Hello my 81 vette when the lights flip over so i can use them the one on the passenger side will flip over right away the one on the drivers side will flip over after waiting a few moments they do not flip over at the same time together any help appreciated . 

Most vettes Ive seen with the vacuum headlight system do not open exactly at the same time.  IF your vacuum system is absolutely perfect they may, but otherwise there will be some delay in one side or the other.  If there is an unacceptable delay in the second one opening, start by tracing the vacuum hoses to that light and the vacuum actuator to that light.  If all hoses are OK and firmly attached you probably have either a leaking actuator or leaking vacuum relay on that side.  Since one light opens immediately, there is obviously good vacuum up to the vacuum can between the headlights.  Check the vacuum can itself for any cracks or rusted out places, usually along the seams or end seals.  It's possible that the can is leaking and uses all of its stored vacuum to open the first light and must build up more vacuum in order to open the other one.  Following this Crossfire19822008-08-28 09:16:08

It is almost certainly a vacuum problem.  Since one side works, you can eliminate everything before where they separate.  There is a vacuum signal from the headlight switch to the front of the car, where it "T"s to two vacuum relays.  Each of these relays operates one actuator that moves it's headlight.  The first thing to do is, with the engine running, spray starter fluid onto the hoses.  If the engine revs, you found a leaky hose.  Next, switch the signal hoses from one relay to the other.  If that moves the problem to the other side, you have a bad relay or the hose to it.  If not, your problem is the actuator.  To be sure, you can run a vacuum line directly from the canister to each side of the actuator.

Good Luck
Larry

When I posted my reply, I found that two of us were typing at the same time.
VetteSpecialties2008-08-28 09:13:46

Swap the relays. If the problem switches to the other side then its a relay problem. If it stays the same its a vacuum leak or actuator.