Droopy hide away
 

I've read numerous posts on hide away head light covers not operating properly and didn't find much of instructional use. Mine do go up and down and while the car is running both are fully closed. Once I shut off one hangs down about an inch. I see advice about tightening a spring so how do I get to it? Shall I remove the valence panel?

I'd like to thank those who advised me on my brake booster replacement problem; I did get everything back together.

remove the front grill half, depending on what side you are working on to gain access to the working parts.

Removing the inside grill sections (closest to the nose) get's you access to the door pivots, top of the spring and some adjustments. Removing valance gets you access to the vacuum cans, lower spring.

If the cans are good then you shouldn't have to take off the valance.

I think the "over center" adjustment is supposed to hold them up. Much depends on everything working correctly, cans, no leaks, bushings, adjustments etc.

Using an external source of vacuum helps. No need to have the engine idling for an hour or more while dialing in the adjustments. Just check to see that your car and the vacuum pump are providing similar amounts of vacuum.

If they all the way up when running but drooping a bit with the engine off your issue is not vacuum. It is likely a combination of stretching of the over center springs and/or wear on the door pivot bushings as well as the bushing for the horizontal torque rods that connect the actuators to the pivoting doors. Since door bushings require removal of the whole bumper I'd focus first on the springs. I'm not impressed with the repop ones, instead you can tighten up the springs by cutting a little notch on the lip of the actuator support directly above the hole the top of the spring goes into now. This will make the spring tighter and hold up the door much better when there is no vacuum left in the system after shutting off the engine.

I think if the system has no leaks, and the check valves are working properly, the vacuum can under the fender should maintain vacuum for a couple of days. But that can be rare if using an original headlight switch, most of them leak to some degree by now.

How to get the grille off? I have ac so I have a mini grille in the valence opening. If I remove that do I gain access to the back of the grille? I looked close and don't see how the grille comes off from in front.
My bushings were all replaced and the canisters are repos too. I think my light switch is original.

To remove the grills you need to remove the lower grills and the plastic shroud between the rad support and the bumper. This gives you access to two hex head screws on top and two on the bottom. With those removed you can wiggle and twist the grill out.

My '69 GTO also had droopy hideaways when purchased. I shortened the spring and relocated where it attaches giving it more "over center" leverage for closing. work like new now..