Ok, so I worked on it all day today, and finally, after 34+ years, my '60v has heat again. Yay!

However, I need to repair the defroster system. I know that the under-dash unit has vacuum actuators which control the door that diverts air upwards. I realized also that the vacuum actuators are controlled by vacuum coming from the engine off the manifold and through the actual switch behind the pushbuttons that control the fan speed.

Is there anyone out there who has worked on these model heaters before, who can share some words of wisdom regarding fixing these units?

I found an article that shows someone rebuilding the vacuum module in the dash, I haven't tried it yet, mine still works. I will also check the tech manuals for info. Let me rummage around I don't have my info as handy as the D/D boys--Dan & Dennis, L

Are you sure, there is a vacumm actuator? As I recall all functions on the early "A" body heater system, were controled by cable.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

60-62 valiants/lancers heater system operate by vacuum. the dash switches are mounted to a vacuum "plactic rectangle", this is connected to the 2 pods on the the heater system box by vacuum lines, the only cable routes to the heater core input & is mounted under dash & operates on a simple lever, a valve(usually stuck) that controls the flow of the coolant through the core. a small hose runs from the manifold to the dash unit , the back of the control unit has 1 plug that contains the all the vacuum lines-- if not careful when removing these, the pegs on the control unit break off & you unit is no good.

I'll have to check my shop manual, but my '65 seems to be mechanically controlled- the vacuum line off the manifold has a dummy plug on it. The factory air conditioning/heat on my old '65 Valiant was vacuum actuated (and hoplessly seized). The Dealer- installed AC on my '64 Valiant Mopar Airtemp) is independent of the heater section and the heater controls look to be manual. It might depend upon whether your car has factory AC.

Is this a heat only sysrem or heat-A/C? The 64-66 "A" bodies with heat only were cable operated. With Factory A/C there were push buttons and vacumm actuators. I don't remember on the 60-62 cars. I will have to find my 1960 A/C and heat manual. The one I have at hand only goes back to 1964.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Thanks, this system in my car is a heat-only system. A/C wasn't offered as an option on 1960 valiants.

Anyone else have thoughts on how to get the vacuum actuators working?

As others have pretty much worked out, the '60-'62 A-body heat-defog system is vacuum operated, while the '63-up A-body heat-defog system without A/C is cable operated.

You really need a factory service manual to trace down and nail problems in the vacuum control system. It's too complex to type out in words; you really need to see the diagrams. A correct factory service manual for your car will be easy and inexpensive to find, either on Ebay or from one of the many literature vendors who advertise regularly in Hemmings.

When working properly, this system is a roaring demon (both in terms of heat and in terms of noise). One undocumented feature is that you can turn off the blower and let the forward motion of the car force air through by pulling out (gently!) the heat or defog button you've pushed.

But first ya gotta get it working right, so go get an FSM!

I checked the 60-62 manuals, the 60 & 62 have an exploded view of the system, the 61 has nothing,, anyhow you have a vacuum problem, it is most likely the switch in the dash but could be any of the hoses causing the leak or the 2 pods on the heater itself, the manual does not give tests for your situation
http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.com/ ... ouchy1.jpg, this link shows how to disassemble the plastic dash piece & hopefully fix the one you have also (Touchy2.jpg). The spare 1 I have from a 62 has #29008972 in red ink on the side. I will copy the exploded view for you & get it posted so you can view. Good Luck-- L [/url]

<img src="http://members.cox.net/69dartcv/IMG_6925.JPG"width=400>
<img src="http://members.cox.net/69dartcv/IMG_6928.JPG"width=400>

, that should help a little, that is what the manuals have & this is the piece that usually causes the problem,hope this helps.

VDART; Thanks for posting those pictures, now I remember. The trans pushbutons on the left and the heater buttons on the right, made the dash somewhat semetrical.

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Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

Thanks for posting those pictures. They help.

When removing vacuum hoses from these small pegs (or any vacuum hose that has been on a long time) do not pull on them. Instead, take an x-acto knife (or similar) and slice the hose along its length from the end of the hose to just past the end of the peg. Do not slice deep enough to cut into the the peg. Then peel the hose off the peg.

These hoses generally are stuck on the peg as if glued on. Pulling on them thus weakens and breaks the peg. Slicing and peeling does not put that kind of pressure on the peg. And you should replace the vacuum hoses anyway as there are probably pin holes and/or cracks in them somewhere. And vacuum systems do not work well with holes in hoses.

The same trick can be used to remove heater hoses, etc.

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Bill
Vancouver, BC

Bill, thanks for the advice. I haven't gotten to it yet, but will soon. In your experience, would there likely be some internal problem with the vacuum switch itself after 34+ years that would hinder the vacuum inside the switch? or is it most likely the hoses...or the accuators? I'm wondering if I'm going to have to hunt down a NOS vacuum switch. they ain't cheap.

thanks.

Evan