Hello Cat heads, I was trying to re-assemble my vac pot and headlight grilles on the “Rat Cat”today. When I bought the car the previous owner had pumped silicone all over the rubber sleeve on the vac pot rod apparently to seal the leak around the seal. The headlight grilles were in the half open position. Well I took everything apart to clean and paint. Now with vac pot rebuilt and grilles painted I’m trying to figure out correct orientation of the center connecting rod , vac pot connection so I can bolt the grilles in. Is this the correct starting position?
I’m thinking when the headlights are turned on the vacuum will pull down collapsing the vac pot rod into the pot there by opening the headlight grilles?? Looks different then on my 69 but I can’t see any other orientation that works??
You got it! Vacuum on bottom port draws air out of bottom of can pulling rod down to open RatCat’s eyelids!
I am also wondering about the coil springs on the center mounting rod. Is there tension on the springs when the eyelids are down or up? I’m thinking down so they don’t bounce or rattle ?
Thnx Steve
Nope - the springs are there to open the covers in the absence of vacuum. This is why the headlight covers open after the engine has been off for awhile. They are under tension with covers up or down, but more with covers down.
Here is a trick you can do to keep the covers closed after vacuum goes away: