Big cam vs. vacum needs....

Hey is there a minimum recomended amount of vacuum to properly operate the headlamps and wiper door? Kinda wondering how much cam is too much cam. I'm thinking in terms of inches on a vac gauge....as in a power brake booster needs 18 / 16 minimum. Thanks, Dave

15 -20 inches of mercury will operate everything quite well . I read this spec somewhere in a tech article, but can't find the article now. I'm believe it was in a troubleshooting headlight/wiper door problem .Congradulations on your find , love the color and the last year of 2 steel bumpers. Happy holidays Big Al

 Yer lucky if you can pull 18" on a stock engine. That's why these cars have vacuum reservoirs. As long as you don't get something with a lot of duration, cam-wise, you may be otay. If you go with a lumpy, rump-rump-rumpity-firtzfirtz-rump cam, all bets are off, even with a larger vac reservoir. They do make vac pumps for stuff like that, tho.
They also have electric conversions for the head lights....

Good to know. My vac parts seem to operate ok...a little slow at start up but I wasn't sure if there was a reservoir someplace or not. If I let her run a minute then they seem to open/close well. But, I forgot this part, the wiper door always does this little partial dance when the engine starts. Opens a smidge and then closes back up. I'm not fooling with any of the controls...just starting the car. Is this normal? There is a rumbly cam in her and I have not been able to retrieve the specs from the PO. I want to put a power brake booster on her. I hope I don't need to swap out the cam to run the booster. I'm kinda hoping since the headlights work that the booster will work. Of course I could take a vac reading but I can't start the car when its -4 every day now. 

Normal? No.
Common? YES!
Usually that is a sign that the check valve is leaking. The check valve is the metal, pie shaped valve in the vacuum line about 6" from where it comes out of the port on the engine. There will be a small round plastic filter, and then the check valve. If the valve is ok, then the next most common reason for that happening is a leak somewhere. I can send you some vacuum tech if ya want. Good for both the headlights and wipers.

Sure send it over or post or....all this was supposedly replaced. The lines and diaphragm look new....I have not looked at the valve your referring to though. So a leak is possible. Hey the right hand headlamp goes up after the left. One time I had to go and pull it up. Other times it works like it should (which is a guess cuz what do I know). Does this point you towards something?

Both headlights are supposed to open/close at the same time, at the same speed.It rarely happens, but it s'posed to. A leaking actuator, relay valve, hose, switch, over-ride....anything can cause one to open/close before the other. Might even simply need to be lubricated...ya never know.
Dave, I'll e-mail the info first chance I get...  I really should be werking right now, but....I'm slackin off.....

I am running a big solid roller in my '69. I'm pulling 7 to 8 in. of vacuum and all my lights, brakes and wiper door operate fine,a little slow,but they all work.