Volvo 740 USA headlights to UK legal?

[Steve79]

Ok so as far as i understand you are looking at installing these which are 4x6 units

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/182387906415

 

American ebay show the following for Peterbilt Trucks (says also fits 740 gle)

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/131897645809?fits=Make%3AVolvo%7CModel%3A740

 

Ebay uk show these 122025278693 (ebay item number) and says rhd kits available

[Steve79]

Ebay link below

 

Http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122025278693

[danthecapriman]

Ebay link below

Http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/122025278693

I hadn't seen those. They look a little odd though.

[Junkman]

I'd rather give up driving than fitting that newfangled LED shit from China to my car.

 

Furthermore, the ones I suggested have a provision for integrated sidelights.

This is essential if you want to convert something septic which inevitably would have orange sidelights integrated with the indicators.

[danthecapriman]

I'd rather give up driving than fitting that newfangled LED shit from China to my car.

 

Furthermore, the ones I suggested have a provision for integrated sidelights.

This is essential if you want to convert something septic which inevitably would have orange sidelights integrated with the indicators.

Indeed. I think those ones above would look odd on an old Volvo, even more so with an original full beam light lense next to them.

I'd use them if I had no other option to get an MOT of course, then swap back to the US spec originals after the test.

[Junkman]

Okay, I explain this a bit more.

 

US Sealed Beams are only dipped/main beam, they have no provision for sidelights.

Hence in the US, the sidelights were integrated with the indicators and are thus orange, not white.

This is a definite no go in Europe, including the UK.

Thus, if you replace your septic Sealed Beams, use units that have an integrated sidelight.

[Junkman]

Look.

This is a Chevy Caprice in full yank spec.

 

 

It has the four rectangular headlight config like the septic 740.

The orange lights in the wings are the side marker lights. They are on, when the lights are on. They don't blink when you indicate.

The actual headlights are Sealed Beams and have no provision for sidelights either.

Those lights in the bumper are the actual indicators, but they contain a two filament bulb, which is orange.

One filament is for the sidelights, the other is for the indicator, thus it has orange sidelights. If you have the lights switched on,

and set the indicator, the orange light merely becomes more intense when blinking. This is illegal in Europe.

Hence the smart man replaces his dipped/main beam sealed beams, i.e. the outer pair, with units that have an integrated sidelight.

[danthecapriman]

I should be able to get around that anyway on a Volvo by mixing and matching. I'll use the US main headlights and chrome surround but just retain the original UK sidelight and indicator light clipped onto the US headlight unit.

The US orange indicator/sidelight unit is the same shape and fittings as the UK version but the UK one is split in half with the sidelight (white) on top half and indicator (orange) on the lower half.

 

That said, I'm not sure what the long thin light is for on the US lights below the headlights? It's not there at all on Euro lights, instead you just have a grey plastic panel with the headlight wiper arm poking through it.

Which now I think about it will also have to be removed as the US lights don't have wipers. No big deal though, most of them don't seem to work anymore anyway.

[MrDuke]

If you have the lights switched on,

and set the indicator, the orange light merely becomes more intense when blinking. This is illegal in Europe.

Meanwhile, it's completely legal to have a rear LED array so bright that you can't actually see the blinking indicator hidden in the middle. Or anything else in your immediate field of vision. Yay, progress.

 

Oops, sorry - lapsed into grumpy mode there. As you were.

[danthecapriman]

Meanwhile, it's completely legal to have a rear LED array so bright that you can't actually see the blinking indicator hidden in the middle. Or anything else in your immediate field of vision. Yay, progress.

 

Oops, sorry - lapsed into grumpy mode there. As you were.

On some moderns I actually struggle to see the indicators when other lights are on, particularly on the front if the headlights are on. They are so intense I struggle to see the amber indicators.

[Junkman]

You can retain the inner pair without any problems. Also, you can get those in H1 and H4 flavour in abundance. Only the outer pair needs to be replaced with left dip units

and it's only those left dip dipped/main beam in RHD units that are a problem only Hella solves nowadays. I can get those in LHD by the shitload.

 

If you are able to rig up white sidelights with the config you have on the Volvo, fair play, you won't have to employ the sidelights within the replacements for the sealed beams.

But you can't get any in RHD without it, the ones I posted are your only option. I really tried to get UK spec replacements without the sidelight provision, but it's impossible.

Which makes sense in a way, since the lights are intended to convert yank tanks with orange side lights. They don't make these units without that provision anymore

because demand. I clearly remember that they were available as recently as the 1990s, but they just aren't anymore.

[Junkman]

Meanwhile, it's completely legal to have a rear LED array so bright that you can't actually see the blinking indicator hidden in the middle. Or anything else in your immediate field of vision. Yay, progress.

 

Oops, sorry - lapsed into grumpy mode there. As you were.

 

We are not discussing reason here. We are trying to get some septic Ovlovshite legal in the UK.

If you are trying to apply common sense or reason, this is definitely not the place for you.

[Junkman]

To make this perfectly clear, I merely suggest the only viable way to meet government dictate here.

I do not approve of it! I am against it!

[MrDuke]

On some moderns I actually struggle to see the indicators when other lights are on, particularly on the front if the headlights are on. They are so intense I struggle to see the amber indicators.

 

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say    I know there have always been dumbass regulations surrounding cars, both here and in the US, but at least in the past you could kind of understand where the law-makers were coming from. Yeah, the fed-spec bumpers during the 70s were laughable and probably made little difference to fatality counts, but you could see the reasoning that led them to thinking they might be a good idea. Likewise suspension height laws in the 60s, engine-choking smog regs instead of smaller efficient engines in the 70s/80s, etc etc. But I just cannot understand how the hell someone can stand in front of a modern lighting setup, nod sagely and sign it off as being a Good Thing.

 

 

EDIT: Sorry JM, getting carried away. I'm just speaking truth, though 

[Junkman]

Yeah, that's what I was trying to say    I know there have always been dumbass regulations surrounding cars, both here and in the US, but at least in the past you could kind of understand where the law-makers were coming from. Yeah, the fed-spec bumpers during the 70s were laughable and probably made little difference to fatality counts, but you could see the reasoning that led them to thinking they might be a good idea. Likewise suspension height laws in the 60s, engine-choking smog regs instead of smaller efficient engines in the 70s/80s, etc etc. But I just cannot understand how the hell someone can stand in front of a modern lighting setup, nod sagely and sign it off as being a Good Thing.

 

 

EDIT: Sorry JM, getting carried away. I'm just speaking truth, though 

 

To be quite honest with you, I'd appreciate if those 8 OMGMPH bumpers would have made it to these shores.

 

This is the result of a fucking 0.8 MPH impact:

 

 

I tell you what: I rather have ten gopping septic 8 OMGMPH bumpers, than this dismal lower than Chinese tosh!

[PhilA]

Thought they're just standard H4666 on the outside and I forget the high beam only ones on the inside but you can get the high beam ones with a bit of mirror missing for side lights, I'll have a shufty next time I'm at the parts store.

 

If that's the case, H4666 has a a flat beam pattern and will pass.

 

Phil

[Junkman]

The H4666 Sealed Beam will not pass in the UK when fitted to a 1976 or later car, because that's when 'flat beam',

i.e. non asymmetric headlights without a clearly defined bright/dark zone became illegal..

[PhilA]

Hm. Learn something new every day. That's true, they don't have a sharp cut off.

 

In which case, an H4 assembly would, as you suggested, work.

 

Phil

[rml2345]

On some moderns I actually struggle to see the indicators when other lights are on, particularly on the front if the headlights are on. They are so intense I struggle to see the amber indicators.

I thought that was just me...

If you do manage to source RHD headlamps for the US spec light units it'll be interesting to see what your MOT man makes of it. Personally I much prefer the looks of the Euro ones with their crap wipers.

[Asimo]

the fed-spec bumpers during the 70s were laughable and probably made little difference to fatality counts, but you could see the reasoning that led them to thinking they might be a good idea. Likewise suspension height laws

The heavy duty bumpers were introduced to reduce the cost of low speed bumps, not to protect the car's occupants during serious collisions. A 5mph impact with another car so equipped should result in zero damage. The ride height of some cars, MGB springs to mind, was compromised in order to get the bumper height within the specified limits.

I miss the "bumpers that actually worked as bumpers" of my '70s Volvo and SaaB.

 

Back to headlights - I do remember road tests of the Audi quattro and Audi 200 being very rude about their feeble headlights.

[Spottedlaurel]

Your Laurel was a car designed to conquer the US market, which explains why it uses that type of light I guess.

 

Laurel was never sold in the USA, it was just a popular set-up that quite a few Japanese cars used at the turn of the decade.

 

I've just remembered that mine are made by Koito. Just did a quick search on eBay and it seems they were also fitted to some bikes.

[danthecapriman]

Laurel was never sold in the USA, it was just a popular set-up that quite a few Japanese cars used at the turn of the decade.

 

I've just remembered that mine are made by Koito. Just did a quick search on eBay and it seems they were also fitted to some bikes.

I hadn't realised the Laurel wasn't sold in the US. I always thought it was, especially when you look at the styling of the big 70's and 80's Datsuns, Toyotas etc. Wasnt the Cedric meant for the US?

 

 

I thought that was just me...

If you do manage to source RHD headlamps for the US spec light units it'll be interesting to see what your MOT man makes of it. Personally I much prefer the looks of the Euro ones with their crap wipers.

Only one way to find out! I can't imagine the tester could have a problem with it, as if I use the lights Junkman suggests, they are fully RHD compatible so will all show the correct beam pattern and type of light.

The only odd thing about it will be a Volvo having weird looking front end lights and some lights in different places to normal. Just have to see...

I do like the Euro lights, and I'd happily keep them as it's the cars I like regardless of the lights but I do think the US fronts look better. They are a bit less 'plain' and I like the big chrome surrounds too! Plus, it's something to do that's a bit different over here.

[vulgalour]

Meanwhile, it's completely legal to have a rear LED array so bright that you can't actually see the blinking indicator hidden in the middle. Or anything else in your immediate field of vision. Yay, progress.

 

Oops, sorry - lapsed into grumpy mode there. As you were.

 

On another tangent, HI!  I thought you'd dropped off the forum.  Have you checked in on the Renner thread?  You really should.  Glad you're still about, maybe I missed your comments before because you changed your avatar.

[Pillock]

Wow - I've seen Vanettes around for years, and I knew of the Yank Volvo front end too (it always makes me think of the film Beetlejuice).

 

Not once had I considered they were the same lamp, since Nissan made a good job of designing them in, where Volvo took the route of "leave it until Friday afternoon, everyone's gone down the pub, and the new boy just has to finish off the US front sketches before he can join them"

[mercrocker]

I haven't needed square headlamps of US persuasion since my Pontiac days.   Therefore I had no need to read this thread.   However, I am very glad I did - every day is a school day and it just goes to show what an illuminating forum this is (see what I did there...) 

 

So much knowledge and well imparted....

 

 

 

 

[cort1977]

Dan, If you need anything from the usa and shipping is excessive my in laws are visiting in January. I could get them to bring back a parcel before posting on to you if required?

[Pete-M]

Merkania for some bizarre reason went mad for sealed beam light units in the mid 70s. Lots of manufacturers just lobbed a standard fit light unit in, Toyota HiAce vans used to have them.

 

Anyway, if you get the US spec light surrounds etc the RHD light units aren't expensive from most American car spares places. Winnebagos etc tend to have the lights you're looking for but with replaceable bulbs instead of being sealed beam.

[danthecapriman]

Dan, If you need anything from the usa and shipping is excessive my in laws are visiting in January. I could get them to bring back a parcel before posting on to you if required?

Thanks for the offer.

I'll have a look around for the lights and see how much it's likely to cost.

[cms206]

Jonckheere Deauville-bodied coaches run sealed beam units with an integrated sidelight unit and to be honest the headlights were like pissholes in the snow. I wouldn't bother tbh.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

[cort1977]

Merkania for some bizarre reason went mad for sealed beam light units in the mid 70s. Lots of manufacturers just lobbed a standard fit light unit in, Toyota HiAce vans used to have them.

 

 

It was the first federal regulations in 1968 that locked in sealed beams for years, then in 1974 rectangular lights were allowed.   "When Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 was amended in 1974 to permit rectangular headlamps, these were placed in horizontally arrayed or vertically stacked pairs. By 1979, the majority of new cars in the US market were equipped with rectangular lamps."

 

Because getting anything through Congress is so hard, once American regulations are in place it takes a major lobbying effort to get them changed and things can be set in stone for years.   Even now US regulations for airbags are different; manufacturers are not allowed to assume passengers will be wearing seatbelts when designing them.