Headlights, LHD & RHD and swapping

[tweetyduck]

do the MOD, army etc. have some special headlights that can be moved from LHD to RHD and back. I understand once upon a time there were some units that can be "flipped" by rotating the bulb. Is this true? i've been told you rotated the bulb 30 degrees and although there was no mention of land rover i have my fingers crossed.

[mickeyw]

This should shed some (head)light on what you are thinking about... sorry

linky

[tweetyduck]

yeah thats what i'm on about although i've not seen that article, Thanks. I'm wondering, is this is possible on my 110 or do the MOD have some fancy setup?

[western]

AFAIK the LHD vehicles that come back to UK get fitted with RHD headlights at the base workshops.

[Clive]

This sounds like a good idea but aren't the glass lenses different for LHD & RHD. If you rotate the bulb for LHD doesn't the lense still give the light pattern for RHD?

[western]

Yes the lense is different that's how the light gets it's dip & main beam patterns for LH & RH drive

[Superpants]

In my time working on electrical design for MOD vehicles, I never came across a dual LHD/RHD lamp unit. There was a requirement though from our MOD customers for the changing of a headlight unit to be quick and easy (under 5 minutes and only basic on vehicle tools- eg screwdriver) for this reason, as well as changing due to damage.

[tacr2man]

I solved this problem on a series vehicle by having the orginal headlamps in rad panel for RHD and series 3 wing fronts with LHD headlamp fitted , at channel just switched from one to other .

With clear lens headlamps that have reflector focussing and glass lens type focus you can mask out part of beam that "kicks up" on kerb side of beam .

[Turbocharger]

The smaller round "eyeball" headlamps that were ubiquitous on early 2000s cars make their beam pattern with a little gate inside, so they can be swapped. My 2003 MGTF (not the earlier MGF) can be swapped in this way. They won't bolt straight into a Ninety though.