Headlight actuators - which is correct

[LannyL81]

Which direction does the rear tube of each headlight actuator point...to the inside or center of the car or to the outside?

Having a disagreement with a parts house as to which is correct. I say that the tube should turn or point towards the center or inside; he says the opposite. But that makes no sense as the vacuum lines come from the center where the canister and vacuum relays are at.

Did GM make a change for the 78-82 years from the earlier C3's???

How do they go on your car?

Thanks,
LannyL81

 

[bill81vette]

Lanny,you are correct!!! they are on the bottom and point INTO the middle of the vette!!!!
see the pics I took of mine(its a very dirty vette :ugh !!!)

 

[craig32]

Lanny,
Both are correct. On my 81, they point inside, on other years they point outside. I bought two on ebay, and they turned out to be the same, so one points to the middle, and one points to the outside! They both work, I'm happy.

Craig

 

[LannyL81]

Think I have the answer....

According to Dr Rebuild's web page. there was a change during the C3 years.

For 68-79 the tubes on the rear faced towards the outside.

then with the body change in 80-82, GM swaped sides.

So....a right hand actuator for a 68-79 is a left hand one for 80-82. The opposite for the left hand side.

Was it in 80 that GM moved the vacuum canister to the nose from behind the front left wheel?

Thanks,
LannyL81

 

[bill81vette]

lanny , my canister is in behind the nose


bill..........

 

[srs244]

lanny is correct regarding a change in position based on year. my 78 has the lines coming around the outside to connect with an outward facing hose fitting on each actuator. BTW my vacuum tank is behind the radiator. i believe the change was made early in the C3 run. i know that it was front mounted in at least 73 (a friend has one and i checked it in relation to mine. in 69 it was a smaller tank mounted inside the fender well infront of the master cylinder. it was a real bear to work on or remove if needed which is my guess as to why it was reconfigured and relocated.

 

[LannyL81]

I have no idea as to when the fuel vapor canister came to be...but I think that it is the reason why the vacuum canister was moved from the original location to somewhere behind the radiator....and then in 80 it was moved to the nose.

I of course have no way of verifying any of this and guess it really does not matter.

I just want to get the proper headlight actuator for the passenger's side. And that is by ordering a left hand one since none of the parts houses, with the exception of Dr Rebuild, seems to know that they swapped sides.

Now it seems that I could put either on my 81 as long as the hose length is long enough and does not crimp due to the 180 degree turn, but it just makes more sense to have the rear tubes facing towards the center. Even the assembly manual shows the connections going to the outside.

The business I got the actuators from just says to send it back and we'll send you the other one. I just have to wait another two weeks.

Later,
LannyL81