Which door Actuator?

[Joseph K.]

I have a 69 that was made in the middle July in 1969. The wiper door actuator below was on the car when I bought it. One side of the actuator leaks and needs to be replaced. The question is, is this actuator the correct actuator or is the smaller actuator the correct one?

[Jack H.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Your copy of the '68-69 Judging Guide tells you:

"...Beginning in March 1969 (about SN 18744), a different shaped canister, resembling two pie plates connected together, was was used..."

Your picture indicates the early style (coffee can shaped) actuator. Running changes don't typically say when the factory used up ALL of the on-hand inventory of an early version part to completely cut over to the later, replacement, version. But, I'd presume it's a 'stretch' to think they were still building and shipping cars with the early version as late as July given a March change...

On what's on your car, first it was originally gold dichromate finished and yours has been shot with gold paint on the exterior. Expect that aspect of it to collect an originality deduction.

Second, actuators that leak can OFTEN be repaired with a simple seal kit change. Dr. Rebuild should be able to provide both the front side 'button' seal as well as the back side shaft seal. It's usually the back side shaft seal that wears, ruptures and starts the vacuum leak problem...

[Dick W.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Your copy of the '68-69 Judging Guide tells you:

"...Beginning in March 1969 (about SN 18744), a different shaped canister, resembling two pie plates connected together, was was used..."

Jack, I looked at a Bowtie candidate two weeks ago with a lot later build date than March and it still had the coffee can. Me thinks that statement needs to researched a little further

[Joseph K.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Your copy of the '68-69 Judging Guide tells you:

"...Beginning in March 1969 (about SN 18744), a different shaped canister, resembling two pie plates connected together, was was used..."

Your picture indicates the early style (coffee can shaped) actuator. Running changes don't typically say when the factory used up ALL of the on-hand inventory of an early version part to completely cut over to the later, replacement, version. But, I'd presume it's a 'stretch' to think they were still building and shipping cars with the early version as late as July given a March change...

On what's on your car, first it was originally gold dichromate finished and yours has been shot with gold paint on the exterior. Expect that aspect of it to collect an originality deduction.

Second, actuators that leak can OFTEN be repaired with a simple seal kit change. Dr. Rebuild should be able to provide both the front side 'button' seal as well as the back side shaft seal. It's usually the back side shaft seal that wears, ruptures and starts the vacuum leak problem...

Jack

If the coffee can is not right unit then I should have the other version installed instead of repairing this one. The person who owned the car before me could have installed the older verion. Does any one know who sells the correct version, thats meets inspection?

[Dick W.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Jack

If the coffee can is not right unit then I should have the other version installed instead of repairing this one. The person who owned the car before me could have installed the older verion. Does any one know who sells the correct version, thats meets inspection?

I would not arbitrarily change it out because of the manual just yet. Let us research a little further into the changeover date. We have just started a rewrite, will probably take a year or more to finish, then proceed according to the new manual.

[John C.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Joe

I think the actuator style you have is correct for a July built car. The March change over date to the pie pan style listed in the JG is way to early.

Rick Bizzoco's 1969 Stingray Guidebook shows several cars in the 21,000 vin range with the coffee can style. He also states in the text that he observed the coffee can style as late as 32,658.

John

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Joe:
The other consideration in deciding if it is original is the mounting bracket. The pie pan style had a different bracket and if the actuator had been replaced in the past and the pie pan was original to the car then this one would not have fit. I would look in the Driveline for the individual who restores these and talk to him about fixing it mechanically and replating.
Jeff

[Terry B.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Joseph,

I had my '68 "Coffee Can" style wiper door vacuum canister completely restored with the correct finish by Caledonia Classic Cars in Belding, Michigan. Phone is 616-794-5026. That was 6 years ago but I believe they are still in business. They did very good work.

[Joe L.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

I would not arbitrarily change it out because of the manual just yet. Let us research a little further into the changeover date. We have just started a rewrite, will probably take a year or more to finish, then proceed according to the new manual.

Dick and Joe------


The change-over date definitely needs to be revised. I have absolutely no doubt that a car built as early as March, 1969 used the "coffee can" style actuator. My original owner, mid-September-built 1969 has the "coffee can" style. Based upon some informal observations I've made over the years. I'd say the change occurred within ABOUT a few weeks after my car was built.

[Tom M.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Joseph,

I had my '68 "Coffee Can" style wiper door vacuum canister completely restored with the correct finish by Caledonia Classic Cars in Belding, Michigan. Phone is 616-794-5026. That was 6 years ago but I believe they are still in business. They did very good work.

yes they are still open

[Terry M.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

I have a 69 that was made in the middle July in 1969. The wiper door actuator below was on the car when I bought it. One side of the actuator leaks and needs to be replaced. The question is, is this actuator the correct actuator or is the smaller actuator the correct one?

The general tone of the responses seems to be that one day they were installing the coffee can style and the next they installed pie plates, and the coffee can style was never installed again.

I suspect that point of view is a mistake, and that the two styles were mixed for a while -- maybe a long while.

[Joe L.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

The general tone of the responses seems to be that one day they were installing the coffee can style and the next they installed pie plates, and the coffee can style was never installed again.

I suspect that point of view is a mistake, and that the two styles were mixed for a while -- maybe a long while.

Terry------


Yes, that's very possible. However, I've never seen a known-original car built before mine with the dual pie pan style actuator. Also, the bracket part number for the dual pie-pan actuator implies a very late 1969 release.

[Jack H.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

I suspect that point of view is a mistake, and that the two styles were mixed for a while -- maybe a long while.

Hence, I was VERY careful to use the English disclaimer "I presume" when I gave my response. ALL of what has been said is correct.

An AIM date from the ECR portion of a drawing simply established the earliest possible change date. It says nothing about on-hand inventory at the final assy plant nor for how long the old version of the part may have continued in production, mixed, with the new version of the part.

That's why running changes need to be thoroughly analyzed before one concludes his/her car is configured incorrectly. It's also why I went on to comment on the finish of the coffee can actuator + possible methods to repair it without replacing it...

[Joseph K.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

Thanks for all the responses. Filtering through it all, I think I will have the coffee can repaired and re-plated.

I spent most of the day checking the rest of the system for vacuum leaks. It seams that you will never have bottle tight system. The valves and diaphragms check out to be tight. I have checked each piping run and section and can get each section to minor leakage. Is this normal?? I think it is all the hose connections leaking a little bit. I have also trimmed each end a little bit to get a tighter fit. It is frustrating.

[Dick W.]

Re: Which door Actuator?

A member who posts he infrequently, Bob Demmel, does a very good job repairing and replating these canisters. Go to the member list and send him an email