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headlights andc ignition

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:11 am
by peewee21
Hi All,

I was wondering if someone could recommend a headlight conversion Kit and electronic ignition for my late mk1 2000

All conversions i have done in the past have only had 2 headlights and now i have 4 to deal with.

kind regards
Ian

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 10:38 am
by TedTaylor
Headlights - there are plenty on ebay, used in Stags and Dolomites. Or simply contact Chris Witor and he will have precisely what you want, just costs a bit more but will be quality and you know it will fit.

Electronic ignition - quite a lot to choose from. I have Magnetronic on Woodie fitted by the previous owner which works fine, but many others with experience of other systems have other recommendations. On my two Mk1s I am keeping with points, partly for originality reasons and partly because easy to fix at the roadside. Many people do carry a spare standard points set up as I do in case the electronic ones give trouble ....... which is not unknown.......

MUT

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 1:13 pm
by peewee21
Cheers,
I should have thought of Chris bit for some reason had a brain fade.

Ian

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 3:00 pm
by Graham
peewee21 wrote:Cheers,
I should have thought of Chris bit for some reason had a brain fade.

Ian
Chris sells Cibie units which are excellent. Fit them with Ring Ultra Xenon bulbs and wire them up using relays and you will have good lighting, well up to modern day standards.

Gra

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:17 pm
by Mike Stevens
Just about the most important thing to do with the headlights is to fit relays. This alone can improve the light output by ~30%! Fitting halogen types (in place of the original tungsten sealed beam units) also make a big difference. Then fitting different bulbs helps too! I've fitted Osram nightbreaker+ bulbs to my PI and those, combined with the relays have made a huge difference. They are now superb and better than the modern I also drive! I think the PI has Cibies.

Don't be tempted to buy some cheaper headlamp units. I have some for the Stag which are marked 'PAL' and the beam from the H4s is not right. Eventually, I fitted some SH originals which have improved it.

Cheers,
Mike.

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:47 pm
by red2000chris
don't be tempted to buy those £25 electronic ignition kits off ebay. cant think what they were called but the kit includes a red plastic unit that sits where the points used to and a bit you use under the rotor arm. (I did and had no spark and after 10 seconds of cranking, it went "pop" so put points back in!)

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:47 pm
by wild bill
BE TEMPTED TO FIT THE £25-00 ELECTRONIC KITS!I have fitted quite a few,one failure on fitting,replaced with no quibble one day later!
Every kit I have fitted(with the red rotor arm) has transformed the vehicle reliability,starting and performance.This includes a heavily modified Moggy,which despite a lumpy cam(suppose they all are or they wouldn't run too well!)ran very well and smoothly.
The name you are looking for on Fleabay is -Simonbbc.
I can only relate my experiences with these items.
As usual,no connection with the vendor.
Good luck with your choice!,
Bill.

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:58 am
by tony
I'll still stick by my Pertronix units. Fitted about 5 now to all my Triumphs and a Cortina. Sure they're a bit more expensive initially but never had a failure. Improved starting and running has been my experience........I still have a set of points and condenser in the glove box though..... :oops:
Tony.

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:05 am
by Charles H
I have used the Aldon as supplied by the distributor doctor and ther cheaper bbc ones. I would go Aldon (which is I think the Pertronix one) every time. The bbc one don't work with the early PI rev counter to start with, and the car didn't seem to get the improvements of the more expensive one.

Re: headlights andc ignition

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 9:29 pm
by peewee21
thank you all, food for thought indeed