Rewire US Rear Lights to UK - Auto Electrician Recommendation?

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Right, I've simply not now got the time to do this thanks to a house move, so I need someone to sort this out in my absence.

Can anyone either do (for beer tokens) or recommend and auto electrician in the Guildford area who can do the US rear to Euro rear light conversion please?

Also need a few other non-electrical niggles sorted (brake hoses to braided, and an issue with the clutch not engaging) but the rear light wiring is really holding us back from interior refit now.

I've done the front conversion (swapping sidelights/indicators combined to separate side and indicators) but am now spending my next few weekends going back and forth to Yorkshire... Yes, we're moving that way! Madness.. But hey, wherever work takes you eh!

Any recommendations of electricians/anyone willing to do it (will pay) ideally in the next 2 weeks much much appreciated!!
 
Are you planning on using your US lights to get an MOT?

Slightly o/t..... hampshire to yorkshire, I once made that move for few years to work near harrogate. same area?
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
No - the US lights are a mess. We have some Euro lenses so need to get this done.

I've found the walk through guide on classiczcars.com but have not studied enough to be able to do it (and now don't have time!). It's one of those jobs I want to have a morning to go at, not 20 mins here and there in my lunchbreak!!

As for the move, the other half's job is moving to the Leeds/Harogate road, so yes, very much the same area! We're looking Oakworth for now as a rental to get to know the area, plus it's cheap enough rent to put aside a good deposit over the coming year to buy with once we're settled up there and know where we want to be.

I work from home though, so can be anywhere. The things we do for our loved ones eh!!
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
oakworth!!!
make sure you've had your jabs lol!!!

only kidding, decent enough area.

Seemed ok when we looked around! Plumped for there as we got a little 3 bed on a hill, which had a surprise garage and workshop underneath entered from a garage door further down the hill!

Only downfall being it's definitely going to be a quieter life - only 2 pubs (compared to 20+ where am now!) and going to struggle not having new takeaway leaflets through the door daily!
 
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Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
sensible man moving to God's country

We love it there - so much so got married at Allerton Castle a couple of years ago! Been wanting to move up there for years (but not too far - damned if I want a Geordie accent!!) and the job opportunity came up to move that way, and couldn't say no!

We nearly rented in Threshfield, which is just beautiful. Shame the only place we could sensibly afford was a pebble dash dump built in between the gorgeous oak barn conversions etc, so rejected that one!
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Indeed! Rob can just drop the car off at your emporium and you can finish it off for him ready for Le Mans:thumbs:

Oooh.. Useful to know..

Once back from Le Mans it'll need more work, so happy to drop of at anyone's emporium for restoration!!
 

pmac

Well-Known Forum User
Seemed ok when we looked around! Plumped for there as we got a little 3 bed on a hill, which had a surprise garage a workshop underneath entered from a garage door further down the hill!

Only downfall being it's definitely going to be a quieter life - only 2 pubs (compared to 20+ where am now!) and going to struggle not having new takeaway leaflets through the door daily!

yes ...but Bradford is not far away. Rahail knows all the best places to eat there:bow:
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
yes ...but Bradford is not far away. Rahail knows all the best places to eat there:bow:

Any recommended restaurants I'm interested in! Eating out is my life (the wife is an amazing cook, but rarely gets time to be let loose in the kitchen so takeaway/restaurants are my daily diet!)
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
As an aside, thanks for all the response PMs and calls. Much appreciated! Nice to feel a little community spirit is still out there!! :)

Anyhow, on recommendation, have called a US import specialist auto electrician (silly me should have thought living right by North Town - one of the most US import populated parts of the UK - there'd be some US specialists around!) who's gonna come and do it next week. He's also going to do the headlight relay mod too (few quid for some relays and some cash in hand saves me an hour or two!).

Thanks again!
 

rahail240

Well-Known Forum User
Any recommended restaurants I'm interested in! Eating out is my life (the wife is an amazing cook, but rarely gets time to be let loose in the kitchen so takeaway/restaurants are my daily diet!)


PLENTY of super dooper eateries up here.
Especially if your partial to the spicy side of the menu.
Happy to recommend mate, when you move up.
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Give it 2 months (assumption being it'll take that long for sale to complete and I'll take any recommendation going!

Saying that, Thai is my favourite so any recommendations for one of them greatly appreciated imminently!

Happy to meet up and have a fellow enthusiast show us personally!
 

timskintight

New Forum User
Is it possible to rewire the existing US tail light cluster in order to meet mot requirements? I'm importing a Californian car and need advise for the conversion. All advice very welcome!
Cheers all,
 

Aceman

Well-Known Forum User
Is it possible to rewire the existing US tail light cluster in order to meet mot requirements? I'm importing a Californian car and need advise for the conversion. All advice very welcome!
Cheers all,

To the letter of the law, no. Indicators should be orange, and have defined locations etc in the MOT. I think there is though, some get out clause for vehicles which we're not sold in the UK and hence would not have the option. Very early 240s were not sold in UK so arguably could get away with red indicators.

I don't know, so can only go on what the MOT station my import is going to next week has told me, which is the above.

Does seen more to depend on who does the MOT more than anything else mind.

Are the rear lights all red on your import, or has someone in the US already done a "Euro light" conversion do you know?
 

MaximG

Well-Known Forum User
Aceman;185905 Very early 240s were not sold in UK so arguably could get away with red indicators. [/quote said:
]

Could you please clarify this statement.
 
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chrisvega

Well-Known Forum User
Same question as raised by previous poster on this thread but not answered.

Is it possible to re-wire existing US rear light cluster for first MOT ?
Anyone yet done this and can offer advice ?
Could the reversing lights be fitted with orange bulbs and converted to indicators ?

Finally any recommendations for an auto electrician (preferably mobile) in South West - near Exeter ?
Any guidance much appreciated,

Thanks,
Chris
 
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moggy240

Insurance Valuations Officer
Staff member
Club Member
People have used the reverse as indicators and then used a after market reverse light but it depends on how picky your MOT tester.

Re wiring the lights is fairly easy do with an volt meter.side cutters and a wiring diagram
 
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