[moparcolt]

Can I convert a car with hideaway headlights to fixed headlights? what would I have to change?

Chris

[rexs73gto]

Why would you want to change them, it makes the car much better looking & worth a lot more to.

[moparcolt]

Because they never work right. They are a pain.

[bsblguy]

Wish you lived closer, I'd swap my fixed for hideaways and convert them to electric.

[68gtoMN]

If you wish to completely remove all hidden headlamp components, you'll need to do the following:

1. Headlight mounting brackets/backplates need to be swapped
2. Headlight bezels needed
3. Replace headlight switch in dashboard
4. Remove all vacuum lines
5. Remove vacuum canister on driver's inner fender well
6. Remove headlight diaphrams/component (actuator arms, etc)
7. Swap endura bumper frame mounts - hidden headlamp car frame mounts are completely different

This is a LOT of work. It's easier to examine your system logically, starting at headlight switch to determine the problem than it is to purchase new components and to spend the effort to remove all of the factory hidden headlamp components.

Oh, don't forget the purchase price for the new headlight mounting bracket/plates and correct 68 only headlight bezels (spendy)...

WHen you say they never work correctly, just what do you mean?
They don't open/close?
They don't stay up?

All of these issues are documented at length in multiple threads and the fixes are really quite simple in nearly all instances.

Not going up/down correctly - does your car have the plastic grommets that support the headlamp cover arms as they pass through the bumper mounts? If not, they are integral in proper working. They are available at our host. Cheap, simple.

This is just one thing to consider.

[Verdoro 68]

Never understood why people had such a hard time with the hidden setup. Most of the time it's just bad actuator seals or a leaky vacuum line causing the issues.

[judgeman6970]

These days its easy to keep them working since all the parts are a phonecall/online order away. When I was 20 yrs old in 1980, they were definitely a pain...

[moparcolt]

I'm pulling the body off the frame right now. Maybe when I put it all back together I can get it all fixed up and working correctly.

[rexs73gto]

With all the parts available for the hiden headlamps you should be able to fix those with no problem at all. You didn't say what wasn't working on them, if you did we can probley tell you how to fix them or at least the most likely place to look to fix your problem because there really isn't that many things that can go wrong with them that can't be fixed rather easily. It may cost a few dollors to fix them correctly but it will be a LOT cheaper then changeing the hidden to fixed headlamp system. To go to the fixed headlamps you may cost yourself $ 300.00 to 400.00 plus the labor or your time.

[gtohurstjudge]

In my experience hideaway headlights are more reliable than the
sun coming up in the morning. I've had one bad actuator that took an hour to change
as the only problem on my car's hideaways in 42 years. Fix them and keep them on the
car. Once you get them fixed you might need to do it again in 2035!

[moparcolt]

I replaced both actuators. And all the hose but Zzz I may need a new switch.
Are the doors suposed to stay closed when the lights are off and the engine is off. Mine just hang open.

[PONTIAC LARRY]

Originally Posted by rexs73gto

Why would you want to change them, it makes the car much better looking & worth a lot more to.

Fixed headlights with bezels on a 68 to me are much better looking than hide-aways and keeping original whichever came on the particular GTO is the better choice IMO to match the PHS.

[gtohurstjudge]

Originally Posted by moparcolt

I replaced both actuators. And all the hose but Zzz I may need a new switch.
Are the doors suposed to stay closed when the lights are off and the engine is off. Mine just hang open.

Chris.....there are over center springs on the headlight pivots to keep the
doors shut when the engine isn't running. Perhaps you are missing these parts or you need to
bend the bracket that they attach to to renew the spring tension. Also you have a reservoir
on the inner fender that stores vacuum for the lights and a check valve on the vacuum
line to the intake. With those working properly the doors should stay shut for several days
even without the springs.

[Greg Reid]

The springs and various plastic bushings are critical to getting the doors to stay closed in the off position. If anything is missing, they'll sag on ya'. If everything is in place, once up, they'll stay up even with air leaks in the system.

[cuz68]

Greg, What i do to keep mine up is keep my engine runing till thay go up. Mine works great and do NOT droop down on my 68.

He needs to let the car run until the covers are up. Good luck Randy.

[rememberfireball#22]

My 68 has the fixed lights. Hideaways are at the top of my wish list.