Rebuilt. Each. Note core charge on each item.
The die cast actuators were never designed to be opened up and resealed. However after investing over $200,000.00 in tooling and parts, hundreds of hours of research and trial and error Mr. VacuumMan at Critter Creek Cougar Restorations Ltd was able to bring them to market. The headlight vacuum actuator(s) have been remanufactured. This is not a mass production, but an individual remanufacture of every actuator.
Actuators are prone to failure in 2 different areas. The first area is the small circular upper shaft seal. Often the ‘accordian’ stye dust boot that covers the shaft will fail, causing moisture and contaminate to enter and work as an abrasive between the shaft and seal and ultimately inside on the diaphragm. The second area to fail is the ‘diaphragm’ seal. If the actuator does not hold 15” of Mercury with a hand held vacuum pump then the actuator is non-functioning.
A vacuum leak in your system may affect the idle and performance of your car. Dyno tests consistently show a 5-7 HP increase after headlight vacuum leaks are repaired.
The unit is disassembled, aluminum oxide blasted, coated inside with a ‘Rust Check’ inhibitor (originals were bare uncoated machined metal), original internal diaphragm plates and upper retaining disc are clear zinc plated, original shafts are clear or black zinc plated depending on year of actuator. Brass Nipples (if applicable) are removed and polished. Internal rubber components are made of a composition of 50 durometer nitrile (thickness, strength and material). Not only is the internal diaphragm stronger, it has much better elasticity than the original. If you apply forty inches of Mercury Vacuum to a NOS unit it most likely will rupture the diaphragm, if it does not rupture it will probably leak. This is a 50+ year old actuator never used, now imagine how the 50+ year old USED actuator is doing. The dust boot was improved upon since this process originally began to silicone as the nitrile was prone to failure/cracking.
The reassembly of the upper and lower diaphragm plates to the shaft were originally a heat peened stud. In the remanufactured actuator the original stud end is removed then the shaft is drilled and tapped to accept a Phillips screw. The actuator comes with the correct colour markings and exterior finish. The crimped area over the retaining disc for the upper seal is resealed to original specifications.
Cores are very important as the inconsistency in the metal composition results on average 1 in 10 of these units do not endure the separating and rejoining process. The ‘canisters’ are NOT reproduced.
The actuator is remanufactured in Canada, with replacement internals manufactured in North America.
Actuators come with a 3 year warranty on workmanship.
**A 1967 Thunderbird actuator cannot be used in a 1967/68 Cougar as the canister is slightly taller and the headlight doors will not close properly. **
** Do not return your core to NPD! All claims for core credit are handled directly through Critter Creek in Canada. A rebuildable core must be sent to them for processing. Critter Creek will give us a thumbs up or down to issue a core credit. **
Mercury Cougar Years:
1969 (69)
Above years shown are used for searches and are not application listings.
NPD Part Number : 13A167-202A Manufacturer Reference #'s: 69010002, C9WY-13A167-A
1969-1969 COUGAR
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead and DEHP, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
In Stock!
