NSW Corvettes
General Discussion Area => Corvette Related Chat => Topic started by: 79LHD on January 13, 2009, 11:46:19 PM
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I am in the middle of converting certain things on my 79 to meet Australian Design Rules so I can register my car as a 30 year old.
I have run in to some issues,
Most conversions use the reversing lights as indicators, I have done the same thing, however, as the light blinks using an amber globe the red reflector around the light lights up too, there seems to be no way to shield it from the inference light of the globe, does anyone have a fix for this?
The other issue I have is to find a suitable ADR approved reversing light and where to mount it. So far I have purchased an LED unit and am thinking of mounting it under the number plate. (looks crappy)
The front indicators have to be converted from amber to white yet the blinker must remain amber? Any tips here?
The last issue is with the mounting of the number plates themselves, I cant afford personalised plates (they can be ordered in 300mm USA size) so how do I mount the front plate between the bumperettes and even the rear plate is about 5 mm too wide. What do people do?
Thanks Dennis.
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I can't help you with all the lenses info - I was told by the vic roads inspector that they recently (mid last year) changed the laws here in vic about all that and I didn't have to change the lenses on my '70 - so maybe there's been a review in NSW that your engineer is not on top of yet? Maybe being a '79 you might still have to? No idea.
About the licence plate though, what I did on my 76 was buy the 5 digit plate covers which are slightly shorter, cut them back just the tiniest bit so the fit into the vette bumper, then I trimmed back the rego plate so it fit under the plate protector. No-one would have ever known they were cut as you can see here:
(http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/jolinari/STNRAY_22-21October2007.jpg)
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I dont have a reverse light on my 69! because I changed the reverse to blinkers and they were happy, but I am uncomfortable with having no reverse light as no one knows that you are reversing. My blinkers dont spill into the reflector area but mines a 69 so it probably is different to your 79...sorry I'm no help.
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Hi Dennis, we've had a few posts on ADR's and Rego of late. My take on it is that it all depends on which State you're in, which Inspector/Engineer you go to and whether or not he had a good time the night before you take it to him for Inspection.
In my recent experience with registering a LHD '75 in NSW .....
The Engineer said that pre '76 is less that post '76 because of the ADR's.
The reverse lamps are OK as blinkers, despite the red ring on the outside (just put in amber globes)
Install a new reverse lamp (see below)
Seat belts had to be changed.
Front blinkers had to be amber (didn't mention parkers at all)
Charcoal Canister was required.
On the day of Inspection, it ended up being a quick walk around to check the above, then a brake test. Game over.
I would suggest you talk with whoever will be doing the inspection, find out what they really want, then act accordingly.
http://i343.photobucket.com/albums/o477/Reklaw327/ReversingLight.jpg?t=1231920367
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maybe an option is to take out the lenses, and paint a drak red on the inside around the reflector pit... might work, but before you let loose with the paint, try some duct tape on the inside first....and see if that solves the problem.
i reakon you could get away with hooking the indicators up as reversing lights andy, as holden did that until the HX holden... but i think that finished in 77, so that doesnt help ya with the 79 sorry.
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Hi Dennis, with your rear lights get small diameter pvc tube, cut to length and slip over your indicator globe, this will stop the light going into the red section when indicator is switched on. the front lights. clear lenses. clear globes and paint indicator globes yellow or buy yellow globes. I have a reverse light mounted under my number plate and you dont even notice it, you can make and mount a front bracket to sit flush with the front of your bumpers and fix the plate to that. I dont need the one on mine because of 5 diget plate (it was on the car with 6 diget plate when I bought it) but it does also protect the point of the nose cone. look at my car on members vettes page 3 Alans 77
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or custom make a set of plates... on my 74 they looked almost the same, but were not reflective, so if officer dibble stops you , alas you gotta wear it....
a few cars on here have cusomt plates as well... made to measure.
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Originally posted by nifty
maybe an option is to take out the lenses, and paint a drak red on the inside around the reflector pit... might work, but before you let loose with the paint, try some duct tape on the inside first....and see if that solves the problem.
i reakon you could get away with hooking the indicators up as reversing lights andy, as holden did that until the HX holden... but i think that finished in 77, so that doesnt help ya with the 79 sorry.
Thanks for al the reply's, unfortunately, if you ever remove your reversing lights you will see that it is impossible to gain access to the inside of the lens area as they are all glued together and the only access is the globe hole, which by the way enters the light from the top at a 45 degree angle making shielding impossible too. I dont quite know what to do, maybe he wont notice on inspection.
As for indicators as reversing lights, it is not allowed under ADR's as reversing lights MUST be white, of course if you already have a registered vehicle you can do what you like and chances are you will never get in trouble for it.
Rear number plate remians a problem as it is 5mm too wide for the area and i am reluctant to cut it, front number plate, well maybe a small purpose built bracket to hold it proud of the bumperettes is a good idea, it will help protect that nose from parking bumps.
I will post pics of the finished product once it is registered, should be a month or two at most.
Thanks Dennis.
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Send me your email address have pics to solve all your problems including wiring diagram mod for rear blinkers
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i have a copy of the SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FACTS SHEET in my car... will dig them out in a minute,
my 74 had the indicators as the reversing lights, they were like that on australian made cars, so it was ok for that year model, buddy got his 77 lhd drive rego a couple of yrs ago when it turned 30, and also has the indicators as the reverse lights,, and that was fine.
he had to change the fronts to amber indicators, and they also his park lights...
for the life of me i cant see a logical reason for installing white prkers on the front as well, who actually uses parkers anyhow?but my parkers where white, and i had amber indicators, they were combined in a single white lens.... see pic.
... what mate did with his 77 front plate, was to cut some STIFF rubber hose, ( garden hose size) and ran long bolts through them to mount the plate away from the bumper... after 10minutes you dont notice it.
(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i7/nifty_2006/000_0075.jpg)
im also going to look on another forum for a bloke who just moved here from usa, and bought his 77 over with him... he done something to his front indicators, and has a radical rear light assembly....
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this is how the friend from usa changed his fronts,...
mine were the same, i had white parkers, and amber flashers using a yellow globe.
(http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i7/nifty_2006/parkinglights002.jpg)
Simple cut and splice with the wires, Plug in light sockets, And I have have white park lights and amber turn signals.
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this is his rear solution...
http://www.australiancorvettesassociation.com/phpBB//viewtopic.php?p=36797&sid=e65df37bf5c528778516e235446f979f#36797
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Obviously my little rear light fix thread hasn't been viewed by yourself as yet, go check it out here - http://nswcorvettes.com.au/forum/viewthread.php?tid=6872.
I can only assume based on people I've talked to that what I have done is legal, I can't see any logical reason as to why it wouldn't be. The number plate thing sounds annoying, but as Reklaw said, it's up to the individual blue slipper as to whether or not they let it through. I am personally having to change all my bushings before I even bother talking to a blue slipper, as I know I will fail anyway with what I have so I don't really want to waste anyone's time (though, if I booked in a blue slip appt. it would give me an excuse to take the car somewhere... hmmmmm hehe). Good luck with it.
Matt
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Originally posted by sirfixalot
Send me your email address have pics to solve all your problems including wiring diagram mod for rear blinkers
Hi Fixalot, email is denelf@virginbroadband.com.au
I have already re-wired the rear lights, it was a simple single wire from the break switch and some swapping of wires in the rear, works a treat. I have also already added second globes to front lenses so I now have an amber and white globe in behind the white lens, also works a treat. My only concern is how the rear indiators now light up the reflector as well, no obvious fix for that. I have mounted an ADR approved single reversing light (white LED's) under the number plate. I will post pics some time this weekend. Please sne dme whatever you have that might help.
Regards, Dennis.
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Wiring and lights is all done. Here's what i did with the fronts, the rear indicators are now in the reversing lights and below is where I now have a new reversing light, an all LED unit, doesnt look too bad me thinks.
Now just the belts to worry about.
Thanks for all your help, Dennis.
(http://users.tpg.com.au/denelf/indicators.jpg)
(http://users.tpg.com.au/denelf/reverse1.jpg)
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Is this site any help
http://www.rodworx.com/product.php?item=312
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