minisweeper Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 At the risk of being battered... Has anyone ever considered (or actually done) building their headlights into the nose cone and using some sort of pop-out mechanism when necessary? I saw one of the cars at the Yorkshire Kit car show (not a westfield) which had flip lights which folded out the nose cone (not fold up ones such as the mx5 style) and it got me thinking. I'm pretty sure (particularly with the smaller M&P headlights) there would be enough room inside the nosecone (standard not ducted) to locate the headlights inside - then it'd just be a matter of making the mechanism (obviously ensuring that the headlights ended up in the right location). So does anyone have any thoughts on this? Is there any reason it shouldnt be done? (I'm an idiot when it comes to cars as you might have noticed!) I was considering it as a winter project but it looks like some oil plumbing and a couple of other things aught to be higher up the list... I would quite like to see it happen though. I assume there would be aerodynamic benefits (however minimal) but what about heat issues inside the engine bay? Quote
Mitchamidilly Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Might be worth checking headlamp placement regulations first assuming you want to stay legal. Guess my only other comment would that any benefit in aerodynamic efficiency may be ofset by the extra weight in the control mechanism. Are you sure there would be enough space? Quote
minisweeper Posted October 12, 2006 Author Posted October 12, 2006 Obviously I'd check it out a bit more accurately first but my mental image suggests there would be. I'd probably have to relocate the horn but that's hardly a big problem I dont think? Does anyone have a link to the legal regulations regarding placement? (that's what i meant by 'ensure they end up in the right place') It shouldnt be that difficult to get them in a pretty similar place to where they sit at the moment though. Quote
The Great Fandango Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Funnily enough I was just thinking the same thing last night... Why not integrate the lights into the nose cone? OK, so not necessarily with a pop up mechanism as suggested by MiniSweeper, but with the use of convex clear lenses as used on many cars such as Fiat Coupes, Elises, and Ultimas. I suppose that would be getting away from the initial 7-type design which is really the integral point as to why we have these cars in the first place. In any case is it really in Westfield's best interests to spend time and money developing a new nose cone? - most likely not. Great idea though Quote
Chris.B's Son Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 The Brooke Double R has pop-out headlights, but I don't know what the mechanism is (I've reckon that it looks manual.) High res High res Quote
minisweeper Posted October 12, 2006 Author Posted October 12, 2006 The Great Fandango - Yeah, I realise it would lose a bit of the 7 image but i'm intreagued what it'd look like (and i'm a sucker for novelty/gimmicks!). And I was suggesting it more as a unique project than a new standard westfield design (though they did just spend time and money developing a new nose cone - then again that's probably why it definitely wouldnt be in their interests) and yeah Chris B's son it does look manual there, and I'd be hoping to get mine a bit smoother looking (I could see myself knackering a lot of nose cones at this rate). I'll put some more thought into how to actually do it if noone can think of any problems with the idea.. Quote
peterg Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Yeah, it must be manual, I can't see any automatic mechanism that can undo six screws and hide two plastic covers somewhere Quote
Chris.B's Son Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Just looked on Pistonheads: QUOTE Talking of which, in normal use (which let's face it is going to be daylight) the Brooke's headlights live under covers on the nose so as not to blight its looks. Should you need them you just remove the covers and rotate the lights on their supporting legs up into position. Very neat I reckon that there must be some legal issue with them being manual. Quote
minisweeper Posted October 12, 2006 Author Posted October 12, 2006 I'm not sure but to be honest if there is I bet most of the police out there don't know either.. Only thing about that car though is the engine's at the back so there wouldnt be any heat problems to worry about...does anyone think it's likely to be an issue? Quote
MVS Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 Talking of which, in normal use (which let's face it is going to be daylight) the Brooke's headlights live under covers on the nose so as not to blight its looks. Should you need them you just remove the covers and rotate the lights on their supporting legs up into position. Very neat I reckon that there must be some legal issue with them being manual. I can only think that the car was SVA'd with the lights out and a different trim panel put in the hole thats left open on the pics. I bet they told the testers they were fixed?! I may be completely off beam here so correct me if I'm talking coblers...but a motorcycle can have a daylight MOT and not need a headlight, but must have a tail/brake light. That may allow the 'manual mechanism to be legal. The car does look to have front, side marker lights on the cycle wings as a trailer needs these days over a certain width (can't remember the measurement off the top of my head) So I think it's legal if you could put on some fixed front side marker lights on the cycle-wings. Edited to add this link EU daylight headlights story If the EU have their way pop up headlights will have to be permanently popped out and on. Which would make all your work wasted Quote
minisweeper Posted October 12, 2006 Author Posted October 12, 2006 Thanks for that reminder MVS. I have absolutely no idea how i forgot about that proposition. As someone who drives with their lights on at all times (in the tin-top - dont ask why it's just a habit) I remember hearing about it earlier this year and being indifferent about it. Since i dont drive with them on in the westy during daylight I guess I just didnt think about it. That said, it's unlikely I'll still be a westy owner in 2010 and if I am I'll probably have moved on. I'm still tempted... Quote
MVS Posted October 12, 2006 Posted October 12, 2006 That said, it's unlikely I'll still be a westy owner in 2010 and if I am I'll probably have moved on. I'm still tempted... God forbid you're going to swap for something else Quote
minisweeper Posted October 12, 2006 Author Posted October 12, 2006 Unfortunately not. I was thinking more about the car-diminishing debt involved with university these days Either that or the ridiculously well paid job I get promoted into in a couple of months time funding a nice 2l/v8/bike engined westy and the associated insurance. Or an elise. Or an exige. Anyway back to earth... Quote
Martin Keene Posted October 13, 2006 Posted October 13, 2006 I think the biggest hurdle to fitting pop up/hidable headlights will be the disruption of air flow to the rad whilst there hidden. Even small lights will take up a sizable chuck of what is an already limited area for the radiator... Quote
minisweeper Posted October 13, 2006 Author Posted October 13, 2006 Would that still apply if they were behind the rad though? Quote
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