Round lights to square

[Louey]

My mate has bought some square lights and a grille to replace his single round grill/lights. I've not been helping him do the swap - mainly due to a killer hangover today (Heather's 30th birthday party last night )

Anyway, he rang me this afternoon. How easy should the swap be? Does he have to add brackets or holes? Does he have to remove parts of the van/bodywork (apart from old round lights/grill)?

[ambivert]

does he want to sell me the grill, lights and brackets?

[mike_gee32]

He will need to fit a couple of brackets for the lower inner screws, available from vw for a couple of quid you could make some but they have a funny bend in them, and drill new holes for the upper inner ones. I fitted some to an early van and had to adapt the main wiring loom, I stripped back the insulation, seperated the wires into a couple of smaller bundles and re wrapped with tape, not sure if the later ones will be the same.

It's easy enough to do and only took me about 45mins, after the 2 week wait for VW to get me the brackets.

[toomanytoys]

Might want to fit relays to supply the power to them too.. makes a huge difference..

[Louey]

I recommended that to him Si, made a huge difference on my old van

[dickspanner]

Popped back on this thread to see if a reply had been made to my post and its gone..... How Bizaar.

Dickspanner

[Louey]

Popped back on this thread to see if a reply had been made to my post and its gone..... How Bizaar.

Dickspanner

didn't even see your reply - been away for 2 days on a school residential in the Forest of Dean

[AngeloEvs]

I read that you could gently ease the existing lugs (that the brackets attach to) down a tad. Worked fine on mine and my square headlights are secured to the body flanges without the need for brackets.

[PEET]

Forever doin thios now - make the brackets rivetr em on for the inner lower screws, bend tab back on top inner old grille attchment - don't cut it off as if you sell the van u may want the lights back! - do wiring for extra spots. I always build new looms for my inner spots and run the lights thru relays as already advised. The relays are best fitted above the fuse box with sticky pads or cable ties keep em nice n dry n working longer...

[daschmoo]

I know the square headlights look cool but the price of them is getting ridiculous...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 3D1&_rdc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[AngeloEvs]

crazy, especially since obtaining a replacement lamp unit is nigh impossible. Another ''Lets nick that van accessory". Think I will take mine off and put 'em in a bank vault........

[joshb]

I bought a cheap USA spec set and fitted main lights from a 90's rhd jap car £10 the pair from local scrappy

crazy, especially since obtaining a replacement lamp unit is nigh impossible. Another ''Lets nick that van accessory". Think I will take mine off and put 'em in a bank vault........

[AngeloEvs]

more details.........pleeeeze.......in fact lots of more details for the miserly amongst us..........

[joshb]

HI I actually posted on 'Fri Nov 28, 2008 4:24 pm' .. that I done this but no one seemed interested so I didnt post any folow ups.
Anyhow, Its pretty straight forward as I recall.. Lots of jap cars in the 80's and 90's had these rectangle lights such as all those jap cars with pop up headlights, and 4x4's etc. mine were off a toyota supra from the local scrap yard. I got brakety bits that hold em in too, and some adjuster screws and springs from them and a few other similar cars while I was there. I just lined the up jap light adjuster screws then drilled and tapped the VW metal light holder and fitted the bolts and springs so they are fully adjustable. dapped some copper grease on adjusted em up and that its. Passed the MOT in July no worrys, great lights too. Only minor thing is they are not squared off rectangular like the original Vdub ones, these are slightly rounded on the sides . But that doesnt bother me and is hardly noticable it doesnt look wrong imo. Guess I could pop one off and take a pic if any one is interested

cheers

Josh

more details.........pleeeeze.......in fact lots of more details for the miserly amongst us..........

[AngeloEvs]

given that you can't get the VW units (especially in RHD form) and cost an arm and a leg when second hand ones come up an alternative solution would be useful even if it does mean a bit of modding. I missed that original post so a picture of the lights with the grill removed would be a good idea but popped into the modified forum rather than this one. Those of us interested can book mark it or print it.