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Vacuum canister help!

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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 06:50 PM
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Default Vacuum canister help!

Can anyone give me ideas on how to replace missing headlight vacuum canister?? I'm missing the unit ,bracket is there , the hoses are T'ed together and I'm thinking thats the reason for my left light rising sloooowly and after the right is up. All the parts vendors say that the part is discontinued....
Thanks...Neal
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 08:29 PM
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It helps to tell us what year Vette you have.

Check E-Bay and there are venders that have them.


here's a 1970 1971 1972
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-...Q5fAccessories

Last edited by Douglas Mariani; Oct 13, 2009 at 08:33 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 08:39 PM
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All the parts vendors say that the part is discontinued....
Thanks...Neal[/QUOTE]

Really? Eckler's, Mid America, Corvette Central, J&D Corvette, really?
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:39 PM
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I'm curious how the headlight goes up at all without an actuator?

cc
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:47 PM
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You can purchase a "tin-can" accumulator for about 40 bucks from any of the vendors. I imagine the original style unit from early C-3s is a salvage-only piece. You don't need the accumulator to operate the lights. It stores vacuum to allow actuation of the lights and wiper door after the engine is shut down. If your lights are operating slowly with the engine on, you probably have leaks elsewhere.

Temvette72
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 10:48 PM
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This all you need to store vacuum.
http://willcoxcorvette.com/product_i...ducts_id=24616

edit...oops its discontinued ..... just get a coffee can and add a couple nipples or make one out of 3" or 4" PVC with caps on the ends.

Last edited by ...Roger...; Oct 13, 2009 at 10:51 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 11:02 PM
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Originally Posted by CCrane72
I'm curious how the headlight goes up at all without an actuator?

cc


What exactly are you missing?
The headlight will NOT go up at all via vacuum if the actuator
is missing. Slow to rise headlight doors are usually due to vacuum leak
predominantly the actuator seal.

Last edited by Hammerhead Fred; Oct 13, 2009 at 11:04 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2009 | 11:05 PM
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I made my own. I had nothing when I bought my 'Vette.







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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted by earthquake68
I made my own. I had nothing when I bought my 'Vette.

Nice Job
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 09:36 AM
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The actuators are there ...just missing the can.. and I've called those vendors and was told that the part has been discontinued ,must have been recent because they list the part in their latest catalogue....
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 09:37 AM
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Its an 81 with the "coffee can" tank .
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 09:56 AM
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Originally Posted by u2bdet
Its an 81 with the "coffee can" tank .
Since you have the bracket and if you want it to look original just use a coffee can and solderer in some nipples,its easy.Paint it black.
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by u2bdet
Can anyone give me ideas on how to replace missing headlight vacuum canister?? I'm missing the unit ,bracket is there , the hoses are T'ed together and I'm thinking thats the reason for my left light rising sloooowly and after the right is up. ....
Thanks...Neal
There could be a leak, disconnect right & plug, then try left only. Try right relay on left.
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 10:26 AM
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The left actuator seal could be leaking. I don't think the diaphragm is leaking because it probably wouldn't stay shut if that were the case.

cc
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 10:31 AM
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Originally Posted by ...Roger...
Since you have the bracket and if you want it to look original just use a coffee can and solderer in some nipples,its easy.Paint it black.
The company that made the coffee can vacumm can has gone out of business as we used to sell them by the boat loads.
One question-- How do you get the stuff out of the full coffee can without cutting the lid off so you can make one???
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 10:42 AM
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Drill.
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 12:24 PM
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Originally Posted by u2bdet
The actuators are there ...just missing the can.. and I've called those vendors and was told that the part has been discontinued ,must have been recent because they list the part in their latest catalogue....
Call Paragon and ask for the vintage parts department, if they don't have a new replacement. Also try some Corvette salvage yards.
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Old Oct 14, 2009 | 01:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Virginia Vettes
The company that made the coffee can vacumm can has gone out of business as we used to sell them by the boat loads.
One question-- How do you get the stuff out of the full coffee can without cutting the lid off so you can make one???
I have some 2" fender washers minus the hole that I screw in 3 nipples in the center and solder the washer over a 1 1/4" hole. Coffee comes out the 1 1/4" hole.

If I remember right I have transferred the original 3 port to a new can. I think,but I can remember if it was pot metal and I epoxied it to the new can.

A 4" diameter piece of PVC pipe with caps on both ends works good also with 3 nipples threaded in. Just about anything can hold 20" of vacuum.
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