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Headlight Actuator Question...

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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 05:16 PM
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Default Headlight Actuator Question...

Do the notches in the Actuator go at the top(Vacuum lines at the bottom) or vice versa? Wilcoxx is telling me that every actuator that they have installed or seen, the vacuum lines were at the top, but this does not match my 82' or any pic I've seen...Who is correct?

This pic is a lefty installed correctly right?

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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 05:24 PM
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Yup, it's correct. If it was reversed, the hood might hit the nipple & hose.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 07:27 PM
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On both of my actuators the vacuum nipple points toward the outside. The body guy claimed the hood would hit them if pointed toward the middle. I could use a lot less vacuum hose if they point to the middle. Which is correct?
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 07:46 PM
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On page 250 of the 1972 Asembly Instruction Manual the vacuum line tubes on the actuators are on the bottom and facing out.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 10:06 PM
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On the bottom facing out is the correct way.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 10:13 PM
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So, in that pic, that is a right side actuator on a left side headlight assembly?
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:18 PM
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Here's a pic of my 82....my 71 is setup the same way.

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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:42 PM
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My 82 is set up the same way. Do the years make a difference, cause now I'm really confused. Half of people say one thing and half the other.
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Old Mar 19, 2008 | 11:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Mikey82
My 82 is set up the same way. Do the years make a difference, cause now I'm really confused. Half of people say one thing and half the other.
Although anything is possible both my 71 & 82 are setup the same way. My 82 was a 20k mi original and both received NCRS top flight awards with no deducts for the headlight actuators....that's good enough for me.
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Old Mar 20, 2008 | 12:08 AM
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Originally Posted by gq82
Although anything is possible both my 71 & 82 are setup the same way. My 82 was a 20k mi original and both received NCRS top flight awards with no deducts for the headlight actuators....that's good enough for me.
My '70 has them on the bottom and to the outside.

The NCRS Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide is non-specific.
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Old Sep 4, 2008 | 02:10 PM
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I hate to revive an old thread, but I'm glad the search function here works so well. The forum comes through again.

I don't know what Mikey82 eventually did, but I'm getting ready to return to the garage and swap my actutators around. Aktbird's body man was exactly right in my '76s case.

I've just spent the last two hours trying to adjust the headlight frames so's the leading edge of my hood wouldn't jam against the nipples of my actuators. I installed the actutators so the nipple is on the bottom pointing IN towords the center. I'm going out to drop the assemblies and swap the actutators so's they're on bottom pointing OUT.

Right now I've got the assemblies slid so far foward the doors don't have enough adjustment to shut, and my hood still clips them, and like others, I've found my different shop manuals have pics showing them pointing BOTH ways! Go figure!

Back to the sweat shop!

John
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Old Sep 4, 2008 | 02:53 PM
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Notches up and nipples out.
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Old Sep 4, 2008 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by DWncchs
Notches up and nipples out.
Yep, dead right.....hood clears easily, frames and actuators fit perfect, great alignment and motion......

John
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Old Sep 4, 2008 | 10:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Mikey82

My 82 is set up the same way. Do the years make a difference, cause now I'm really confused. Half of people say one thing and half the other.
They LOOK like they should point in but the 82 shop manual shows them pointing out.
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Old Sep 5, 2008 | 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by DWncchs
They LOOK like they should point in but the 82 shop manual shows them pointing out.

Yeah, it's a trick of perspective. When I turned mine out and re-installed them, I thought "the hood will never clear those!!"

And I was right, because when I tried opening the hood I found the hood stops at full open about 1/2" above the end of the nipples. The angle of the front of the hood cuts back sharp enough it ends up above the vacuum hose.

When installed correctly, the hood never has to sweep past and clear the actuators.

John
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Old Oct 4, 2008 | 07:22 PM
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I am currently 2 years into a frame off resto of a 71' LT1 todays project was to put the headlight actuators in. Guess what I hit a wall with trying to figure out which way my actuators went in. Nipple in or Nipples out. I spent all day today researching manuals comparing illustrations with literally 50% saying in point then in, 50% point then out. The pictures I took before the resto showed them pointed in. I don't have my hood on yet to help make the decision so I put them pionted in.... guess that's clearly wrong. I even went to my neighbor who has an 80' and asked him to open his hood to take a look and they were pointed in.
After reading this post I am going to spend tonight switching them. This is a great site! Thanks to everyone who comments.
Originally Posted by seventysixvette
I hate to revive an old thread, but I'm glad the search function here works so well. The forum comes through again.

I don't know what Mikey82 eventually did, but I'm getting ready to return to the garage and swap my actutators around. Aktbird's body man was exactly right in my '76s case.

I've just spent the last two hours trying to adjust the headlight frames so's the leading edge of my hood wouldn't jam against the nipples of my actuators. I installed the actutators so the nipple is on the bottom pointing IN towords the center. I'm going out to drop the assemblies and swap the actutators so's they're on bottom pointing OUT.

Right now I've got the assemblies slid so far foward the doors don't have enough adjustment to shut, and my hood still clips them, and like others, I've found my different shop manuals have pics showing them pointing BOTH ways! Go figure!

Back to the sweat shop!

John
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Old Oct 4, 2008 | 10:35 PM
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After reading all the post I decided to go look at my 69. I have the dimple up and the nipples pointing in and I don't have any problems with the hood closing.
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Old Oct 4, 2008 | 10:44 PM
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I just looked at my assembly manual and on page 273 in the 69 manual it shows the passenger side pointing in and drivers side pointing out. I also looked at my original vacuum canisters that I took out and they were pointing inward. WHAT IS RIGHT!!!!
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Old Oct 4, 2008 | 10:59 PM
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Maybe we need a poll.I vote... nipples up.. oops I mean out.They really do go out.
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Old Oct 4, 2008 | 11:29 PM
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My 72 point to the outside



I guess my nipples are outies



Hammadown
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