My Carlton - 'The Louts' *NEW PICS*

[jonnybear]

better or worse than ya other ones ?

Looks good

[Pedro]

Dip beam is the same as the D2S bulbs, but then didn't have a main beam, only the halogen spots.

Now I have 6000K dip, 6000k main plus 6000K spots!

Can't wait to get in on the road again and go for a drive in t'dark!!!!

[jonnybear]

So pretty powerful all in all haha:P

Good work mate !

[flash911]

awesome, me want some 

[Whippit]

As a glaucoma sufferer if I come ploughing into the front of you as I cant see a bloody thing then you'll know why.............those things should be banned!!

[carlton_mad]

As a glaucoma sufferer if I come ploughing into the front of you as I cant see a bloody thing then you'll know why.............those things should be banned!!

as a regularly blinded MOT tester i agree!!!!!!!

[Pedro]

My take on the whole "should retrofit HID's be allowed" agenda:

The dip beam is as good a pattern as standard, and therefore only as "blinding" as the road surface or gradiant lets it - doesn't matter whether halogens or HID's are used.
On main beam, they are very bright, and consequently they will glare at oncoming vehicles - but again, so do halogens (OK, maybe not to the same degree).

I always drive with other road users in mind - just taught that way, racing around is for tracks and rally stages, and I've done a few of rallies - so always dip my lights when I see the headlight beams of an oncoming vehicle, not like some tossers that only either dip when flashed, or wait until they see the headlights of the oncoming traffic.

The guys that MOT test the car have never had a problem with the HID's before, either and it's been tested 3 times with them fitted.

Also, as far as incines are concerned, you can still get blinded by modern cars with HID's - with all the levellers etc., if you're going up hill and a car so equipped is coming over the brow.

And another thing!

Some muppets fit rally type spotlights and have them on all the fooking time, along with foglights etc.

If the tosspots in Parliament want to ban them then they should do it, not faff about with white papers and recommendations that are un-enforceable!
Bit like drink driving - I'm allowed a pint, then a drive home...........so I can legally have one (I don't, though), have an accident and get away with it, provided the alky test is negative - until they ban drink driving totally.

I don't think any Carlton owner (any 90's Vauxhall come to that!) with standard headlights would argue that the standard lights are pretty poor, and as such, I think that they can be classed as "a bit dangerous" at speed on an unlit road.

In conclusion - it's a loophole, and I'm able to exploit it (for a change!!), to see where I'm going and drive that bit more safely.
They're staying...........
 

[Whippit]

Well you would say that.
I agree with most of your points but don't go for the 'they are no worse than.....'
That may be but then the modern HID's are a bloody menace too.
It's getting to the stage where I can't drive on country roads at night, OK so thats my condition but as 10% of the population aged over 30 suffer it (mostly undiagnosed, I was only diagnosed when I went for a check for laser surgery) then I think some consideration should be given.
I agree that the standard carlton lights are poor by comparison, but they do the job, the only time I cant see the road ahead is when one of the HIDiots goes past.

[Pedro]

I hear what you're saying Mr. Whippet - I wouldn't like glaucoma (sp?) either, and as a speccy tw@t myself, I sympathise with eyesight problems, but you cant please everybody all the time.

Is there anything to be done for your condition?
I am ignorant about glaucoma.

[Whippit]

Not really but caught early its no real problem, just have to keep up the drops LOL

[carlton_mad]

i feel as a personal thing that hid lights should be MAIN beam only

the comments about being blinded by the damn things is down to my assistant frgetting to turn them off as i walk round the front of the car with it at head height with halogen bulbs/lights its a dazzle with hids i get a flaming sunburn (& im  olive skinned!!) and a serious case of arc eye to boot!!

i admit they do increase visibility etc but i would argue that unless you live in the middle of nowhere they are of little benefit and if you do live in "the wilds" driving home late (from the local) you will probably have your main beam on anyway

so why dont they just have these lights as driving lights?? pose value by and large the majority of factory fit vehicles fitted with them are beemers mercs range rovers etc all driven by midlife crisis sufferers!!!!!

[Pedro]

Arc-eye...........seriously?
The arc is behind a glass lense!!
I've been welding for over 30years, and never had arc eye when wearing plastic safety spex, let alone glass ones (the glass reduces the radiation which burns the retina by over 90%).

Still not taking the Xenons out - no way, no sir!

[carlton_mad]

that lens is a magnifier!!!! feckin kills my eyes

maybe not quite arc eye but close!!

[Pedro]

Still not tekkin' 'em out!

[carlton_mad]

ok thats cool you live too far away from me to worry me (for the time being)

[YasmineLee]

i personally hate the bright things. i hardly ever use my main hi beams in unlit roads as i sensitive to light as it is. (that will be the vampire in me)

[Pedro]

Hahaha!

Daddy's goin' a-Vampire huntin'..................

 

[YasmineLee]

many have tried and failed in the past. sure does make feeding time more ineresting

[carltonman]

so the cat was a vamp. 2nd pic with full beam on and its gone.

[krisha]

I couldnt get the bloody thing out!  I ended up breaking the thing so I just took the top part in the hope that I can make a hybrid box that blows air in the right directions.  I'm thinking of getting a rotary type heat ac control knob from a different car and grafting it into one of the Senny heat control positions.  Then all I need to do is get it hooked up to the existing matrix and bobs yer auntie's live-in lover!

Sounds good in theory but I bet it wont work 

i think yes, it would not work. we have similar idea for that. but it's impossible it's only easy to give a theory but difficult to prove if it will work.

[Murph]

It did work!
That post is nigh on 5 years (!) old...
I ended up using a rotary control from an Astra G which I just barely managed to squeeze into the gap behind the senny fascia.

[Pedro]

Just had a clean up of this thread.

Pics here: http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Pedropix/THE%20LOUTS/?start=all

[Pedro]

And with very heavy heart, it is now for sale but ONLY to a good home. No drifters or racers.
He needs a decent home, where he will be thoroughly pampered as he has become accustomed these last few years!

Bad bits:
Currently sorn, no t&t, but garaged.
Headlining is now sagging,
Bonnet and front bumper a bit scratched,
No proper heater (currently has Senator heater box and you have to turn the motors manually to adjust heat!)
Viscous fan or the water pump is grating. If it is the fan, I was going to totally remove it as the electric fan (from a Citroën BX diesel and manually switched) is more than capable of doing the job....even in standing traffic.
Still has 2 litre rear axle fitted and it whines.
Showing 226k on the (police calibrated) clock, but in reality, only done 115-120K.
Radio is JVC (i.e. crap!)
No ABS.
Sunroof although works fine, needs replacing.
Higher wiper speed not working.

The good bits:
Superb HID lighting - so much better than standard feeble glowing halogens.
Drives well.
Handles very well.
5 speed manual gearbox.
New(ish) clutch
Vibe and JBL speakers - not sure whether the sub will go with or I keep it.
Lotus steering wheel.
Wheels and tyres all in very good nick.
Full stainless system, 12V converted and single big pipe from cat replacements to rear box.
Unique leather re-trimmed interior, still as new.
All the history since 1996.
Still smells of leather inside.

Spares:
An original Lotus front bumper included, but it's as it came off after the lamp-post incident.
24V engine - 5K miles since total rebuild but bottom end kaput, new everything including chains and guides, cams, rockers, pistons, etc.
GSi rear axle in bits plus rear half of prop. Diff is a slipper, no idea if it works though.
Heater box and cables
Brand new water pump in box
Sunroof
Wiper linkage
Heater fan
SS exhaust rear box
GSi rear box hanger
Very good boot lid and Lotus spoiler - needs paint.
Very good bonnet - needs paint.
Various interior bits and trim.
Spare front and rear wheel, although rear has a flat spot and front is gouged - both need re-forming as as a consequence, the 'polished' surface will no longer be polished!
Ian Hickman enlarged throttle body.
Ian Hickman stainless front strut brace.
Brand new clutch cylinder.
Brand new brake master cylinder (how f***ing much???!!!)
Yada
Yada
Yada.

Serious enquiries only, by PM.
No "How much you want for it?" thanks - just make an offer.
Lots of spares, lots of history, I have owned it since 1996 (apart for 2 years)

There will be a load more bits and bobs - please ask via PM please.

Although I will be very sad to see him go, my current band is taking off and all my energies are needed for that. The old boy not being on the road last year or this proves that!

Many pics here  - although in no order - http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Pedropix/THE%20LOUTS/?start=all

Still not sure I wanna sell and will not let it go cheaply - it's NOT a cheap car. Better to keep it under wraps until time allows to play with it again!

[bootie3367]

Personally, I think you should keep it (under wraps as you say) until you get your mojo back (and time)
That car is an extension of you....anybody else that buys it will always be getting 'Wasn't that Pete (pedro's) old car?'
Unless of course they change the appearance totally, different colour and all that. Just my personal opinion of course.
You do what you have to do Pete. Good luck whichever way it goes mate.

Jon

[Pedro]

Cheers, Jon......but I'd rather build 'em, drive 'em a year then sell and build summat else.
Did that for years before the Carlton, now I feel kind of restricted by it.

Sometimes, I walk in the garage and look at it and think "Wow, that's mine!" ....................




................but not very often.

I need a van, not just want!