big2bird
Charter Member, Founder Bird-Run, Cruise-In Bird-R
So I am going to tackle this tomarrow on the 81. Anybody ever do them on the car, or should I just pull them off and do them on the bench?:hissyfit:
Witches hat seals.
- Thread starter big2bird
- Start date
kwplot34
Heart Attack
Try it on the car and let me know how it goes,last time i pulled them off the car which is a Royal PITA,and i need to do one over again,it's already leaking :suicide:
mrvette
Phantom of the Opera
I have same complaints from 15 years ago about them damn hats, the ones I got for the second time....I used RTV around the metal dash pot and forgot that metal crimp clamp with the 4 tabs on it...then on the shaft, I used a dap of RTV and a small tie wrap to keep it in position on the shaft, and reinforce the tendency of the hats to split there....
the new ones I had were crap, and I hear they still are....must be a EPA thing with rubber or something...or some import crap...I dunno....
I DO know my first pair of hats lasted about a year, and that was in Maryland...the second, with the above tricks lasted about 3 years and several more here on the shelf after the damn deer accident that claimed everything BUT the canisters....
:rain::hunter:
the new ones I had were crap, and I hear they still are....must be a EPA thing with rubber or something...or some import crap...I dunno....
I DO know my first pair of hats lasted about a year, and that was in Maryland...the second, with the above tricks lasted about 3 years and several more here on the shelf after the damn deer accident that claimed everything BUT the canisters....
:rain::hunter:
boeing46
Well-known member
Bird,
I had to have mine repaird last year at Corvette Mikes's. It was expensive but i can't do stuff like that anymore because of my bad back. They put in new actuators. It was expensive though, i got tired of pulling them up. Check Ecklers and see if the price fits your budjet. If your gonna do it yourself it's always a better fix when it's right in front of you.
Good luck buddy.
The link to Ecklers Actuators, it's a long one.
http://www.ecklers.com/search.asp?a...word:+head+light^^free_text+=+"head+light"+;+
Bird,
I saw that you posted quite a while ago with the same problem.
Did they go bad again?
I had the guys at Corvette Mikes change the actuators. I asked them about just changing the witches hats and he said that even though the cost of the new actuators was allot more money the labor would be about the same and the new actuators would last a lot longer and operate much better. Even though it was costly after lifting them so many times they snap up like new.
Sorry i couldn't make your desert run i just didn't have the money for the new tires yet.
If anybody hears of a sale on Bf Goodrich or Dunlops 255/60.15s please send me a pm, thanks
I had to have mine repaird last year at Corvette Mikes's. It was expensive but i can't do stuff like that anymore because of my bad back. They put in new actuators. It was expensive though, i got tired of pulling them up. Check Ecklers and see if the price fits your budjet. If your gonna do it yourself it's always a better fix when it's right in front of you.
Good luck buddy.
The link to Ecklers Actuators, it's a long one.
http://www.ecklers.com/search.asp?a...word:+head+light^^free_text+=+"head+light"+;+
Bird,
I saw that you posted quite a while ago with the same problem.
Did they go bad again?
I had the guys at Corvette Mikes change the actuators. I asked them about just changing the witches hats and he said that even though the cost of the new actuators was allot more money the labor would be about the same and the new actuators would last a lot longer and operate much better. Even though it was costly after lifting them so many times they snap up like new.
Sorry i couldn't make your desert run i just didn't have the money for the new tires yet.
If anybody hears of a sale on Bf Goodrich or Dunlops 255/60.15s please send me a pm, thanks
Last edited:
DC3
Well-known member
I pulled mine when I did them last month. Kind of a pain but now that I know how to do it, not too bad. Of course, now that I know what to do, I might try it on the car next time. Might be easier. Try it and let us know how it turns out.
DC
DC
big2bird
Charter Member, Founder Bird-Run, Cruise-In Bird-R
Just to update, my ASSUMPTION that the witches hats were leaking was wrong.:suicide: I went to replace them today, but tried my hand held vacuum pump on the seal side first. They each came up and held a vacuum just fine.
The new search is on. I'll check the relays and vacuum can next.:thumbs:
The new search is on. I'll check the relays and vacuum can next.:thumbs:DARROW 74
Well-known member
Just to update, my ASSUMPTION that the witches hats were leaking was wrong.:suicide: I went to replace them today, but tried my hand held vacuum pump on the seal side first. They each came up and held a vacuum just fine.
Jeff what are they doing. one of the problems I had on the 73 was the inlet to the vacuum tank was plugged. I did have one hat that was bad, got lucky on e bay. I don't remember it being that hard to remove.
big2bird
Charter Member, Founder Bird-Run, Cruise-In Bird-R
Just to update, my ASSUMPTION that the witches hats were leaking was wrong.:suicide: I went to replace them today, but tried my hand held vacuum pump on the seal side first. They each came up and held a vacuum just fine.
Jeff what are they doing. one of the problems I had on the 73 was the inlet to the vacuum tank was plugged. I did have one hat that was bad, got lucky on e bay. I don't remember it being that hard to remove.
After I disturbed them installing the tranny cooler, I noticed an idle change. I'm afraid I "assumed" that was it. Getting lazy I guess. I still have an ever so slight miss at idle, but above that it runs strong.
I need to dive in a little deeper when I have time.
