Rear reflectors

Rear reflectors are a requirement for the IVA test. Some builders make brackets to fit the reflectors to and secure these behind the rear lights. This allows the reflectors to be removed after the IVA test, but it is not the neatest solution in my opinion. So Andy at GD Cars made me a pair of stainless steel stand-offs for the reflectors, to match the reversing and fog light fittings.

The reflectors have a captive 3/16 UNF thread and a rubber backing that is slightly sculptured (presumably for the original car). I could not find suitable tube nuts (used to link two bolts) or the right tap! So I decided to make something!

I bought a small length of 13 mm diameter aluminium bar (100 mm was the shortest I could get). Two 20 mm lengths of the rod were cut and these had a 4.5 mm hole drilled through the centre.

The reflectors were fitted to the stand-offs using the supplied nuts and washers - note the reflectors are marked with 'top' and the stand-offs are handed. A bead of silicone was applied to the back of the rubber seal on the reflector. Epoxy resin glue was applied to the thread on each reflector. These threaded ends were then inserted into the hole in the drilled ali bar (making sure that the cut bar did not protrude beyond the stand-off) and allowed to set. Rubber U seal was then fitted to the edge of the stand-offs. Also did this for the reversing and fog lights.

Rear of stand-off showing 'tube nut'

The positions of the two reflectors were marked on to masking tape - the bottom edge of the reflector needs to be a minimum of 250 mm from the ground (max 900 mm) and no more than 400 mm in from the edge of the car, to satisfy the IVA test. The centre of the holes were about 100 mm in from the centre of the rear lights and 70 mm below the centre line of the brake (bottom) light. A 5 mm hole was then drilled for each reflector stand-off in the Cobra's body. M5 cap head bolts and washers were used to secure the stand-offs from the inside of the boot.

Close up of reflector and stand-off

Reflectors in place