• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Electric Motor activated air grabber - Anyone try this?

Plymouth71

Waterslide Decal Artist
Local time
1:07 AM
Joined
Sep 13, 2013
Messages
346
Reaction score
146
Location
Great White North
I'm looking at my 71 Satellite. The previous owner hacked the hood and put an Air grabber bubble on it. I'd like it functional, but I don't have the money for a complete set up New or Used. I was wondering if I could manufacture my own actuator. Anyone try this? any suggestions?

1.jpg



IMGP3795.jpg
 
I don't know if it's out there or not; but it sounds like a great idea that could probably be had with a little time and ingenuity...
 
It should be much more simple to make than the original vaccume set up. I thought of a similar setup for 71 custom RR I'm doing at the moment, but I haven't been able to find a satellite hood nearby. If I find one and make one, it will be easy to assemble a kit. Sourcing the appropriate actuator is probable the hardest part, which should not be too terribly hard. The real hard part of the air grabber set up is already done for us, since the seals and air cleaners are already available and fit quite well.
 
You could use an electric motor from a modern heater/a.c. box. The mode, blend or recirculation doors are small motors that could do the job.
 
You can get linear actuators off ebay for under < $50 depending on how much travel/speed you need. You'd then just need a few wires. Mounting the set up is the difficult part. I am doing a similar conversion to the vacuum units for my 68 charger's headlight doors.
 
I saw one done with a choke cable at a cruise night a few years back, no idea how well it worked.
 
Thanks guys. I really want to make this a reality. Thankfully I have access to a great shop at the farm and there are a few engine builders in the area so fabricating mounts etc shouldn't be too much of a challenge. Ijust need to sit down and design it. With 3 kids, full time work and snow to shovel I just don't have much free time. LoL I'm going to keep searching the forums to see if someone has done it before so at least I don't have to start from scratch.
 
Well, I've found a stepper motor at a local harbour freight type store up here in The Great White North. Now I just need to start fabricating a mount for the door. Anybody have some straight on perpendicular shots of the airgrabber hood and how the hardware fits underneath? I need to figure where to mount the motor and the door opening hardware too.
 
I'm looking at my 71 Satellite. The previous owner hacked the hood and put an Air grabber bubble on it. I'd like it functional, but I don't have the money for a complete set up New or Used. I was wondering if I could manufacture my own actuator. Anyone try this? any suggestions?

1.jpg



IMGP3795.jpg
I'm looking at my 71 Satellite. The previous owner hacked the hood and put an Air grabber bubble on it. I'd like it functional, but I don't have the money for a complete set up New or Used. I was wondering if I could manufacture my own actuator. Anyone try this? any suggestions?

1.jpg



IMGP3795.jpg
I got fed up of buying vacuum actuators from China that last a few months. These actuators are dirt cheap off ebay, just had to make a new bracket. I had to space it over to clear the 26" radiator because they are a bit longer than the vacuum unit.

IMG_20160929_170058.jpg IMG_20160929_170030.jpg IMG_20160929_170004.jpg
 
How about the conversion electric motors that are used on camaro hideaway headlights?
 
R/C servo.....
 
Mick70RR-
WOW! Great job fabricating that setup! Do you have a drawing for the bracket? I'd like to do the same.
Thank you,
Jeff
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mick70RR-
WOW! Great job fabrication that setup! Do you have a drawing for the bracket? I'd like to do the same.
Thank you,
Jeff
You joined over ten years ago and this is your first post? :) Welcome!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Mick70RR-
WOW! Great job fabricating that setup! Do you have a drawing for the bracket? I'd like to do the same.
Thank you,
Jeff
10 years of lurking,lol, I had to give you your first like for that alone.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top