Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi,

I have a 1962 saloon that needless to say has the later type and style of lights - that being the front side light and indicator and the later rear light cluster. I have no doubt that the later lights are bigger and more visible, but for originality sake I want to change the lights to the earlier correct versions. I have them in boxs in the car, but I was wondering if anyone had advise on how to fit them correctly as a side light and indicator ?

Firstly - Is it just a simple matter of taking off the front lights and using the same connections to put in the earlier model ? Obviously there will be two wires for the side light and indicator but will the early light work with the two conected together (ie will it work as a side light and indicator together) or am I just dreaming. What is the correct way to connect the front light to the early type and still get it to work correctly.

Second - Can I also just swap the rear light cluster at the rear and still have it work as a rear light and brake light, but extend the indicator wire to say below the bumper and insert two indicators here and get them to work correctly ? I only want to do it that way as I don't like the look of the seperate indicator on the rear wing as it doesn't look right, so I'd prefer to put it below the bumper.

I know its all just general wiring advise, but all advise would be welcome.

Ian.

Ian,

I think you have a major (and possibly expensive) project

The front side/indicator would only have 2 wires (power and earth connection), the rear side light has power + earth, the rear brake/indicator has power + earth (the rear earth is probably common.

In the original, there was a relay box which sorted out the power/flashing requirements for each side and front/rear. You will need to replace this unit (I'm assuming it's gone from your car):- (about £50 in UK money!)

http://www.morris-minor.co.uk/p375.htm

Then you'll need to re-modify the wiring loom to fit.

All the best,

Colin

See this old thread for a cheaper alternative to the Lucas DB10, and legal caveats to fitting flashing brake lights to a car that didn't have them originally.

Personally I'm planning to replace my trav's original flashing brake lights with separate amber indicators (but not quite yet) as I have no confidence that today's drivers will understand what they mean.

BTW the clear-glass-lense front side/indicator lights have dual-filament bulbs; one for the indicator and one for the sidelight. It's only the brake/tail lights that need the DB10 unit to make them flash in time with the indicators. I'm also replacing my front side/indicator lights with the later type that has a clear part and an amber part, as again I'm not convinced that modern drivers would understand what flashing sidelights mean.

Edit: I really should have read the original question rather than the reply, shouldn't I?

Ian, you don't need a DB10 to do what you want to do. Just use the dual-filament type of lamp holder on the front (brighter filament=indicator) and connect the rear indicator wires to the separate lights you're going to fit on the bumpers. Whether this is road-legal where you are is a separate question...

Ian, you don't need a DB10 to do what you want to do. Just use the dual-filament type of lamp holder on the front (brighter filament=indicator) and connect the rear indicator wires to the separate lights you're going to fit on the bumpers. Whether this is road-legal where you are is a separate question...

Yes, that what I was thinking and hoping could work. I assume I can conect the existing wires to the front lights and make them work succesfully as you say. With the rear lights I assume I can do the same by connecting the brake lights to the rear light, and taking the indicator wires and connecting them to a seperate indicator either on the wing or bumper.

I never thought about the legal aspect of it though, good point.

Whether this is road-legal where you are is a separate question...

Front:
As your car is a 62, then it would have been made with 'flashing white light indicators' at the front. All you have to do to get back to this is use a twin filament bulb holder, use a stop/tail bulb (20W/5W) and a clear lens. If you have the later front sidelight/indicator then you ahve all the wiring you need to do this, but remember to connect the indicator to the 20w part of the bulb and the sidelight wire to the 5W!
This is legal as this is how they 62 came from the factory, however for safety, an orange indicator would be my preference.

The other (better?) alternative is to get Mini headlight units with the sidelight in the headlight. Then use orange indicators where the sidelight is - or better still, use the same light unit but with a clear lens and an orange bulb. You have to separate the front sidelight and indicator to get an orange indicator, otherwise you'd also have an orange sidelight and that's not allowed.

Rear:
The 62 flashed the brake light as an indicator. This is hard to replicate but can be done (as mentioned on the other thread).

Adding a seperate orange indicator is as simple as re-routing the indicator wire to the new indicator bulb assembly. A flashing orange indicator is legal on any car in the UK.