Driving Lights

[clayfoushee]

What do you guys think? Be honest.

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/clayfoushee/Drivinglights.JPG

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[ericeckhoff]

They look good. How about a picture without the Hella covers. I have thought of doing same thing with clear bra over lights to protect them. How did you mount them?
Eric

[pgermond]

Clay,

If you do alot of night driving, those ought to do the trick. What about air flow through the radiator (if I used those here in the summer time the car would boil over in an instant)?

Phil

427 Roadster, #4279436
Southern Automotive FE
3:31 and Toploader

Roseville (N.Cal)

[rdorman]

I am not big on the 'rally' lights. But, I would think the appearence would be greatly improved with the clear covers or stone guards instead of the black and white hella covers. One thing is for sure, you will be able to see where you are going!!
Rick

[clayfoushee]

I'll post another picture, without the covers, in a bit. I centered the lights in front of each pusher fan, drilled holes through the aluminum inside the nose opening. I made my own reinforcing brackets (for the aluminum sheeting) using galvanized steel strips bought at Home Depot (the kind with holes pre-drilled). I cut the steel to approximate length after measuring everything several times, and shaped them in a bench vise, roughly S-shaped to fit under the oil cooler opening. The supplied light mounting bracket is bolted through the aluminum and through my homemade reinforcing bracket, and is secured by fasteners into the underside top lip of the fiberglass oil cooler opening. They're totally invisible, and they provide a very solid mount.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[pgermond]

BTW - I'm jealous.... love the lift ;)

Phil

427 Roadster, #4279436
Southern Automotive FE
3:31 and Toploader

Roseville (N.Cal)

[clayfoushee]

I agree Rick. I'd rather find a different set of covers, and the Hella ones came with the set.

At any rate, here's the picture without the covers. The nice thing is they're unpluggable, and easily removable for the "virgin" look.

http://www.uniquecobra.com/uploaded/clayfoushee/Drivinglights2.JPG

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[rdorman]

Looks better already!

Are you watching Barrett Jackson? OMG!

Rick

[clayfoushee]

Phil, I don't know how anyone maintains one of these things without a lift. I'm too old for jack-stands.

I'll have to get back to you on the airflow issue, but I can't imagine they'd make that much difference, plus I now have the SPAL puller behind it. It's still too cold here to know.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[ericeckhoff]

Much better. Which light package did you use? I would need a quick release setup for those hot summer days. Try this rock protector product, I use it on my Ducati.

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Eric

[clayfoushee]

Thanks Eric......here's the part number on the driving lights and the vendor. The quick release kit is pretty easy: one socket wrench, and the lights come out of the mounting brackets. They're connected with spade connectors. The brackets, themselves, are hidden behind the fiberglass lip of the nose cowl and pretty invisible. Easy on, and easy off.

Susquehanna Motorsports
2 East Locust Street, Ground Floor
Fleetwood, PA 19522

www.rallylights.com


The Driving lights are HELLA 500 #HL76110 $68.00 a pair


Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Aggressor]

Clay
Lose the Hella covers in favor of classic wire stone guards.
My only real concern would be cooling.

Car looks good. - Geary

[GeorgiaSnake]

Looks pretty cool Clay. How did you wire them - new circuit - switch?

Randy

Unique 289 FIA #2899420
Southern Automotive 396
Team III 16's
Brilliant Silver

[gasman]

Clay, that looks great, I love it. I like the look with the Hella covers on too. Do you notice any vibration in the light pattern with the motor running? My car has a finish line bumper. I'm thinking about welding brackets into each side of the oval and having it rechromed.

Steve Foushee
Unique #4279389

[clayfoushee]

Randy,

The kit comes with the wiring harness, switch, relay and 15amp in line fuse.

Steve, I haven't driven it at night. We've had one warm (65) day all year, and it rains every damn weekend.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Naumoff]

Clay looks good. Would like to see a straight on photo. I don't like the Hella covers. Maybe if they were silver and black. Did your clear turn signal lenses come with your car? If not where did you get them? I like them better than the amber ones.

Tony

Unique 427 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[clayfoushee]

Tony, my car came with the clear parking lamp/turn signal lenses, but I have no idea whether it came that way or whether they were changed later. I use amber bulbs.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Jeff 427]

Clay,

I like the look much better with the covers off! The wire stone guards may not be a bad idea. I had issues with broken Hella lens on other cars but they were mounted under the bumper and closer to the ground, may not be a problem on your car. I like a lot of light for night driving. I've heard that that the headlights on the cobra are not very bright, can't speak from experience yet, I have to finish the car first!!!! It's coming along good!!!



Jeff

Unique 427 S/C #4279451
Southern Automotive FE406
4 Speed Toploader (wide)
3.31

[bittentoo]

I'll reserve judgement until I see it in person.

[Poorboy]

They would look good on a rally car or dune buggy.

[Russ Dickey]

Looks a little too "Gumball Rally" for my taste. Which, if you are really going to go race in a cross-country race, then by all means, keep the lights. You'll need them for the high-speed blasts across Kansas, Colorado, and Utah.

Unique 289FIA - Chassis #9229 - Viking Blue

[clayfoushee]

Thanks all. I like all the honest opinions. I think I like the way it looks, but I'm not totally convinced. I do like the ability to remove them quickly, so it's a change than be undone in 5 minutes or less.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[K.Wilson]

I too would be very very concerned about air flow. It looks like you are blocking 20 to 30% of the area of the opening for the radiator air.
It is tough enough to keep things cool with the opening as it is...........

Keith

[clayfoushee]

Keith, I've never had any issues with cooling when moving even at low speeds. Actually, the pusher fans and motors were already blocking much of the same area if you think about it. That's why I centered them in front of the fan motors. My only cooling issues, on very hot days, have been when sitting still for extended periods with just the pusher fans, and even then it never overheated. But, I now have a puller fan behind it too.

But, at the first sign of it running hotter, out they come with nothing irreversible.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Naumoff]

Clay,
The fan motors are inside a larger area than the opening of the inlet, which you are now obstructing.
I would be concerned with restricting air flow to the radiator. The SPAL fan you have pulls 1300 CFM if that is what it will take to cool your engine in traffic you need 200 sq. in. of open area at .10 of friction. The Friction shouldn't be a factor in such a short distance. So Just calculate the area of your Hella lights and subtract it from the area of the opening. The additional pusher fans are not designed to increase pressure only move air. So they will not help overcome a smaller opening. if you come up with 200sq. in or more you should be fine.

Tony

Unique 427 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[Brent]

Looks like Speed Buggy on the 70's cartoon.



Brent
427 SC Chassis #4279401
Candy Apple Red/White
402 FE/Toploader/3.54

[clayfoushee]

Thanks Tony, but I also still have the working pushers in the front still moving air too. I'll keep a close eye on it. I do like the look at least for now.

If you calculate the area of the pusher fan motors, plus blades and mounting bars (then there's the oil cooler lines and fittings), they are blocking more radiator area than the lights. The lights are in front of those same areas, so if my math is correct, the additional loss is rather insignificant.

Brent, I wasn't still watching cartoons in the 70's, so I don't know what Speed Buggy looks like:D.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Naumoff]

I think as long as you have 200 sq. in. at the opening then you should be fine. I'd still like to see a photo head on or are you going to make me come by your house to see for myself( hint.. hint.. nudge..nudge ) I'll be in the Annapolis area tomorrow.;)

Tony

Unique 427 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[clayfoushee]

Tony, I just saw your edits. If the oval opening were perfectly square, it would be 266 sq.in. If the lights were square they would be 72 sq. in. Since they are oval and circular, respectively, they both represent less area, but that would put me in the ball 200 sq. in. ballpark.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[clayfoushee]

Tony, I'm working in DC everyday now and getting home late. But, I'm sure we can work something out.

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[Naumoff]

Clay,

Cool! Pardon the pun. Just let me know. The Days are getting longer.
Work sucks!! Doesn't it. I can't wiat til May when I get my kit.

Tony

Unique 427 #4279480 427s/o Nascar toploader 3.31 Jag IRS

[excelguru]

I think they look cool as hell myself. Very interested in knowing what you think about them at night. Especially regarding shake & vibration which could cause a "flicker" effect (annoying). My high-beams are probably pretty good but I'd never know because their effect is negated by the 2-Million-candle-power indicator on the dash. I need to put some tape over that thing or somethin'.

Keith :)
My car is FOR SALE! (http://webpages.charter.net/excelguru/UMC_4_Sale.htm)

[Russ Dickey]

quote:Originally posted by excelguru

My high-beams are probably pretty good but I'd never know because their effect is negated by the 2-Million-candle-power indicator on the dash. I need to put some tape over that thing or somethin'.

Keith :)
My car is FOR SALE! (http://webpages.charter.net/excelguru/UMC_4_Sale.htm)


Hilarious! I noticed the same thing the other night during a cruise home. I was actually using my hand to block the light from the high beam indicator so that I could see!

I always wondered why, in the movies, that the actor's faces are all lit up inside of cars. Now I know. They are using a Unique Cobra high-beam indicator!

Unique 289FIA - Chassis #9229 - Viking Blue

[eliminator]

Being Honest,
Don't like them[B)], did'nt know you were doing any 24 hour road races;).


Rick
#4279405

[gasman]

Funny Russ.

Steve Foushee
Unique #4279389

[clayfoushee]

Well, I don't like your stripes either, so there.................:D[:P][:P] No 24 hour races for me, or any other for that matter. Think of them as deer lasers;).

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD

[nolastyankee]

Clay,
Remember, you asked for opinions and total honesty, so here it goes...

I don't care for the look...They remind me of two front teeth!

Cobra fangs perhaps?

Like many others here, however, I am super curious as to how they work. I remember seeing some old pics on CC of comp cars racing in Europe with similar looking yellow Marchal lights in the front of the car.

If you like the lights, that's all that matters. It's your car. Take it from someone who has a long list of folks that don't particularly like their car!




Brian Carlson

Unique 9122 - 289 FIA Cobra - The Legendary "Spence" Car

[clayfoushee]

Brian.......I put all those smileys into my response to Rick for a reason:D. I AM interested in all opinions, that's why my first post said "be honest." I was just reviving an old joke about stripes here.

I'm not completely decided myself. Sometimes I like the look, sometimes, I'm not so sure. That's why I installed them with an eye toward taking them off anytime I want with only the small mounting brackets behind the lip still barely visible if you look closely. At $69/pair, call it a cheap dress rehearsal[8D].

Clay

'98 Unique #9299, 427FE side oiler (452.1-stroker), top-loader (close), 3.31 rear

Annapolis, MD