The 'E' Type Forum

What's the perceived wisdom on headlamp chrome rims?- is it 'easier'to have the originals rechromed (easier in that they'll fit again) or get new ones(do they fit without strangling them to the body shape?)

Keep the originals ++++

david muir wrote:(do they fit without strangling them to the body shape?)

No.

Its not just the chrome rims, its the way the glass sits in the aperture in the bonnet. If the glass is reproduction and not off that bonnet, or the whole bonnet has been apart you will need to work the recess that the glass and seal sit within before you have a hope of fitting the chromes. I ended up on my FHC restoration buying a new chrome ( my originals disappeared between body man and paint man ) . We had to dechrome it, split it, braze a bit in and make it fit and rechrome it. There are very good perplex or plexiglass glass covers that flex. Good luck!

I have original ones (one not off this particular car) and they are still difficult to get to fit properly. If you look closely at most E-types, you will see that they don’t fit all that well. The chrome is too flexible and the screw holes are too far apart to fix it satisfactorily to the bonnet without it bowing out under the pressure of the rubber.
The modern rubbers are much thicker than the originals and even if the shape of the chromes is correct, it is very difficult to fit them flush with the bodywork.
One tip I picked up from Jag-Lovers was to fit the chromes and rubbers without the glass and then put some flexible sealer around the captured nuts. This makes it far easier to fit the chromes once the glass is in.
I have heard that the reproduction rims sometimes do not even have the holes in the right place, but I cannot confirm this.
I have only trial fitted mine as the car is still in primer, but I intend to thin down the rubbers to make the fit better when in paint.

Paul

Ah Ha!

Now I know why the new rubber seals (purchased from one of the usual suspects) had the holes in the wrong place.

Never throw anything out.

Replacement chrome is of a thinner gauge and for the most part doesn't fit. Re-chrome the originals.

Bob
Series 1 67 2+2

"I have heard that the reproduction rims sometimes do not even have the holes in the right place, but I cannot confirm this."

And the recently manufacture bonnets often dont have holes and captive nuts in the same place as the original bonnets.