70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

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What Color is/are your headlamp actuator(s)?

Zinc-Dichromate (Yellow-gold)
2
50%
Clear-Zinc (silver with hints of blue)
1
25%
Satin Black
0
No votes
Ford Blue
1
25%
Other (post below)
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 4

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Dan Szwarc
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70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by Dan Szwarc »

This thread started some discussion regarding the original color of the headlamp actuators.

Jon said his were Ford Blue on his 73, while I've only ever encountered either Zinc-Dichromate (yellow-gold) plating. I've owned a 73 (too rusted to tell), a 74, 75, 76, 77 , 77 and 79.

My cars were all high-mileage and pretty rusty, but tear-downs and close inspections always revealed remaining plating.

For those so motivated, can you inspect yours and determine if they are painted blue, black, or plated? Look for overspray on hoses to indicate someone painted them.

Note: 70-73s have ONE actuator in the center below the grille and 74-79s have two, one at each corner.

Authenticity manual writers need to know.
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Re: 70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by trouble »

the one's on my 79 are yellow/gold
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sauceman
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Re: 70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by sauceman »

So what category would these fall under?
1977 Lincoln Restoration 023.JPG
1977 Lincoln Restoration 024.JPG



cheers
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Dan Szwarc
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Re: 70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by Dan Szwarc »

That's typical corrosion of Zn-Di.

For the record, next to cadmium plating, Zn-Di is one of the most corrosion resistant platings there is.

Here's a pic from a turn signal housing for my 70 Mercury:
Red circles show original yellow-gold plating remaining
Red circles show original yellow-gold plating remaining
See the grey corrosion? That's sacrificial. Eventually, it turns to hard rust, like the rest, and like yours.

Remember, I'm an automotive engineer. I know materials, why they're chosen, etc.
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Re: 70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by Dan Szwarc »

I am not getting a lot of feedback from our membership, but I have found some supporting evidence for the Zinc-dichromate color that I claim is correct for all years: Some NOS actuators from Craigslist.

Pictures from the listing attached.
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jon schapiro
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Re: 70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by jon schapiro »

sauceman wrote:So what category would these fall under?
1977 Lincoln Restoration 023.JPG
1977 Lincoln Restoration 024.JPG



cheers
Seeing these pictures, I will have to check the top side of my actuator in the Spring. I know I only touched up the bottom and for sure they would not be two tone. New actuators as shown further down in the thread may be different from those installed on the car as is typical with most Dealer replacement parts like valve covers, oil pans, etc.
(Pic missing)
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Re: 70-79 LCs: What color is your headlamp actuator?

Post by LCont72 »

My 1972 Lincoln, which was built late in the model year (June 20, 1972), has a zinc dichromate finish on the headlamp vacuum actuator.
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