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Yes you have to use the roll over switch to rotate the buckets up and down. And you must hold the switch until they are open and closed. And you can turn the lights on with the buckets down
Don't lay on that headlight bucket rollover switch any longer than you have to - there are no electrical stops in the mechanism, only mechanical.
As to operation, I know you bought a recently restored car.
If someone installed the popular Detroit Speed electronic headlight conversion kit the headlight pull switch operates EVERYthing...the headlight bucket rollover switch is superfluous.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Oct 25, 2017 at 07:53 AM.
From: Middle TN by way of KY, OH, VA, IL, CA, FL, NY, SC, HI
Yup, two switch operation with no interlocks.
You can turn on the headlights in any position, inducing facing into the engine compartment or towards the ground.
However, there is an idiot light on your dashboard that shows you if your headlights are on with the buckets not rolled all the way up. Check it out to see if it works.
Confession: I have left my headlights on more than once - every car I've owned over the last few decades has a lights left on warning chime or auto off/on. With these cars, it's a free reminder that nothing is nanny-fide.
I believe MikeM was referencing the procedure for manually opening the headlight doors when they don't open conventionally. I was thinking more about things like the ignition key with its five positions and the ability to remove it while operating. And the front parking lights that turn off when the headlights are on.
Last edited by kellsdad; Oct 25, 2017 at 11:24 AM.
I did the Detroit Speed kit on my 65. Absolutely love it. Not original obviously so if your 63 is all original numbers matching, I would not change it, but it is a great kit and easy to install.
Also, for what it's worth, on some cars the buckets don't open and close exactly the same time. Mine don't and haven't since I restored my car 20 years ago with everything new including motors, switches, wiring.
If I remember correctly the right side opens and closes about 1/2 second faster than the left. Seems I remember reading here that others work similar that being out of time just a hair. Something about the extra length of the left side wire harness causing it to be slower possibly. No big deal and doesn't bother me.
Also, for what it's worth, on some cars the buckets don't open and close exactly the same time. Mine don't and haven't since I restored my car 20 years ago with everything new including motors, switches, wiring.
If I remember correctly the right side opens and closes about 1/2 second faster than the left. Seems I remember reading here that others work similar that being out of time just a hair. Something about the extra length of the left side wire harness causing it to be slower possibly. No big deal and doesn't bother me.
The disparity in timing is due to a number of things besides wiring and is normal if its not excessive. The NCRS judging guides have specific guidelines on how 'close' the bucket timing should be.
500 milliseconds (as noted) is damned close to perfect.
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; Oct 25, 2017 at 03:49 PM.
If one or both are very slow to turn, there is an article that details the procedure for taking them out, pulling them down and replacing the 50+yo grease inside. I did it to mine, tedious but not complicated and they work great !
The two step process to turn on the headlights baffled me a couple months ago when I bought my '67 after 40 years of C1 ownership. At first I thought the separate switch to rotate the headlight buckets was a Bubba fix. It doesn't bother me so much that I would install the Detriot Speed Electric Headlight Motors. The point of having a C2 for me is to actually have an original C2 in every way.
I always thought GM meant for the headlight rotation to be automatic with the pull of the light switch. The remnants of a closed switch mount are still on the inner pivot casting. Guess they figured a couple relays and two more switches meant more of a chance of failure---and cost.
The headlight rotation on the 64 was beautiful. Both headlights rotated smooth and consistently, and I really did not notice a difference in the rotation speed of start of opening or closing.
I added 2 relays and 4 limit switches (they really limit now) and connected all to the headlight switch on my 66. Works great. I agree that the pivot brackets appear to be designed for all this.
My first C2 technical question
