1974 Mercury Marquis Hardtop (same for Ford LTD/Lincoln) Headlight Actuators/Vacuum System Overview
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- čas přidán 21. 05. 2022
- Learn more about the vacuum system that operates the headlight actuators on my 1974 Mercury Marquis Brougham hardtop. This is the same or very similar as the system used on Ford LTDs and Lincoln Continentals.
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This shade of brown was on everybody's pallet during this decade!
This Marquis Brougham hardtop would make Steve McGarrett proud, especially with the antenna on the deck lid!!! Thanks for sharing the headlight door tutorial!!! 👍👍🙂
WTF is a 'deck-lid'? We call them trunks in Canada, and boots in the UK.
@@mr.blackhawk142 in the USA it's often referred to as a deck lid!!!! 😁
Can't get over how your 1974 Marquis looks like a Lincoln Town Car. Seems to me know that all the full-sized cars of 1974 were some of the nicest, but were done-in by the fuel crisis. Once the news got out that the era of the hardtops was soon coming to an end, sales picked up. For all the GM full-sized cars, the hardtop went out in a star-spangled celebration thanks to the 1976 Bicentennial observances all around the country. From the '74 gas crisis to the '76 USA birthday - it was quite an exciting time. Thank you, Adam, for saving these rare cars !
I hope you get it fixed soon. You keep doing what you do.
I helped my dad work on on a 1968 Camero RS, and it also used vacuum-actuated headlight doors. The OEMs sure liked those vacuum systems back in the day.
My 76 Grand Marquis covers only stay down with the engine off for half an hour. Longer in cold weather. It has been like that for 20 years. Once you start the car they go down and raise up when you put the lights on no problems.
That's an easy fix
A thousand thanks for addressing this unique Marquis system. My '69 (and the '70) also used the same single motor method. I don't know how long my headlights will stay closed, as I have never been able to go more than a few weeks without starting her up. Love your '74. But I also like the '75-78 ones too. The '74 was the first Marquis to use the soon to become iconic vertical bar grille. In fact, it was pretty easy to confuse the mid-70s Mercurys and Lincolns.
I actually 'rebuilt' one of those check valves!!! I picked it apart and cut a new rubber diaphragm for it, and JB Welded it back together, and it worked!
I remember the bolts being stuck in the bottoms of both actuators in my old 1968 Cougar. It also used those same clips to secure the actuator shafts to the covers. Mine didn't spring open though, they needed vacuum. But they originally didn't close so I robbed the top seal/boots off of an '80-'82 T'bird in the junk yard. The single actuator not only guarantees more reliability, but also moves the doors at the same time, which can be elusive with separate actuators. The Marquis actuators mount differently than the Cougar ones too.
And Adam, keep in mind that it might be only one of the actuators leaking off vacuum, as I believe a leak in one will cause both to open.
I like how it's still got a maintenance type battery in it.
That Marquis is a beauty!
Were those seat belts really blue?! Also, love all the brick houses. Why is there a left and a right. Didn't a bean counter tell the engineer to make a part work on both sides?!
My 1970 Chrysler 300 had a electric motor in the middle with a rod going to both headlight doors. From what I can remember it was quiet reliable setup.
Beautiful Brown Barge!
Nice color. Hamdsome car.
Vacuum was used for many systems for years. My father's 62 Continental had vacuum operated door locks.
My 78 LTD Brougham had that issue. Drove me crazy. Your car is beautiful…
I remember seeing this same set up on my aunt's 1977 LTD Landau. It never failed the whole 8 years she had the car from new.
This car comes the closest to being a twin of the '76 that I had which was an LTD Landau Brougham . Same color and chrome covered body lines and 4dr with fender skirts. It also had headlight covers and 460 engine. Mine was a vinyl top with B pillar and electric options.
Fabulous car!
I agree Audie!
@@THROTTLEPOWER ya man, that Marquis was the poor-mans Lincoln. Liked it then and still admire it now.
@@audieconrad8995 So true, I still like them too.
A great overview of the system on these cars, Adam. I'm very glad the headlamp doors on my '73 will stay closed for 3-4 days as you mentioned! FYI, '67-68 Cougars, '67-'69 Thunderbirds and all Mark IIIs have the two-headlamp system -- the '67s have a unique solenoid which controls the open/close circuits, rather than having a manifold on the back of the headlamp switch as on the later cars. My '70 XL convertible also had the one-motor system, and my '76 LTD Landau has the two-motor system as you describe. I'm not sure how the '69-'70 Mercurys or '77-'79 Thunderbirds were equipped.
69-70 Mercs are like your '70 XL. I have the '69 and I have no idea how long my hl doors will stay closed, as I have never been able to go more than several weeks without starting it up. But that's interesting about the '67 solenoid. My hl switch has the vac. manifold on the back. I had to replace it a couple of years ago (still readily available), but the switch is sort of hard to pull all the way out. Someone else commented on this in another one of Adam's videos, and says he is looking for a fix.
@@rwg520 The headlamp switch on my '73 Marquis Brougham has alwasy required a firm pull all the way out -- I remember the same thing being required of my grandparents' '76 Grand Marquis when it was new.
O, ok, good to know!
The headlight doors on the '68 LTD were very heavy, too. The first night we had ours, Dad pulled it in the driveway, turned it off and we were just sitting in the car admiring the new car smell when we heard a gigantic thump. We thought something had run into us, but it was just the headlight doors closing.
This is just gorgeous. 0:21
My old '67 Cougar had slow leaks in those actuators. What would happen was the canister had a little pivot at the bottom that would seize up. This would then stress the seal that ran against the actuator rod and wear the seal. The result was a slight leak past the rod. The main diaphragm held up well. Miss that car....
beautiful
I had a terrible amount of trouble with mixing up parts where there were two different parts that were the left and right. I ended up carrying a magic marker (or black water proof marker) in my tool box so when I pulled something out I would write on it R or L. Cut down the problem (some)
I noticed the original looking battery!
Has anyone in the comments found and can recommend a rebuilder for these actuators? I know Adam stated that his guy wasn't doing them anymore. Would be nice to have a reliable rebuilder if and when someone needs these units fixed.
Very nice............. 👍👍👍
It looks like someone was there before. We saw what looked like a white tie-wrap on the right side.
The 1974 Marquis looked better than the 1973 in my opinion even though it was the same car. Minor front and rear end changes made a big difference. Especially the key hole cover.
Do you have a 4-door Thunderbird in your collection?
Those STUPID-looking gvt.-mandated bumpers ruin the look of this car! I remember it well in 1973!
Beauty.
Mein lieblings Auto 💖
So, do you have these rebuilt? Thought you’ve said in the past that your rebuilder didn’t want to do them anymore??
Thank you for sharing. I have a 71 Mercury Marquis and there must be the same system.
Nope. Only one actuator on yours.
@@RareClassicCars thank you.
Noticed your digital watch. Friend of mine had one of the first Pulsar digital watches in the '70s - red leds that showed the time only, only came on if you pressed a button. Cost $500 in 1970s dollars!!!
mac garrett five ohhhhhh special
Interestingly, I have never had the doors pop open on my 78 Continental, even when it has sat for 6 months or more!
Me gusta el carro
I'm surprised Ford changed to this two actuator system. Not only was the single actuator more reliable, but it must have been cheaper to produce as well. Do you have someone that actually "rebuilds" these things? I've heard some guys switch over to some sort of electric actuator system, that must be a pain to wire in though
Our 69 Carprice had "hideaway headlights" also. I remember the owner's manual recommended locking the doors in the "up position" during the winter so the doors/system wasn't damaged due to ice and snow. We never had any trouble with the system, wonder if it worked the same way as your marquis...
@@donk499 I never realized you could lock them open???
@@klwthe3rd Don't remember just how they locked open, just that my parents did it. I think there was a valve/switch somewhere under the hood
@@klwthe3rd Yeah, don't remember just how they did it, I think there was a valve/switch under the hood somewhere. But, I remember them talking about reading it in the manual
Thanks for info. i have a MK3 . and in 10min there coming open . Were can you get new ones . Can re rebuilt the old ones . any help be great . Cheers from Australia
Do you have the guy in Canada rebuild them for you?
Nice survivor ❗️ What’s the trunk antennae for ❓👌✅
Did Barnaby Jones have this car or was that an LTD? Big beautiful car and color. I don't really do old four door cars, but this one's a keeper!
Barnaby Jones drove a Ford LTD Brougham coupe in brown and the later cars was the LTD Landau coupe.
This looks like the car Jack Lord drove on classic Hawaii Five-0 from 1974 to 1980 but his car was black.
@@frankdenardo8684 Thanks for that... Beautiful car!!
Any luck on the grill?
I would've thought D3 part number would indicate 1973 model part year
I noticed you don't correspond with your subs.. I wanted to ask a question?
Can you get replacement parts for this car?
My other question from a long time ago.
How many cars do you own?
I think I heard Adam say, In an earlier video, that he owns more than 30 classic cars.
Where can i get some replacements?
Where do you have them rebuilt?
thought you lost a section of the grill in this one.
@1:17, why did the seat belts looks blue?
They’re black. Just lighting. It doesn’t have the optional color coded belts
@@RareClassicCars
Understood!
From Indianapolis Indiana, where I attended the MECUM auction. The biggest one in the country, too many cars to see in the limited time I had. Prices seemed estimated-really over the top, and quality of restorations varyed. Lots of HEMI cars, 2 winged 440 superbirds, many Boss 302 Mustangs, big block Camaros, Z28s, LS6 Chevelle's, all kinds of super hi end Corvettes of the lowest production, LS6, L88, both under 10k miles. My favorite was a 283 283FI '57 Chevy 4 door hardtop, mostly original black paint, red interior w original plastic seat covers and 14k. I would have paid the estimated 100k... It even had the paper tags scattered around the engine indicating the function or warning for proper operation. I'm sure the best survivor of a Fuelie '57 Bélair!
What were the sold prices like? Seems some are coming down.
@@RareClassicCars cars, like our lives, are complex. A lot of the cars are so-called fully restored, but the quality varies considerably from one car to the next. some paint jobs are just beautiful, the one right next to it looked good from far... and the prices aren't reflected in the quality. One pet peeve of mine, is people that sandblast items, especially under the hood, and then paint over the rust pits. One six-figure car had more pitted metal under the hood, then smooth sheet metal. I guess you have to do body work even to radiator supports. Basically, the original survivor cars are the best. Nobody built them the way GM Ford and Chrysler built them back in the day. I just noticed so many things that nobody else pays attention to, and there are so many cars there, you couldn't look at them all. But to me the prices seemed extremely high, but I guess there's a lot of rich people that are able to play at this circus called Mecum auctions. There's not one thing in that entire place that was of any use whatsoever. It's 100% toys fun and junk food, and free beer and chips
Keep in mind, I'm the kettle calling the pot black. I own 50 cars and trucks, everything from a $600 pickup truck that I'm driving from South Carolina to Indy to new york, loaded to the gunwhales, including brand new GM 1970 Cutlass convertible quarter panels, to $50,000 body off frame restored clone 409s. So I shouldn't be talking about useless things, when this $600 truck is running and driving beautifully. I bought it literally at the gate of a junkyard, no title, cats cut off, engine knocking badly, burned up freshly rebuilt transmission, 4 broken door handles. this thing was headed to the junkyard, and I saved it, and since I'm a Chevy truck expert, I could probably drive this thing another 200,000 miles. And all for a $3,000 investment, and a month of my time crawling underneath it, on top of this thing... but just like you, I know my stuff. And there's a video of me putting the motor in a couple of months ago, in 25° South Carolina freezing weather. And actually, now that I think about it, I got $150 for the knocking core motor, and $300 for the burned up twice rebuilt transmission. When I brought the used burnt transmission to the tranny guy, he gave me $300 for the core, and charged me $200 to peek inside the lower mileage (parts truck) 4l60. I guess it's all about who you know, and what you know, and putting your nose to the Z71 grindstone
@Jack Napier None of the TV auction shows believe in variety. However there is just a slight dash of variety with Mecum. I don't know how people can watch an endless parade of Mustangs, Vettes, Chevelles, P.U. trucks, restomods into infinity and beyond!!
There is a deer not too far away that would like to meet that grille.
1:20: "go home Mercury Marquies, you're drunk."😁
Never understood the logic behind using vacuum for this purpose. A simple electric motor could handle the job far more simply and reliably.
i'm just guessing but the electric motors would close the doors with such force, that you could hear them loudly when operated. I think Ford Motor company wanted them to operate softly and without noise so they went to vacuum. Just a guess on my part.
@@klwthe3rd That sounds like a good guess to me! I had a '72 Imperial that when the hl doors closed it wasn't quietly. My '69 Merc meanwhile is absolutely silent opening and closing.
That is a boat
Like a Rolls, Bentley and Mercedes.
Of the 4000 made, 3900 were BROWN ON BROWN ON BROWN !!!!!
Actually, only about 600 were.
3rd
1st view...
You rock sir!
Those STUPID-looking gvt.-mandated bumpers ruin the look of this car! I remember it well in 1973!
Hidden headlamps were not my favourite idea. No matter where they were used, they were always an unnecessary innovation.
They made the car look so elegant though.
@@klwthe3rd I respectfully but completely disagree. In addition, for some cars it could be said that pop-up headlamps performed an aerodynamic function. In these sort of cars they made the drag coefficient worse!
@@seanm2511 Yes i would agree that they made some cars more aerodynamic. Some not so much. But i guess i was mentioning the style factor as the most prominent reason for their employment.
@@klwthe3rd Sure. I on the other hand, if pressed in this case, will say I hate the style more than the substance :)
@@seanm2511 How could they make it worse?