Converting Coronet to Charger grill..............

mmissile · Feb 19, 2017

Okay folks....I have a complete grille with mounting brackets. When I go to install this thing, what electrical stuff will I need that's different than the Coronet. It appears one motor is frozen, and I'll have them both looked at.

Thanks, I'm hoping that buying plug-in stuff is the majority of it.
Mike.

Kern Dog · Feb 19, 2017

Year? Model?

Jim 68cuda · Feb 19, 2017

Assuming we're talking a 67 Coronet and you're installing a 66-67 Charger hidden headlight grille to give the car the appearance of the Mexican built 67 Coronets. You'll need to get input from owners of 66-67 Chargers and will need to specify that in your request. Later Chargers with hidden headlights had different methods of opening headlight doors. Some were electric and some were vacuum operated. The motors for the 66-67 Charger headlight doors were probably not used on later models. Also unlike later models, I believe there was even a switch on the dash that would allow the headlights to be locked in the open position whether the lights were on or off.

ODZKing · Feb 19, 2017

Did you get the micro/limit switches with brackets as well? If not I believe Bryan can supply those. Should be 4 switches 2open, 2 close. There there are the relays under the dash. 3 all together, Bryan has those as well I believe. A383Wing is his handle.
Then there is a breaker in the system as well, behind the driver kick panel.
No doubt I have forgotten something.
Go to my website and download the http://www.retrorarities.com/images/ChargerServiceManualSuppliment.pdf
Then when you are totally confused, sign back on and ask more questions.
There is a lot to it and it will not be a plug and play. IT was WAY over designed.

mmissile · Feb 19, 2017

If they can be manually open and closed....that'll suffice. Not wanting to make it a wallet breaker or retirement project. The lights will be closed 99.9999% of the time.

Jim 68cuda · Feb 19, 2017

I think you can manually open and close them with a screwdriver to loosen them at the pivot point, and re-tighten when in position. A buddy of mine disconnected the power supply to his 67 Charger's headlight door motors after walking into his garage one night and hearing the motors trying to turn on and off. He opens and closes his headlights manually now.

Bull1tt · Feb 20, 2017

Mike, have the motors and limit switches checked. The switches keep the motors from running once full open or close. If they fail, the headlight motors burn up.
Your car looks great, the minister of information sent pics to me! Lol

mmissile · Feb 21, 2017

The grill is going in the wagon. Too heavy for my 67. I think I'll figure out a way to make then easily open and close manually. Maybe just a pin on a lanyard, to hold them open.

Bull1tt · Feb 21, 2017

That may be easier than changing the wiring

Don Frelier · Feb 21, 2017

If you get two working motors you can open and close them from a center off three position maintained switch wired direct to the motors with a fairly high amperage rating. Put a heavy fuse from a good 12 Volt source and you can open and close them from under the hood or inside the car. Mine has been this way for years now. I'm an electrical engineer, just never made the lights a priority other stuff like making it go fast has always taken precedence.

Converting Coronet to Charger grill..............

mmissile

Well-Known Member

Kern Dog

Life is full of turns. Build your car to handle.

Jim 68cuda

Well-Known Member

ODZKing

Well-Known Member

mmissile

Well-Known Member

Jim 68cuda

Well-Known Member

Bull1tt

Well-Known Member

mmissile

Well-Known Member

Bull1tt

Well-Known Member

Don Frelier

FBBO Gold Member

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