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USA specifications

P

pruyter

Donation Time
I am looking for the diferences between European and North American Sunbeam Alpines/Tigers.
Where the O in the chassis number stands for Standard, the X stands for non-standard.
In the SAOC Alpine Guide there is only mentioned "X non standard(usually US lighting".

I only know of one difference and that is the colour of the lenses at the rear indicator lights which is orange in Europe and red in the USA.
I am not quite sure but I also think that there is a difference regarding the option of head light signalling which can be achieved by the indicator stalk which is combined with a switch which activates the head lights to signal. This option would not be available in the USA isn't it?
But I am not sure of this. If this is actually the case will that mean that the indicator stalks are different between the European and Americans versions?
Are there more differences?

Thanks for any help in advance!
Peter
 
The Alpines sent to North America have a cold weather starting circuit. The circuit does not appear in the electrical diagrams. The cold weather starting circuit bypasses the ballast resistor when the starter is engaged. Bypassing the ballast resistor provides a higher voltage to the ignition coil.

I think there may have been head lamp differences in the earlier series, with sealed beams being sent to North America.
 
hartmandm said:
The Alpines sent to North America have a cold weather starting circuit. The circuit does not appear in the electrical diagrams. The cold weather starting circuit bypasses the ballast resistor when the starter is engaged. Bypassing the ballast resistor provides a higher voltage to the ignition coil.

I think there may have been head lamp differences in the earlier series, with sealed beams being sent to North America.
Click to expand...
Yes early cars had the sealed beams ..but not the SB stamping some Rootes vins had.
The nth american cars had the red rear indicator signals.
 
There's also some old people tales of the headlights being fluted to direct the beam for driving on the wrong side of the road.
 
Thanks guys for your reactions, but I am particulary interested in the head lamp signaling which is achieved by pressing in the indicator stalk.
For as I know this application was not allowed in the USA, but....I am not sure of this. And if so would that not cause that the indicator stalk (Turn signal switch for the Americans) of an European car is different to the USA version?
The reason I ask this is that I need to repair the indicator stalk at my Tiger, but in the Shop Notes from CAT I read at the Electrical System (N23) a repair that advises to replace the river by a flatheaded bolt. That seems okay but not with the option of a switch which activates the head lamp signaling. So I started to wonder if there is a difference between European and Americans indicator stalks.
I would appreciate it very much when somebody could shed some light on this.
Thanks in advance!
Peter
 
The 67 Super Minx Estate has a stem and foot activated high beam switch. Car was sold in Colorado Springs Co and is badged as a Sunbeam not Hillman. Have all the original paperwork with the car. Not sure if they crossed over but is there an extra wire for the HL switch?
 
If they it was possible to have this option as an upgrade then the conclusion must be that it was not forbidden in the USA.
I still wonder if the stalk in USA cars are different from the ones sold in Europe.
Anyhow the repair as suggested in the Shop Notes from C.A.T. is not possible when the stalk has the option with the signaling of the head lights.
 
pruyter said:
If they it was possible to have this option as an upgrade then the conclusion must be that it was not forbidden in the USA.
I still wonder if the stalk in USA cars are different from the ones sold in Europe.
Anyhow the repair as suggested in the Shop Notes from C.A.T. is not possible when the stalk has the option with the signaling of the head lights.
Click to expand...
Peter you may have misunderstood my post. The guys in uk and au were selling them to states in the last 20 years... so not sure why not fitted in period.. but i wouldn't think it was a legal issue
 
I actually imported a 72 E9 so I became very familiar with the process. They possibly are still called grey market cars and came without things like labeled controls on the dash. Also in dealing with VW's they changed some things every year and every car always had a foot operated dip switch as I can recall. As a signaling device they switches are great unlike turn signals in Cali as most other people speed up when you put yours on. One of the pics that shows up for a NOS turn signal was scooped from the CAT forum and AI now claims photo credit as their bots scrape our posts. As I use my dimmer switch on my driver to signal someone your turn to go or GTF outta the fast lane I really enjoy it when someone's not looking at their phone and moves ;)
 
So the remaining question is this: Were the indicator stalks in European cars different from the ones in the USA cars meaning had the stalks in the USA cars no option for flashing the head beam lights or were the stalks the same and was only the wire disconnected?
 
pruyter said:
Thanks guys for your reactions, but I am particulary interested in the head lamp signaling which is achieved by pressing in the indicator stalk.
For as I know this application was not allowed in the USA, but....I am not sure of this. And if so would that not cause that the indicator stalk (Turn signal switch for the Americans) of an European car is different to the USA version?
The reason I ask this is that I need to repair the indicator stalk at my Tiger, but in the Shop Notes from CAT I read at the Electrical System (N23) a repair that advises to replace the river by a flatheaded bolt. That seems okay but not with the option of a switch which activates the head lamp signaling. So I started to wonder if there is a difference between European and Americans indicator stalks.
I would appreciate it very much when somebody could shed some light on this.
Thanks in advance!
Peter
Click to expand...
I was the second owner of my Series V (B395005801) when I purchased it in 1980, and it was fitted with 6-wire overtaking (flasher) feature on the indicator stalk. I had/have no reason to believe the switch was changed by the PO as the loom was factory correct for the wiring. And having parted many, many cars over the decades, I found the flasher switch on about 20%.

The spring and bush repair kit (Lucas part 54325591) are the same for all versions of the Series 3-V type 85SA indicator switch. The 'bush' is actually a long aluminum rivet that serves to hold the switch body together but also to be a pivot point for the nylon 'spring'. Over time the spring breaks from use, requiring a kit to repair and once inserted, one end of the bush needs to be flared to keep it in place. Here in lies a problem: flaring can be a pain and if it's not done correctly the bush will work its way loose/out and need to be redone (a new bush). In earlier versions of the OEM kit (as seen in pics) the spring was white and the later it was black.

Check out the pics below of 2 switch bodies. The piece on the left is a 4-wire without flasher (Lucas 34982D) where the one on the right is a 6-wire with flasher (34981B). The bush on the left is aluminum color and clearly seen with a hole that runs to the end. The bush on the right is obstructed by a tab on the end on the stalk that pushes a stem that runs through the bush to a momentary contact that allows flashing. Since flaring the bush is a PITA, some guys resort to a long, thin machine screw with a nut to hold the bush (a nyloc, please) which can be perfectly fine. However, due to design, this remedy is impossible with the 6-wire flasher switch.

BTW, both these switches were pulled from LHD North American cars; 4-wire from SV, 6-wire from SIV. I long ago formed the option there was no rhyme or reason as my B382 MKIa Tiger is 4-wire.

Mark ..... volvoguys
DSCN0243.JPG DSCN0244.JPG
 
Thank you Mark this is very revealing! I have in my spare parts collection also the two versions as shown in the picture while the springs are black.
You have confirmed what I thought the solution with the bolt makes it impossible to have the flash light option. By reading this bolt solution in the C.A.T. Shop notes I started wondering how to make the flash light option working and it seemed to me impossible which you have now confirmed.
So thanks again and also big thanks to all the others who have reacted and tried to help me out with their information.
Best regards,
Peter
 
A pal of mine 3D printed the little chingadera arm that contacts the switch. From what I recall the plastic bit was not tough enough to continue functioning.
 
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