Look ma, no vacuum (headlights or wiper door)
01-07-2010, 09:49 PM
#1
Drifting
Thread Starter
Look ma, no vacuum (headlights or wiper door)
Got fed up with vacuum headlight openers about 6 months ago and replaced with electric linear actuators, and currently in the process of doing the same to my wiper door. Then it's goodbye to all those hoses and the vacuum tank. Not a difficult conversion, except when trying to unbolt the wiper door panel, I snapped off all 4 bolts, and had to drill out and retap. Total cost, less than $200 total. Should easily recoup much more than that by selling the old diaphrams and relays.
01-08-2010, 12:14 AM
#4
Safety Car
Pics? 
01-08-2010, 07:13 AM
#5
Race Director
I would LOVE to do that to my '74....for a lot of reasons...
1) It would clean up my engine bay a little
2) Less Problems
3) Probably work a little faster
4) Less repair
etc...
Does anyone sell a full kit to simplify the conversion ?
1) It would clean up my engine bay a little
2) Less Problems
3) Probably work a little faster
4) Less repair
etc...
Does anyone sell a full kit to simplify the conversion ?
01-08-2010, 09:18 AM
#6
Team Owner
Let's see....$200 and six month's work to get my headlights and wiper door working; OR buy a $10 manual on how to troubleshoot vacuum systems, buy a $30 vacuum gauge, and spend 2 hours finding/fixing my vacuum system problems... Whatever should I do???? 
01-08-2010, 09:31 AM
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Jun 2000
Location: Southbound
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01-08-2010, 05:02 PM
#9
Race Director
But that's the fun of it !!!!!
01-08-2010, 08:33 PM
#11
Race Director
Been thinking of going electric on my headlights for a long time now. Please bring pics and/or video if you can swing it. Would like to know some more about this.
01-08-2010, 09:45 PM
#12
Drifting
Thread Starter
First off, bought the actuators on ebay, 4" for the headlights and 3" for the wiper door (the actuator for the wiper has limit adjustability because it actually needs only 2 1/2 in of travel). Wired with a couple of double pole, double throw toggle switches. Fabricated all the mounts with plain old steel bar stock and angle iron. I will take some pictures and post this weekend. My only possible concern is that the wiper actuator sticks out from the firewall and the plastic switch cover sits about 8" above the exhaust. Gonna take it on a shake down run and see how hot the unit gets.
I could never get the units to work real well using vacuum, they were slow, probably because I wouldn't spring for all new parts, and my vacuum tank had a leak, so I would run them direct offt the intake manifold, and still sensed a vacuum leak , so I gave up.
Besides, I the dependability of electrictiy, the uncluttered engine compartment, and I like being different. If my Vette got points for originality, it went negative years ago.
I could never get the units to work real well using vacuum, they were slow, probably because I wouldn't spring for all new parts, and my vacuum tank had a leak, so I would run them direct offt the intake manifold, and still sensed a vacuum leak , so I gave up.
Besides, I the dependability of electrictiy, the uncluttered engine compartment, and I like being different. If my Vette got points for originality, it went negative years ago.
01-09-2010, 03:52 AM
#13
Team Owner
First off, bought the actuators on ebay, 4" for the headlights and 3" for the wiper door (the actuator for the wiper has limit adjustability because it actually needs only 2 1/2 in of travel). Wired with a couple of double pole, double throw toggle switches. Fabricated all the mounts with plain old steel bar stock and angle iron. I will take some pictures and post this weekend. My only possible concern is that the wiper actuator sticks out from the firewall and the plastic switch cover sits about 8" above the exhaust. Gonna take it on a shake down run and see how hot the unit gets.
I could never get the units to work real well using vacuum, they were slow, probably because I wouldn't spring for all new parts, and my vacuum tank had a leak, so I would run them direct offt the intake manifold, and still sensed a vacuum leak , so I gave up.
Besides, I the dependability of electrictiy, the uncluttered engine compartment, and I like being different. If my Vette got points for originality, it went negative years ago.
I could never get the units to work real well using vacuum, they were slow, probably because I wouldn't spring for all new parts, and my vacuum tank had a leak, so I would run them direct offt the intake manifold, and still sensed a vacuum leak , so I gave up.
Besides, I the dependability of electrictiy, the uncluttered engine compartment, and I like being different. If my Vette got points for originality, it went negative years ago.
the headlights have been fixed for over a decade now...
you maybe want to check out Chris his handle is 69MyWay and go for his adaption...using F body motors....
there is no question the '72 had some bad production with the vac reservoir that fuel tank looking construction develops stress cracks in it over time, mine was full of holes, never did find a replacement, and so ran the system direct, which worked fine except for the witches hat trick.......hitting a dear deer one night took care of the operating headlights
so went fixed with a great sigh of relief...
01-09-2010, 09:17 AM
#16
Team Owner
Since it's a vacuum tank, you just patch it on the outside, anyway. What's the problem? And, no, it won't work properly without an 'accumulator' tank. Glad you guys found a solution that worked for you.
01-10-2010, 10:42 PM
#17
Drifting
Pics please!
First off, bought the actuators on ebay, 4" for the headlights and 3" for the wiper door (the actuator for the wiper has limit adjustability because it actually needs only 2 1/2 in of travel). Wired with a couple of double pole, double throw toggle switches. Fabricated all the mounts with plain old steel bar stock and angle iron. I will take some pictures and post this weekend. My only possible concern is that the wiper actuator sticks out from the firewall and the plastic switch cover sits about 8" above the exhaust. Gonna take it on a shake down run and see how hot the unit gets.
I could never get the units to work real well using vacuum, they were slow, probably because I wouldn't spring for all new parts, and my vacuum tank had a leak, so I would run them direct offt the intake manifold, and still sensed a vacuum leak , so I gave up.
Besides, I the dependability of electrictiy, the uncluttered engine compartment, and I like being different. If my Vette got points for originality, it went negative years ago.
I could never get the units to work real well using vacuum, they were slow, probably because I wouldn't spring for all new parts, and my vacuum tank had a leak, so I would run them direct offt the intake manifold, and still sensed a vacuum leak , so I gave up.
Besides, I the dependability of electrictiy, the uncluttered engine compartment, and I like being different. If my Vette got points for originality, it went negative years ago.
We REALLY need pictures from below, above, behind...whatever you can provide.
I have a MIG welder and access to any size steel you can think of, and one of our sons is a CNC machinist with access to "scrap" aluminum and 30,000 sq ft of state of the art machines.
Anybody else interested in developing an linear headlight actuator "kit"?
01-11-2010, 08:13 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Salisbury Maryland
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I am not interested in electric wiper doors because I don't have wiper doors on my '80. I have an electric headlight system with Trans Am motors, but I don't like it because I can't get it to operate smoothly.
We REALLY need pictures from below, above, behind...whatever you can provide.
I have a MIG welder and access to any size steel you can think of, and one of our sons is a CNC machinist with access to "scrap" aluminum and 30,000 sq ft of state of the art machines.
Anybody else interested in developing an linear headlight actuator "kit"?
We REALLY need pictures from below, above, behind...whatever you can provide.
I have a MIG welder and access to any size steel you can think of, and one of our sons is a CNC machinist with access to "scrap" aluminum and 30,000 sq ft of state of the art machines.
Anybody else interested in developing an linear headlight actuator "kit"?
Next qeustion(market research):
How much would you pay for a conversion kit?
$1000? Complete with wiring, instructions, etc. for wiper door and both headlights....what a bargain!
01-11-2010, 11:27 AM
#20
Race Director
Yes! I also have access to a shop that has a waterjet. Provide them a CAD drawing, and it cuts it lickity split!
Next qeustion(market research):
How much would you pay for a conversion kit?
$1000? Complete with wiring, instructions, etc. for wiper door and both headlights....what a bargain!
Next qeustion(market research):
How much would you pay for a conversion kit?
$1000? Complete with wiring, instructions, etc. for wiper door and both headlights....what a bargain!