Charger headlight bucket cleanup

[747mopar]

Just thought I'd post my solution for cleaning up the vacuum mess along with getting rid of the expensive headlight switch. I'm not done yet so I'll attach pictures soon.

Here's what I'm doing, I've already converted the car to Halogens ran off of 2 relays. 1 relay triggers all 4 for highs and the other for 2 lows. The trigger wires for lows and highs have diodes piggy backed (to prevent backfeed) going to a 3rd 5-pin relay, the normally closed contact holds the buckets closed when the lights are off then once either beam is turned on it activates the normally open terminal opening the buckets. To do the opening I used Ford vacuum solenoids used for engaging and disegaging the 4 wheel drive. So when it's all done there will be no visible plumbing except a vacuum line that runs behind the carb and follows the driverside brake line down the outside of the frame rail to a homemade stainless vacuum canister. Really all you see is about 4" of line.

 

[Brandy]

Are those buckets as heavy as the 66 Charger buckets?

 

[747mopar]

Are those buckets as heavy as the 66 Charger buckets?

I have no idea, I can tell you that when I hooked up my vacuum tester to them it takes only a couple pounds to fully cycle them so most low vacuum motors would still move them easily.

 

[747mopar]

Finished it last night except some minor tidying up, works perfectly! The end result..... buckets work as they did from the factory minus the expensive headlight switch and that mess of hoses going threw the firewall so I'm happy. Pics coming soon, it was late when I got it done so I'll try to get some pics today.

 

[747mopar]

Here's some pics.

This one shows the 5 pin relay and wiring for the relay used for operating the vacuum solenoids. In my case I'm running relays for my Halogen headlights so the trigger wires for the vacuum solenoid switch are piggy backed off of the 2 that operate the high and low beam headlights.





This shows the diodes attached to the wires ready to be shrink wrapped and installed.



Here's the Ford vacuum switched.



All done!



- - - Updated - - -

I plan to make a panel to cover the gap over the radiator or I would have hidden it out of sight, leaving it here makes it easy to access and out of sight once I get the panel made.

 

[Brandy]

Hmmm....i did not see this before I saw the panel you made. Great job.