Vacuum Fitting Source Needed

[GetVette]

New Member from northern Minnesota where Ole and Lena live. Two C-3 Corvettes (Silver Frost 1981 L-48 37,000 mile almost investment quality Coupay and Hunter Green 1979 L-48 85,000 mile driver Coupay) with need for a vacuum fitting. Previous owner, name of "Bubba", replaced stock iron intake manifold with Edlebrock Performer. Car still runs but the vacuum adapter/fitting/port behind the carb is a victim of Bubba's inability to do work correctly and clumsy fingers. The GM PN is #14020680 according to my 81 assy manual which of course is no longer stocked. This is a $3 cast aluminum part that GM now wants $58 plus shipping for, C/A wants $48 and I want to find it for less than that. A brass retro fitting stack is my last choice for what should be a corner auto store off the rack purchase. Maybe you've been here too? Any help with this part w/b appreciated. The suspect part has a 3/8" MPT that screws into the I/M and three 1/4" barbed fittings that hoses attach to the piece in a + configuration. Two of these barbed ports would also work for me.

Also have a used but tight power steering cylinder from the 81 for sale, no rebuild necc. The control is avail too for core cost if needed. I replaced all of it with new (read: costly) when the control valve began bleeding. Thanks!
Bruce G.
lakefun@uslink.net

 

[RodsnRides]

Intake vacuum fitting

New Member from northern Minnesota where Ole and Lena live. Two C-3 Corvettes (Silver Frost 1981 L-48 37,000 mile almost investment quality Coupay and Hunter Green 1979 L-48 85,000 mile driver Coupay) with need for a vacuum fitting. Previous owner, name of "Bubba", replaced stock iron intake manifold with Edlebrock Performer. Car still runs but the vacuum adapter/fitting/port behind the carb is a victim of Bubba's inability to do work correctly and clumsy fingers. The GM PN is #14020680 according to my 81 assy manual which of course is no longer stocked. This is a $3 cast aluminum part that GM now wants $58 plus shipping for, C/A wants $48 and I want to find it for less than that. A brass retro fitting stack is my last choice for what should be a corner auto store off the rack purchase. Maybe you've been here too? Any help with this part w/b appreciated. The suspect part has a 3/8" MPT that screws into the I/M and three 1/4" barbed fittings that hoses attach to the piece in a + configuration. Two of these barbed ports would also work for me.

Also have a used but tight power steering cylinder from the 81 for sale, no rebuild necc. The control is avail too for core cost if needed. I replaced all of it with new (read: costly) when the control valve began bleeding. Thanks!
Bruce G.
lakefun@uslink.net

I may have an extra one at home. I will look tonight and get back to you. Do you need all 3 1/4" barbs? I know the one I may have has only one or two. Perhaps a plastic or brass (preferred due to heat) Tee off the one? Heck, I'll give it to you. You may be able to get one from the wrecking yard that carries any 70-80 GM with auto trans. Clean it up nice with a wire wheel and use 'some' teflon tape. Do not overtighten-I cracked an Edelbrock once at the heater hose fitting. Got it welded but it cost me a set of gaskets.

Rick

 

[GetVette]

Thanks for your reply, Rick. As stated, I could use either the preferred three port or my second choice two port fitting. GM even shows P/N's for a one port adapter in the same application(#14020679, for MX3). Bubba had two vac lines wye'd together with another plastic wye fitting and then into #2 of the three ports. Duh! Port # 3 was capped and #1 (on top) is for the metal tube leading to the transmission vacuum modulator. I tried to reconnect vac line #3 to it's original port, that is when I noticed the fracture in the base so it's new adapter or "visit the junk yard" time. Mail me direct if you find something suitable, & Thanks! I just bought this car, somewhat disappointing as it arrived from NY. Five C-3's in about 2 years, most were OK cars, some I should have hung on to. My silver 81 is too nice to pile miles on so I bought me a driver. At least it's supposed to be.

Bruce G.
lakefun@uslink.net

I may have an extra one at home. I will look tonight and get back to you. Do you need all 3 1/4" barbs? I know the one I may have has only one or two. Perhaps a plastic or brass (preferred due to heat) Tee off the one? Heck, I'll give it to you. You may be able to get one from the wrecking yard that carries any 70-80 GM with auto trans. Clean it up nice with a wire wheel and use 'some' teflon tape. Do not overtighten-I cracked an Edelbrock once at the heater hose fitting. Got it welded but it cost me a set of gaskets.

Rick

 

[JohnZ]

Paragon has sixteen different intake manifold vacuum fittings in their '68-'82 catalog; I'm sure at least one of them will work for you (for a LOT less money).

 

[GetVette]

Been There, Dun That.

I searched Paragon's web site earlier today. Their PN #: 3718 is not described in terms of thread and port sizes so I didn't buy. It looked like it would fit, but so did O.J.'s gloves. In the interim, I left an e-mail inq with them this afternoon before I posted my original call for help. I presume they will reply on Monday. I am in the wrong business, I should buy old and cheap Corvettes, part them out down to the last nuts and bolts and retire after a month or two. (LOL) There has to be a market for such trinkets, I drove about 40 miles today looking for this part or something that would work, with no luck.

Thanks for your reply!
Bruce G.

Paragon has sixteen different intake manifold vacuum fittings in their '68-'82 catalog; I'm sure at least one of them will work for you (for a LOT less money).

 

[RodsnRides]

I searched Paragon's web site earlier today. Their PN #: 3718 is not described in terms of thread and port sizes so I didn't buy. It looked like it would fit, but so did O.J.'s gloves. In the interim, I left an e-mail inq with them this afternoon before I posted my original call for help. I presume they will reply on Monday. I am in the wrong business, I should buy old and cheap Corvettes, part them out down to the last nuts and bolts and retire after a month or two. (LOL) There has to be a market for such trinkets, I drove about 40 miles today looking for this part or something that would work, with no luck.

Thanks for your reply!
Bruce G.

Hey Bruce -

Home from work and I found the fitting. This one looks like the letter "F" with the bottom leg going into the intake, the lower part of the "F" is a 1/4" hose barb, the upper leg is a smaller (3/16" or 1/8"?) barb, and another 1/4" barb comes straight up from the top. So, two 1/4" barbs and a smaller one. Will this work for you?

Rick

 

[GetVette]

Rick,
If the fitting has a 3/8" male pipe thread leg, it should work. I would call this the "lower" or "lowest" leg of however many there are, don't know if that is what you have. This piece of work screws into the top plenum of the 350 intake right behind the carb. Any picture available? I would be glad to send you po$tage if it does work or return this part to you if not useable when I see it. Let me know, please. Thanx
Bruce G.
lakefun@uslink.net

Hey Bruce -

Home from work and I found the fitting. This one looks like the letter "F" with the bottom leg going into the intake, the lower part of the "F" is a 1/4" hose barb, the upper leg is a smaller (3/16" or 1/8"?) barb, and another 1/4" barb comes straight up from the top. So, two 1/4" barbs and a smaller one. Will this work for you?

Rick

 

[RodsnRides]

Bruce -

Yes-it has the 3/8" male pipe end. I'm sure it's what you want. I think this came from a '78 Camaro with A/C. I'm a pack rat and save everything I come across. I built a '78 Camaro for my stepson and probably used a different fitting since the compressor was gone from the original $600 find. I try to eliminate sources of leaks if I can, and minimizing taps is one way. Again, picture the letter "F". The very bottom (if I could figure out how to underline) would be on the underline and that is the manifold thread side. And it has the barb straight out the top, too, so it's an "F" with a top hat, so to speak. I'll just send it to you and if it works, fine, if not, send it back. You'll see the postage on the box, and you can pay that if you keep it. Fair enough?

Rick

 

[JohnZ]

The GM #14020680 fitting was discontinued about eight years ago, and it was about $12.00 at the time. It pays to call the top vendors (Paragon, CC, Zip, Doc Rebuild, etc.) and get their catalogs for reference when you need parts - none of them have ALL their parts in their on-line catalogs.