Hello Friends, its been a long time. Does anyone have any information on Vacuum door locks for a 1966 Grand Parisienne?
Did both doors have switches on them, or just the driver side? Does anyone have pictures of the actuators for a 2 Door?
Does anyone have pictures of the vacuum distribution valve and the correct location for it? Also, I would like to buy these parts. I also need the clips for the switches, each switch had 2 clips, one had tabs that were bent over and attached to the door panel,
and the other clip popped the switches into the door panel. (please let me know if you can help, thanks Mark)
Hi Mark, and welcome back! Please don't be a stranger here. I never get enough of 66 Grande Parisiennes, and especially big block 4 speed cars.
On a side note before I get into the vacuum locks on 66 Pontiacs, did you ever find a good metal dash piece that you were looking for? I may have one for you if not.
And I'll have to talk power locks with you tomorrow. I work an on-call job and my phone just rang telling me I need to go to work. But there's lots to say about these locks!
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
I harvested a complete vacuum power door lock system out of a 69 2+2 hardtop, and I'm thinking it would be the same as your 66. Lock switches were on both doors. I might have a photo of the complete system, I sold it on eBay but didn't get as much for it as I thought I would.
Yes Sir, please send any pics you have of your 69 Big Car, vacuum lock system! This is valuable information that must be preserved! Not sure if the stuff is the same, but it sure could be. Thanks Speed-Phreak
That ratrace of my "casual part time job" (haha, what a joke that has been...) finally allows me some time! Are you looking strictly for an original vacuum setup? Because it's quite easy to put a later electric setup in there which is much more reliable and takes up a lot less space in the doors and under the dash. I did it about 10 years ago on a 66 Grande Parisienne which I no longer own but I plan to do it again this winter on the Grande Parisienne I bought this spring.
I use the electric actuators that are in millions of GM vehicles from the later 70's, most of the 80's and some into the 90's. They look like this. I would buy a pair in a wrecking yard so you can grab the pigtail for it as well, it's a special connector. If you are set on having vacuum I won't be a lot of help because actually the first year for power locks in a Canadian Pontiac is 1968. Technically power locks in your 66 would not be authentic regardless of vacuum or electric.
It's fairly simple to install these and the switch matches the power window and power vent window switches of that era perfectly. Hydro-E-Letric has the reproduction power lock switch for electric locks, the one that matches. They look great, plus great company to deal with (in Florida to boot!).
I wasnt aware Vacuum locks were not available on Canadian cars till 1968. I think they may have been available on US built Pontiacs Chevrolet Buick and Oldsmobiles from 61 to 69, but Im not positive? Anyhow I would rather stick with the Vacuum lock system, my car has a vacuum trunk unlock system in it already, so I can easily tie into the vacuum reservoir under the dash.
From what I've seen and from what I can find in parts books, brochures etc it appears US Pontiacs had them starting in 1965. And I know they had them in that year because around 1982 I found a 65 Pontiac wagon in a wrecking yard with power locks. Stupid me left the setup because it was a 4 door.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
Since you have the parts books, do you think you could come up with part numbers for the Pontiac two door actuators and the distribution valve used in the 66 Pontiac two door models?
