Regarding 67 Couger Headlights

[chris401]

Besides this being a burgundy 67 automatic with a 68 302 small block car it really didn't have much to do with Jay's original post.

I have only worked on one early Couger but that is how the 67 was. It used vacuum actuators to close the headlight doors. I didn't diagnose the system, just installed two nos units the owner brought, replaced the vacuum lines and cleaned the check valve on the can and they stayed closed. Console shift XR7?, don't remember, all the chrome was off. It had the Thunderbird tail lights with the relay box in the trunk. I got away with just cleaning the contacts to make them work as designed. The Motorcraft carburetor I put gaskets in had a hole drilled in the pump passage so it shot a fat stream straight up about an inch or so high between the ventures. Never seen that before and whither it helped or not there was no stumble or bog. It lit up and went.

[Heo]

I think there is a spring or a wheight that  opens the HL Doors
dont remember what system a cougar  uses.
And a Vacuum pot closes them.
 That way they stay open if  you get a vacuum leak.
 Imagin the other way around going flat out in the dark and
you running low vacuum and the HL door closes

[chris401]

That is how the 75 and 77? Ford/Mercury's were. Haven't seen vacuum open either.

[thatdarncat]

The early Cougar vacuum motors have a port on both sides of the diaphragm, so vacuum both opens and closes them. They can be opened manually by hand if needed, should there be a system failure. Zero vacuum at wide open throttle will not cause them to open, Jay may have just been teasing on that comment since I'm sure he saw Scott Millers headlights were open even when the car was idling.  I don't know why Scott doesn't have the headlight doors hooked up, but it sure is an impressive car. Early Cougars also have unique taillight assemblies, although the electro-mechanical control is similar to the T-Birds. Just trying to help with the info. I still have the '68 Cougar my mom bought new and I have a '67 Cougar that is slowly getting built. I used to have another '67 Cougar years ago I brought back from Arizona. West Coast Classic Cougar has a service to restore the vacuum motors if anyone needs the service. Here's a picture of a restored vacuum motor.

[Heo]

I had a 70 LTD probaby that one that had the springs
the doors would open if you dont started it for a while

[jayb]

My 69 Galaxie XL is the same way, has a big spring to open the headlight doors and a vacuum can to close them.  You can always tell when the vacuum can is shot because the doors won't close...

[chris401]

The early Cougar vacuum motors have a port on both sides of the diaphragm, so vacuum both opens and closes them. They can be opened manually by hand if needed, should there be a system failure. Zero vacuum at wide open throttle will not cause them to open, Jay may have just been teasing on that comment since I'm sure he saw Scott Millers headlights were open even when the car was idling.  I don't know why Scott doesn't have the headlight doors hooked up, but it sure is an impressive car. Early Cougars also have unique taillight assemblies, although the electro-mechanical control is similar to the T-Birds. Just trying to help with the info. I still have the '68 Cougar my mom bought new and I have a '67 Cougar that is slowly getting built. I used to have another '67 Cougar years ago I brought back from Arizona. West Coast Classic Cougar has a service to restore the vacuum motors if anyone needs the service. Here's a picture of a restored vacuum motor.

I remember something going on the right side as the reason for replacing the actuators. The 68 was first to have the fail safe design that defaulted open?