73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

[Douglas C.]

Please see pics. Hood and headlight buckets alignment very good. When opening and closing hood the hood edge slightly scrapes actuator hose. Is there and actuator adjustment or could I gently bend the elbow for hose to clear.
Tks. Doug

[Mark E.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Has the car always had this issue? Or did something change (collision repair, disassembly of headlight assembly, removal of hood, new canister)?

Clearance between canister body and end of tube elbow should be 9/16" (see JG) so check that.

Is the canister seated squarely on its bracket?

I've never tried bending the tube but that sounds like a prescription for failure.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Has the car always had this issue? Or did something change (collision repair, disassembly of headlight assembly, removal of hood, new canister)?

Clearance between canister body and end of tube elbow should be 9/16" (see JG) so check that.

Is the canister seated squarely on its bracket?

I've never tried bending the tube but that sounds like a prescription for failure.

I just bought the car a few weeks ago from a respected NCRS member, think he did most of the work. Overall car is exceptional. Passenger side actuator hose just clears, driver side slightly scrapes hose. I'll measure later and check if seated squarely. Otherwise is there any slight adjustment to the actuator to base, brackets, etc.
Tks. Doug

[Mark E.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

The actuator bolts to a casting that's riveted and bonded to the body. So no adjustment I see that would help, but maybe someone will post with their insights.

You might unbolt the canister from the casting and make sure the interface on both pieces are clean and allow a tight fit. It's a different year, but my '70 has finger-width clearance as the hood passes by.

[John S.]

[Douglas C.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

In answer to Mark and John. My body base to bottom of elbow tube measures 11/16", not 9/16", and hose diameter measures .600 not .540. So, I wonder if I can hold the base of the elbow with small Vice grips and flex the elbow slightly down. Maybe also shave a flat spot on the hose connection. I'm guessing the reproduction actuator and hose is the problem as the restoration is done exceptionally well.
Doug20211027_184831.jpg

[Eric P.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Hi Doug,
You have a very nice car so be patient and extra careful! I am with Mark (Post #4), you should have finger width clearance. If your hose is .060" larger, then that is only .030" per side. IMO, from your pictures the canister looks closer to the hood than it should be. Maybe the bend radius on that elbow is larger if you are 1/8" closer to the hood than you should be? I would be sure to check everything before bending that elbow. Remember that joint where the tube attaches to the canister holds vacuum, and it could easily leak if you break that solder joint even so slightly. I'll have a look at my '73 tomorrow (not where I am at now) and see if I can help by sending you a picture or update to this message. Also, just an idea, but take a look at the other canister, is it the same?

Good luck!
Eric Patty

[Mark E.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

My body base to bottom of elbow tube measures 11/16", not 9/16"

I think this is the problem. Bob Demmel, president of the Texas Chapter, restores these. You might ask if he can break the solder joint, shorten the tube, and reattach. Better yet, find an original core and have him restore it for you.

[John S.]

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[Mark E.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Doug, the elbow on my original canister also measures 11/16” from the flat portion of the can to the underside of the tube, I wouldn’t bend anything, something else is the cause of the problem.

John,

The 9/16" I quoted is from the 70-72 TIMJG. Maybe other years are different? I'd measure mine but they're Chinese.

What's interesting is the TIMJG points out that reproduction canisters are often less than 9/16", so maybe repops would work better in this case... This could explain why I have a full finger-width of clearance.

[John S.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

John,

The 9/16" I quoted is from the 70-72 TIMJG. Maybe other years are different? I'd measure mine but they're Chinese.

What's interesting is the TIMJG points out that reproduction canisters are often less than 9/16", so maybe repops would work better in this case... This could explain why I have a full finger-width of clearance.

Mark, no difference that I know of. I always thought the repros had the tighter bend.

[Douglas C.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Thanks all. The passenger side cleard but it is very close to the hood. I'll take a close look at both sides. Doug

[Douglas C.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Actuator bolted tight both sides. Passenger side hose barely touches hood, driver side runs slightly more. I wonder if I loosen the four nuts if the actuator will shift slightly, or could I put a washer as a shim on the two top studs to tilt the actuator elbow slightly away from the hood. Overall they both seem close to the hood. Tks. Doug 20211027_210323.jpg20211027_211234.jpg

[John S.]

[Douglas C.]

Re: 73 headlight actuator hose hitting hood

Thanks John. I'll hold off doing anything right now. The issue is not a major problem and I really don't want to start altering things.

And, you have the csr I wanted but could not find, L82 4 speed. I'm sure it a great one. I bought my current car, L48 4 speed convertible since it it a Top Flight car in a color I really liked.

Tks. Doug