Hi…
Still only 4 days into owning my Cougar and having so much fun fixing her up.
Today’s task is the driver’s side headlight cover.
It goes up…but not down.
I watched a youtube video and I THINK it’s this accordion type boot that is loose and old.
The video says it should be a vacuum seal.
Does anyone know where I can purchase a new one and how to seal it?
No, that is not a seal, just a boot to protect from dust getting on the shaft. Once it goes actuator failure soon follows.
We have good used once in awhile.
https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/Search.aspx?SearchTerms=C8W%20actuator%20used%20grade
Ah. Thank you.
Are they difficult to replace?
We have a video that makes it less difficult.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=west+coast+classic+cougar+grille
Thank you.
Do you know when you would have a replacement available?
Here is a place that may be able to refurbish your existing vacuum actuator - good people:
https://www.johnsclassiccougars.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=198
Thanks. Seems that for $45 I might be able to give it a go myself?
Pulling the pins out of the bottom of the actuators is a lesson in patience and perseverance. I had the best luck by pushing/banging them forward just enough to get vice grips on the head of them and then doing a wiggle pull with the vice grips. Use lots of PB blaster.
That’s what I did on my 70. Only really needed the grommet seal, not the bellows (original still fine). Found the shaft had corrosion that came off, but be careful to keep it smooth, with no grooves that would let air in. After cleaning, lubricate the shaft with spray white lithium grease (there is a small hole near the base of the bellows to allow you to lubricate periodically without disassembly).
This will only work if the rubber diaphragm inside the vacuum motor is unbroken. You can check this by pulling up the shaft and then covering the bottom inlet then pressing down as explained in the link I gave above.
Good luck with it.
Fantastic. Thank you!
