Open Headlights Electrically
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
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From: Science Bitch! Mississauga, Ontario
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: I'm bleeding, making me the victor!
Originally Posted by martyrl
Does anyone know if they make a kit to open the headlights electrically? The air lines are driving me nuts.. Wipers also...
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 96
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From: portland TN
Originally Posted by PRESSURERAT
It might be cheaper and definately easier to just fix the vacuum system.
Disagree completely. Really depends on what parts need to be replaced from the vacuum system, but I did this entire upgrade with parts from the salvage yard. I wrote a tech story on this upgrade doing it on a budget and it will be published in Corvette Enthusiasts magazine out in November.
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
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From: I'm bleeding, making me the victor!
Originally Posted by After Shark
Disagree completely. Really depends on what parts need to be replaced from the vacuum system, but I did this entire upgrade with parts from the salvage yard. I wrote a tech story on this upgrade doing it on a budget and it will be published in Corvette Enthusiasts magazine out in November.
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
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From: Boulder Creek California
Aftershark, is that Novermber as in actually published in November, or the November issue, which is probably out now? 
I've been looking around, and you can get a 75lb 4" stroke linear actuator for just $125. Seems like you could fabricated a simple lever system to tie to two sides together. That's just $25 more than replacing both vacuum relays, not to forget the entire rest of the system that could go bad. You would have to work out the electrical system a little though.
-Chris
I've been looking around, and you can get a 75lb 4" stroke linear actuator for just $125. Seems like you could fabricated a simple lever system to tie to two sides together. That's just $25 more than replacing both vacuum relays, not to forget the entire rest of the system that could go bad. You would have to work out the electrical system a little though.
-Chris
Last edited by LiveandLetDrive; Sep 12, 2004 at 12:20 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 96
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From: portland TN
What I meant was if your vacuum operated headlight system is at a loss then I would go electric. You can spend a lot of weekends and nights tracing down problems.
If your going to go with an electric system get the one from 69myway. I guess you could link them together with a single rod and use one actuator, but why bother if someone else has a kit figured out. It looks awesome installed also. I blacked everything out and it looks O.E.
The story should be out in the January cover issue of Corvette Enthusiast. Which should be on the shelf in November.
I bought everything used, online like the motors and control module. Except for the wire, Weather pack Connectors, wire loom and items like that I got some of those items from summitt and other stuff from a local auto electric store. In this story I give several web sources where to find some of the bigger items for cheap.
If your going to go with an electric system get the one from 69myway. I guess you could link them together with a single rod and use one actuator, but why bother if someone else has a kit figured out. It looks awesome installed also. I blacked everything out and it looks O.E.
The story should be out in the January cover issue of Corvette Enthusiast. Which should be on the shelf in November.
I bought everything used, online like the motors and control module. Except for the wire, Weather pack Connectors, wire loom and items like that I got some of those items from summitt and other stuff from a local auto electric store. In this story I give several web sources where to find some of the bigger items for cheap.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Why? Because I have alot of custom things planned for my front end, and I need all the space I can get. Not to mention it'd be alot cheaper. For most, yeh a kit would be best.
-Chris
-Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,000
Likes: 22
From: Boulder Creek California
Why? Because I have alot of custom things planned for my front end, and I need all the space I can get. Not to mention it'd be alot cheaper. For most, yeh a kit would be best.
-Chris
-Chris
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
WOW he said flawless when talking about electrical devices! 
The Vacuum system is the model of simplicity. Lets see those motors in 30 years...
The Vacuum system is the model of simplicity. Lets see those motors in 30 years...
Originally Posted by After Shark
Disagree completely. Really depends on what parts need to be replaced from the vacuum system, but I did this entire upgrade with parts from the salvage yard. I wrote a tech story on this upgrade doing it on a budget and it will be published in Corvette Enthusiasts magazine out in November.
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
One of my projects is to come up with a decent looking LO RISE electrically operating setup, using later Camaro light bulbs, mounted further forward, and eliminating about 50% of the weight off the vacuum system....pull out thost brackets and lids and so forth, and all those steel braces, you got some weight there, guessing 50 lbs/side....which seems kinda stupid to me....
at any rate the opening/lift should be 1/2 of what the stock is...and so the lowered profile under the grill also....which would aid airflow...
GENE
at any rate the opening/lift should be 1/2 of what the stock is...and so the lowered profile under the grill also....which would aid airflow...
GENE
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: FRANKLIN GA
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Gene,
Now THAT seems like a cool idea.
But since I just rebuilt mine I doubt I'd do it
Now THAT seems like a cool idea.
But since I just rebuilt mine I doubt I'd do it
Originally Posted by mrvette
One of my projects is to come up with a decent looking LO RISE electrically operating setup, using later Camaro light bulbs, mounted further forward, and eliminating about 50% of the weight off the vacuum system....pull out thost brackets and lids and so forth, and all those steel braces, you got some weight there, guessing 50 lbs/side....which seems kinda stupid to me....
at any rate the opening/lift should be 1/2 of what the stock is...and so the lowered profile under the grill also....which would aid airflow...
GENE
at any rate the opening/lift should be 1/2 of what the stock is...and so the lowered profile under the grill also....which would aid airflow...
GENE
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 96
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From: portland TN
Originally Posted by 427V8
WOW he said flawless when talking about electrical devices!
The Vacuum system is the model of simplicity. Lets see those motors in 30 years...
The Vacuum system is the model of simplicity. Lets see those motors in 30 years...
Yes I said flawless. Everything eventually wears out, but comparing electric system to the old vacuum system. The vacuum system sucks. Every year for 5 years something would need to be traced down or fixed to bring them back up to speed. So far 4 months and counting with the electric conversion haven't missed a beat. Larger cam on the way and I won't have to worry about needing all that extra vacuum.
Also these electric motors and parts that 69myway used in these kits are proven pieces used on several applications from firebirds, c5, c4 saturns, and fieros.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 96
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From: Chippewa Lake Ohio
Originally Posted by After Shark
Disagree completely. Really depends on what parts need to be replaced from the vacuum system, but I did this entire upgrade with parts from the salvage yard. I wrote a tech story on this upgrade doing it on a budget and it will be published in Corvette Enthusiasts magazine out in November.
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100. This system is also flawless, less troublesome and best of all you can now run a real cam as you don't need as much vacuum to run all those vacuum operated systems. Yaa Hoo
About being able to use a "REAL Cam" and the origional vaccumn actuated wiper door and headlights. After reading many posts about how troublsome the vac. system was on these vettes, I was having nightmares about the headlights going up and down whenever they wanted in the middle of a dark night. I was wrong.
I've got a cam in a '68 327 that only pulls 9 inches of vaccumn at idle. The headlights and wiper door work perfect with the low vaccumn. Of course it had a frame off, and everything was rebuilt. I origionaly assumed I'd be needing a vaccumn pump and boutght one. Luckily I got to return it and use the funding for gasoline.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Chattanooga TN
Originally Posted by After Shark
I would need to look at my story again, but I kept track of everything, wire, tape, wire connectors, etc. I think all told it was done for just under $300. Last time I checked one Actuator will cost you $100.