Avispa

Time to replace main drive gears in my headlight motors. Yes, they've already been flipped over once. Is there a better replacement available than the die cast aluminum repop gears?

biggd

If it's not a numbers matching NCRS car just go with the Detroit Speed headlight motor kit. They work much better than the old motors.

SWCDuke

I believe originals were die cast zinc-based "pot metal", and aluminum would probably be better. Buy the repros and use a synthetic grease on them like "Mobil 1", and they will probably outlast us.

Duke

Avispa

Dunno why bit I thought the original gears were aluminum.

Scary thing is that I got 19 years out of the current set of replacement gears. At that rate another set of die cast repros will more than likely outlast me. Thanks for the tip on grease, too. I didn't grease the last set b/c I had no idea what to use- white lithium grease turns into solid rock when exposed to the atmosphere for a while.

orlandjoe

I used repo gears from Zip Corvette Products and they work great. Blue chassis grease for lub. During winter months in the Midwest I just leave the buckets open all season.

Frankie the Fink

Use the repros. They are correctly sized now and it's better with the lighter metal. If something has to eventually wear or get galled the main gear is easy to replace.

SWCDuke

WOW, 19 years and no grease! You must have only used the headlights a few time per year.

The trouble with white lithium is that the base oils have a relatively high vapor pressure and dry out quickly leaving the solids behind, which don't provide much lubrication. They're just there to keep the liquid oil from running out.

"Synthetic" base oils have much lower vapor pressure and will stay put a lot longer, which is why you should use them on "lubed for life" components like the headlight gearbox, steering gear, and wheel bearings, especially the rear.

I just use white lithium on things like door strikers and hood/trunk latches. By the time it turns brown or black you know it's dirty and time to clean and regrease.

So based on 19 years with no grease I say at least that much with synthetic, and likely the pot metal worm gears won't get trashed by the hardened steel worm machined onto the armature shaft. It doesn't take much... just use your finger to wipe a ribbon of grease around the gears and all the bearing bores and thrust surfaces.

Duke

Avispa

Thanks for all the responses. Repro gears it is. biggd I've read great reviews of the Detroit Speed kit on this forum, it's a lot more money than I need to pay for the time being. Appreciate the suggestion.