Early heater control upgrade options

[Phils67]

Has anyone on here upgraded/modded the 63-72 style heater controller and the vacuum pods to electric with it maintaining the original look? I don't want to add an aftermarket controller or any vintage air types of units. I just want to be able to control my damn blend doors. Are the original ones rebuildable? I've had it apart before and can't even understand how this thing could ever possibly Seal and maintain vacuum at the rotating portion. It's literally just pot metal to pot metal

[runuover86gw]

I haven't upgraded them, but I have restored plenty of them. The spot you are talking about, I like to use a little dab of Corning Vacuum Grease in between the two pieces. I have a precision straight edge that I use also and then I only use the best pieces I have in my inventory. If you have any questions on the process of restoring it, feel free to let me know. I have never had anyone return one to me saying that it had a vacuum leak, so I would assume the vacuum grease is doing its job.

[Phils67]

Maybe ill pop it out and try that. Can't hurt. I have to put a vacuum pump on the actuators to see if they even work still

[Herk]

Never known an actuator to go bad on an FSJ but maybe I've been lucky. In fact a few feet of vacuum line along with cleaning and lubing the vacuum switch has always been the fix. Are you getting good vacuum to the switch?

[Phils67]

Last time a checked. I'm going to check again later today. I haven't messed with it since the winter time. All the lines are new

[runuover86gw]

If your heater control testing goes bad, feel free to let me know. I am pretty positive I have at least one controller ready to ship that I have already went through. It was supposed to be going to a customer in Australia, but they had to change directions due to a health issue.

[Phils67]

Well I ended up getting the actuators working, although not the correct way, all I need it to do is work. The controller is bad. Period. No question and the wear within the grooves are too far gone to repair. I ended up mounting a lawnmower fuel shut off under the dash and running the vacuum lines to it. When I flip the lever the actuators for both functions operate the blend doors. When I flip it the other way it dumps the vacuum and releases them. I'm fine with it. Cheap fix that achieves what I want. Again it is not a show truck. It's a work horse. All I need it to do is function. Eventually maybe ill drop the coin on another controller. For now I'm content with it as it is. The valve is unnoticeable unless you're looking for it and doesn't take up much real estate. Good enough for now