electric headlight
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
As a third-gen F-Body owner, I can attest to the imperfection of these headlights as well. I can remember three times I had my '85 Trans Am in the shop to fix headlight issues. In 12 years of owning my '71, I've never had a problem with the vacuum operated headlights (I'm knocking on wood right now).
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Buy a C2. 
But seriously, folks.... You have a C3 and the vacuum system is very reliable--once you understand it and have fixed what is wrong. You will spend a lot of money and time converting to an electrical system and it won't take but a few hours to fix what you already have. Invest $15 in a vacuum system diagram and troubleshooting guide [avaliable at most of the Vette suppliers] and $25 in a vacuum gauge and fittings. Read it, follow it and find your problems in a day. Fix it for low $$$ unless you have to replace actuators (which is not that likely). In any event, replacement parts won't cost what the conversion will. Good luck, either way. 
But seriously, folks.... You have a C3 and the vacuum system is very reliable--once you understand it and have fixed what is wrong. You will spend a lot of money and time converting to an electrical system and it won't take but a few hours to fix what you already have. Invest $15 in a vacuum system diagram and troubleshooting guide [avaliable at most of the Vette suppliers] and $25 in a vacuum gauge and fittings. Read it, follow it and find your problems in a day. Fix it for low $$$ unless you have to replace actuators (which is not that likely). In any event, replacement parts won't cost what the conversion will. Good luck, either way.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 221
Likes: 11
From: Methuen Ma
I agree, I was going to do the conversion but decided to stay with the original system. If maintained properly it perform's as good if not better than the F-body motor's. That being said, the F-body motor's do look cool when working right....TM
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: liberty mo
spent $50 on the complete hose kit,a new one way valve that is right there at the intake,rebuilt both acuators,so maybe under $100 to rebuild the system,and they work great with no problems,and my motor only has 9"hg vacume at an idle.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
From: Chandler Arizona
St. Jude Donor '08
As a third-gen F-Body owner, I can attest to the imperfection of these headlights as well. I can remember three times I had my '85 Trans Am in the shop to fix headlight issues. In 12 years of owning my '71, I've never had a problem with the vacuum operated headlights (I'm knocking on wood right now).
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
I have had C2 and C4 Corvettes and yes they have their issues. One advantage to the C3 vacume is you can quickly pull them up by hand. Not so for any ele motor driven light; you have to crank them up and down if the motor or gear malfunction.
Rebuilding the vacume system is much cheeper.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
Now, I pull the headlight switch and the lights are straight up. Turn the lights off and they are down straight away.
Buying everything new, expect to pay around $700 to convert to electric. I bought 2 new motors from eBay and paid around $350 for them and everything else I needed. What would it cost to replace everything vacuum? At least $400?
Vacuum sux
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
From: Joplin Missouri
I bought the healight actuators, rods pigtails and the computer for $50 out of a parts car. Just fabbed up some brackets out of sheet metal the I powder coated and they work just fine. I have maybe $75 in parts, fasteners, and material. And the fact i lost about 30 ft of hose. My car is not a ncrs anyway so I thought why not. If you want it just do it. Dont worry about what others say. By the way I got the parts off of craigs list. a few months ago. At the time there were 3 93-95 firebird parts cars on there. I offered $50 and saw who bit.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 1
From: New Albany IN
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'06-'08-'09
As said, every system has its issues. The issue that a C4 has is the hard jelly they put in it to keep the gear turning on the shaft. That jelly turns to dust over the years and the gear won't move. It was designed to "give" if it got in a bind. So now you replace it with nylon pellets that hold that gear to the shaft so it will turn.
BTW, for those of you that put that brass gear in there, I would much rather replace the plastic gear if something got bound up rather than the long spider gear coming from the motor. With that brass gear, I see disaster if the spider gear kept turning but the brass one got stuck. But thats just me and my opinion.
BTW, for those of you that put that brass gear in there, I would much rather replace the plastic gear if something got bound up rather than the long spider gear coming from the motor. With that brass gear, I see disaster if the spider gear kept turning but the brass one got stuck. But thats just me and my opinion.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
