zlek131
Sep 7th, 09, 06:14 AM
I thought I would put this thread out for future members to use as supplement instructions when installing the Retro-Electro kit. The kit is a very simple install and comes with good instructions. Follow the instructions provided in the kit and you’ll be good to go just as I was. The instructions below are simply additional documentation you may want to read before/during your install.
I have a 68 camaro that was cloned into a RS using a 67 front clip. This means I stared out with electric motor operated doors instead of vacuum operated doors that you would find on true 68 RS.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights1.jpg
After removing the lamp bezels and before removing the headlamp housing make sure you tape off the surrounding area including parts of the grill so you won’t chip/scratch paint as the light housing is a pretty tight fit.
Also removing the little grill/door covers from the doors along with the light itself will shrink things down and make your life easier when pulling out the headlamp housing.
Unbolt the headlamp housing and slowly work it out. You will have to finagle it a bit as well as play with the door positions to make it come out but it will come out. This is where you’ll be happy you taped things off.
Once you have the light housing out, remove the old motor held by the two small bolts at the base. You will also have to unbolt the door arm from the motor and slide it of the motor shaft removing all old washers and disks.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights2.jpg
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights3.jpg
The new motors are a little “fatter” and you will have ding up the back of the headlamp housing in order to make the new motor fit. I used a ball peen hammer on mine. Make sure you take out the headlight mounting bucket as you’ll crack the headlamp adjusting nut if you leave it in and start hammering on the back of the housing. It wouldn’t hurt to remove the adjusting nuts as well as they can get somewhat brittle and will crack due to vibrations. (Yup, I cracked mine…) You’ll want to ding-in enough to where the new motor shaft is centered in the hole. You can also loosen up the bolts that hold the motor base plate to the housing and readjust the base plate giving you a little room - I didn’t.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights5.jpg
Follow provided instructions for drilling out the two new holes for the new motor. When I did mine, I drilled one hole at a time. Meaning, after the ding job (above) and the motor shaft centered in the hole, I marked my first mounting hole and drilled it. Once I had the hole drilled, I temporarily attached the motor with one bolt, centered it again and marked my second hole. I used a 3/16 bit for my holes.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights4.jpg
After mounting the motor, I attached the control module using the 3M double sided tape. Make sure you use the “P” on the passenger side while the “D” on the drivers side. In case you’re all looking at the same instructions and pictures I got in my kit, you’ll see that pictures show the module mounted with the wires pointing “up” (where the wires come out of the module) while the instructions say to mount it pointing “down” to prevent moisture from getting in. I called Mark about this and yes, you want them “down” and he is working on new install pictures. Also, after I connected the motor to the control module, I tapped off (electrical tape) the top of the plug just to be double safe and prevent moisture form entering.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights6.jpg
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights7.jpg
Before reattaching the door arm to the motor you’ll need to enlarge the shaft opening using a 3/8 drill bit. I put the door arm in a vice and drilled it. Once enlarged, use the instructions to assemble it back on to the motor shaft along with all the washers/discs and torque specifications.
Reattach the headlight mounting bucket (if you took it off) along with adjusting nuts and screws. You are now ready to install the headlamp housing back into the car. Follow the straight forward wiring instructions and you’re good to go. Don’t forget to disconnect the battery before you start to wire things up!
When I was done, I had a minor issue where one of the doors was working backwards. Meaning, when the lights were off the door would open and close when the lights were on. I don’t think this has happened to anyone on here that used the kit and I may have been the first one. Anyway, it was an easy fix that required switching/reversing a couple wires (black and red) on the motor plug. This reversed the polarity on the motor and fixed the issue. Here is a link on how to do that just in case http://www.laddinc.com/howto-dtm.aspx (http://www.laddinc.com/howto-dtm.aspx).
Don’t hesitate to give Mark a call if you have any questions. I called him a couple times and he answered all my questions.
When all done, ENJOY!
YouTube - 68 Camaro RS Front Lights by Retro-Electro
I have a 68 camaro that was cloned into a RS using a 67 front clip. This means I stared out with electric motor operated doors instead of vacuum operated doors that you would find on true 68 RS.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights1.jpg
After removing the lamp bezels and before removing the headlamp housing make sure you tape off the surrounding area including parts of the grill so you won’t chip/scratch paint as the light housing is a pretty tight fit.
Also removing the little grill/door covers from the doors along with the light itself will shrink things down and make your life easier when pulling out the headlamp housing.
Unbolt the headlamp housing and slowly work it out. You will have to finagle it a bit as well as play with the door positions to make it come out but it will come out. This is where you’ll be happy you taped things off.
Once you have the light housing out, remove the old motor held by the two small bolts at the base. You will also have to unbolt the door arm from the motor and slide it of the motor shaft removing all old washers and disks.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights2.jpg
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights3.jpg
The new motors are a little “fatter” and you will have ding up the back of the headlamp housing in order to make the new motor fit. I used a ball peen hammer on mine. Make sure you take out the headlight mounting bucket as you’ll crack the headlamp adjusting nut if you leave it in and start hammering on the back of the housing. It wouldn’t hurt to remove the adjusting nuts as well as they can get somewhat brittle and will crack due to vibrations. (Yup, I cracked mine…) You’ll want to ding-in enough to where the new motor shaft is centered in the hole. You can also loosen up the bolts that hold the motor base plate to the housing and readjust the base plate giving you a little room - I didn’t.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights5.jpg
Follow provided instructions for drilling out the two new holes for the new motor. When I did mine, I drilled one hole at a time. Meaning, after the ding job (above) and the motor shaft centered in the hole, I marked my first mounting hole and drilled it. Once I had the hole drilled, I temporarily attached the motor with one bolt, centered it again and marked my second hole. I used a 3/16 bit for my holes.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights4.jpg
After mounting the motor, I attached the control module using the 3M double sided tape. Make sure you use the “P” on the passenger side while the “D” on the drivers side. In case you’re all looking at the same instructions and pictures I got in my kit, you’ll see that pictures show the module mounted with the wires pointing “up” (where the wires come out of the module) while the instructions say to mount it pointing “down” to prevent moisture from getting in. I called Mark about this and yes, you want them “down” and he is working on new install pictures. Also, after I connected the motor to the control module, I tapped off (electrical tape) the top of the plug just to be double safe and prevent moisture form entering.
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights6.jpg
http://www.mattlekawa.com/pictures/camaro/rsFrontLights7.jpg
Before reattaching the door arm to the motor you’ll need to enlarge the shaft opening using a 3/8 drill bit. I put the door arm in a vice and drilled it. Once enlarged, use the instructions to assemble it back on to the motor shaft along with all the washers/discs and torque specifications.
Reattach the headlight mounting bucket (if you took it off) along with adjusting nuts and screws. You are now ready to install the headlamp housing back into the car. Follow the straight forward wiring instructions and you’re good to go. Don’t forget to disconnect the battery before you start to wire things up!
When I was done, I had a minor issue where one of the doors was working backwards. Meaning, when the lights were off the door would open and close when the lights were on. I don’t think this has happened to anyone on here that used the kit and I may have been the first one. Anyway, it was an easy fix that required switching/reversing a couple wires (black and red) on the motor plug. This reversed the polarity on the motor and fixed the issue. Here is a link on how to do that just in case http://www.laddinc.com/howto-dtm.aspx (http://www.laddinc.com/howto-dtm.aspx).
Don’t hesitate to give Mark a call if you have any questions. I called him a couple times and he answered all my questions.
When all done, ENJOY!
YouTube - 68 Camaro RS Front Lights by Retro-Electro