Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Question regarding the rear lights (66 +4)

Hi guys, getting antsy to work on the MogRod, so I figured I'd start sorting out the wiring harness for things like lighting and such. However, the original harness is in sad shape and thus of no use as a reference. This has led to a question I'm hoping some of the classic +4 owners could answer for me...

On the rear lighting, the larger housings have a dual filament bulb while the small housings have a single filament bulb. I'm assuming, based on most vehicle lighting, that the dual filament bulb is used only for brake lights and 'running / night' lights, and the smaller housing's single filament bulb is only used for signaling?

Somewhat related to this.. what was done for a reverse light originally? If nothing was used, what lighting solutions have owners come up with to make other drivers aware that they're backing up?

Thanks as always!

You're correct on the lights as fitted.

There was no reversing light fitted - I don't think one was fitted until sometime in the 80s. Certainly there was nothing on the mid-70s UK cars. You could fit a manually operated reverse light, so long as you also fit a telltale next to or integrated with the switch. I don't bother, not had a problem (yet...! ).

Cheers,

I think with the Solstice transmission I may be able to wire something in that would automatically turn on a reverse light... just need to sort something that will look good, especially considering I won't be running the bumpers.

There are some nice lights you can fit. Possibly the current style ones below the number plate (with fog light too?).

S word of warning! The standard loom does not include any fuses so even wrong way round wiring on the tail light can cause a fire. Please don't ask me how I know this - add extra fuses to the rear loom

No worries on that, my car's getting a whole new custom harness to go with the "whole new custom damn near everything else"!

So, in regards to the rear signal / reverse lights, I may have just struck upon a solution.

I'm already building custom LED circuit boards for all the lighting fixtures, so I'm thinking I'm going to order a second pair of the clear front signal housings.

What I'll do is, instead of using the red housings for the signals at the rear, use the clear housings and put the same light board in back as up front. To handle the running light / signal setup, I'm doing a board with a ring of amber LED's around a cluster of white LED's. In back, the ambers will again be used turn indicators, but the whites will only come on as reverse lights.

What do you think of that idea?

Could work...

Well, LED's are ordered (will take about a week or two, coming from Hong Kong), as is the clear housings to use in the rear.

I also ran the pcb material on the CNC router last night at work, turned out quite well I think.

http://mogrod.com/?p=1047

Does indeed look good. Interesting site. Thanks for sharing.