Buying a Vacuum Gauge?
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Buying a Vacuum Gauge?
Anyone have any recommendations on a good quality, low cost vacuum gauge for a stock 73? Just replaced the entire headlight system (actuators all the way back to the switch) and now I need to troubleshoot the system. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
For most things you can use one for you don't really need to know how much vacuum you have, just if it's more vac or less vac than what you're comparing it to. How many inches you have is helpfull in identifying cam characteristics, but for troubleshooting I think just about any gage would do the job.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 323
Likes: 0
From: ********** New York
I was told by a old timer a few days ago the simplest way to check for a vacume on the older vette a plumbers propane tank works best. Just turn the tank on NO Flame and run it along your hoses if you are sucking air at any point you idle will rise it. as all vacume is shared. I haven't tested it myself but the guy that told me owns a few vette 62 -67 aqnd a early 70's
Last edited by BB427; Aug 7, 2008 at 04:31 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Go to Sears tool department section and buy their vacuum gauge. Lots of different nipples and a very large, easy to read gauge. Fwiw, I own that and a Mity Vac but prefer the simple gauge when doing tuneups. Around $35 or so, iirc.
Gary
Gary
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,030
Likes: 363
From: Lubbock Texas
For troubleshooting the headlight system, the Mity Vac is a good tool. I used one to determine I have a bad headlight actuator rod seal on the drivers side.
A regular vacuum gauge is a valuable tool for engine tuning and testing.
One option is to spend a little more and get the metal bodied Mity Vac (or Sears equivalent). The gauge on this one is much better than the gauge on the plastic one and is sufficient for doing the engine tune and test thing so you could get by with one tool.
The advantage of a true vacuum gauge for tuning is that it most likely will also come with the ability to measure pressure including fuel pressure.
Just don't do what I did. I went to Sears and plucked the first Actron vacuum gauge off the shelf and bought it without looking at it closely. That gauge showed my engine was only producing 9-10 inches of vacuum which is too low and had me chasing that gremlin for a month. Turns out, the gauge was bad.
Had I bothered to look closely and compare several gauges I would have noticed the needle was way off on the one I purchased. Live and learn.Hope this helps.
DC
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,831
Likes: 5
From: Austin TX
Just don't do what I did. I went to Sears and plucked the first Actron vacuum gauge off the shelf and bought it without looking at it closely. That gauge showed my engine was only producing 9-10 inches of vacuum which is too low and had me chasing that gremlin for a month. Turns out, the gauge was bad. Had I bothered to look closely and compare several gauges I would have noticed the needle was way off on the one I purchased. Live and learn.
Had I bothered to look closely and compare several gauges I would have noticed the needle was way off on the one I purchased. Live and learn.
I'm just about ready to tune my newly fired up motor.
I think I'll check my cheapy years-old vacuum gauge with my Mity-Vac before I start...
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 599
Likes: 16
From: vista CA
I installed a 2-1/4" VDO vacuum gauge in my center console - lets me know when a connector comes off, headlight seal fails, etc. IMO with these cars the question is not IF your vacuum system is going to have a leak, but WHEN (and repeat).
Also helps drive like a 'little old lady' and get the most MPG out of todays high price gas - NOT.
Also helps drive like a 'little old lady' and get the most MPG out of todays high price gas - NOT.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
It could leak anywhere. If you can't see anything obvious, start at the manifold and work your way to the headlight actuators by pulling off each connection and testing each component, switch, check valve and hose as you go. As far as a reading, you should be able to pull as much vacuum, and hold it, as the mityvac tool can give you.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
SH-60B thanks for the info....
This is the one I have... never used it...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92474
Is it any good or should I just get the mityvac?
This is the one I have... never used it...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92474
Is it any good or should I just get the mityvac?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 198
From: Meriden CT
SH-60B thanks for the info....
This is the one I have... never used it...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92474
Is it any good or should I just get the mityvac?
This is the one I have... never used it...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92474
Is it any good or should I just get the mityvac?
