friday and there the rules allowed you to keep the masks off if you were boosted. Here in Baden-Württemberg we have not gone that far yet.

There is an EU recognizable QR code (not sure if it is available in the UK) that we scan into the "Corona App" as proof of certification and/or boostered and/or recovered.

As I live in Baden Württemberg I can find out more but probably not best to discuss things like that in public.

PM me if you like ...

What car is this out of...? (just curious..)

I am getting into Triumph Estates more and more.. pity LHD versions are so hard to find...

19 hours ago, Chriss said:

I understand from FBHVC representatives that there have been a number of laws passed in Germany that have restricted the use and modification of classic cars.  They sight Germany's direction as one that they wish to prevent the UK taking.

Please pass those on to me (even as a PM) as the only rules I am aware of is that if a city has a pollution control zone your car must meet or exceed the emissions standard (which no car older than  10 years can: exception EVs) OR you have to have a "historical" license plate which is fairly complicated (the car has to be as original as possible and can only have "period" modifications) to get unless you are chummy with a MOT (TÜV) engineer.

The fact that you can't easily tune/modify your car has always been the case in Germany and has to do with their general attitude of risk aversion (coming in second place in two world wars will do that...) and nothing with classic cars per se...

3 hours ago, Chriss said:

 

The impact of classic vehicle usage globally on the environment is negligible. However we try to save the planet will not make any noticeable difference.  Therefore our problem is not saving the Earth, but saving the club.  There is a major risk that legislation will curb the use of our vehicles almost to the point of not being able to use them (see Germany) and misinformed members of the public will make life very uncomfortable for our members when using their Triumphs. It is the perception of politicians and the public is the problem we need to address as a club.

 

 

 

I live in Germany so I am curious as to what the problem is you are referring to...?

This all sounds very good.

I will see if I can find something similar here in Germany!

"loosens everything"....
Tried it on a chastity belt...?

😄

On 21/01/2022 at 19:56, iani said:

WD40 is a brand name now, they sell a range of products, one is a penetrating oil, it is not the traditional product.

Yep.,. in fact I even have "WD40" penetrating oil in the garage right now.. it was on sale with 10% more content!!!
I just try to warn people that standard WD40 product is not a lubricant or a penetrating oil. It is a water repellent first and happens to sometimes loosen rust or lubricate a little... it is of course better than nothing but specialized products will likely yield better results...

WD40 is also not 100% plastic safe. In the slot car (Scalextric) world a lot of people use it and the plastic can get soft or it may eat the rubber or remove paint off the plastic bodies etc.

WD stands for for "water displacement". Any lubrication or penetration effect is kind of secondary.

It is great on things exposed to the elements to get water out and help inhibit rust.

I used it for example on bicycle chains and gears first, but I follow up with chain oil.

It doesn't do as good a job as proper penetrating oil/fluid. I use whatever I can get easily and cheaply. So far I haven't seen much difference....

I like Ballistol products as they are easy to get in large quantities and are safe for pets and plastics (I use the stuff on my slot cars/Scalextric as well)...

I love the area I live in... an hour from France and Switzerland (Autobahn has basically no speed limit down that way). Hills, streams, rivers, lakes (more like ponds to me being from Michigan originally), Hockenheimring... If the local dialect weren't so obtuse...

I doubt my car will be road legal by then but I don't live far from the Alps, about 2-3 hour drive so I would love to at least meet up if possible..

35 minutes ago, Guppy916 said:

How many nuts and washers have you dropped down the grill 

Enough to keep squirrels happy and dishes clean...

2 hours ago, Hogie said:

This seems to be the season for lies and cheating.

I'm finished with motor sport.

Roger

Come now... there are a lot of series out there that are more interesting than Formula One. BTCC, pretty much any TCR series to name a few.  Most forms of GT racing as well as WEC (except the current "Hypercar" class) are usually good.

Formula E races are usually exciting and the champion has not been decided until the last or before last race for years... For me sound is just a form of wasted energy so I don't mind it at all.

On 02/12/2021 at 23:18, Roger Keys said:

Yes. Tax free is related solely to age.

Would it were so for more things...