Vacum Pump/Tester Recomendations
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
Vacum Pump/Tester Recomendations
Can anyone recommend a vacuum pump/tester that will be used strictly for troubleshooting the vacuum system on my vette. Recommendations on a vendor would also be appreciated. TIA
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
You can use a hand pump with gauge like this one.
Mine is the same but made of brass. Any good parts store too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac...ump-39522.html
or
You can just get a good vacuum gauge, a tee and longer hose to run to another car for a vacuum source.
If you want to test a complete system like the headlites, the hand pump in most cases won't handle it, if there are any leaks.
Mine is the same but made of brass. Any good parts store too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/mityvac...ump-39522.html
or
You can just get a good vacuum gauge, a tee and longer hose to run to another car for a vacuum source.
If you want to test a complete system like the headlites, the hand pump in most cases won't handle it, if there are any leaks.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If your engine runs, you don't need a vacuum pump. You do need a vacuum gauge, some plastic T-fittings, 2-3' of vacuum hose, and 2 or 3 small plastic squeeze clamps. Those, along with simple vacuum system diagnostic methods, will find your real problem area(s) fairly quickly.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 323
Likes: 4
From: McKinney Texas
You can use engine vacuum, as 7T1 points out, but not having the noise of the engine sure makes it easy to find any leaks with the electric pump.
I bought the cheaper one from Harbor Freight, with the 20% off coupon that is in all the car magazines, and it ended up being around $70. Works great.
$70 would buy a lot of hose to run vacuum from another vehicle running outside of earshot, but I like the convenience of the electric pump.
Still need a T, hose, gauge, etc. as 7T1 points out.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Douglas,
Once you have the vacuum source and gauge it's important to also have good detailed information for each component that indicates how each is supposed to work, and also how to test the various functions of each component. I like the one from Dr. Rebuild.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Once you have the vacuum source and gauge it's important to also have good detailed information for each component that indicates how each is supposed to work, and also how to test the various functions of each component. I like the one from Dr. Rebuild.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
the vacuum pump from HF that hooks up to your air compressor is cheap as dog snot and they work great they go on sale for like $10......i have used these for everything. If you get this and the super deluxe mityvac kit that comes with fittings to make a mason jar into vacuum receptacle to pull fluids into you can drain anything. a word of advice though the vacuum pump does not like to get saturated with transmission fluid when the mason jars either gets knocked over or overflows.....
this is the newer version of what i use
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...ors-96677.html
i have the silverline version of the mity vac and it is rebuildable....i would definitely buy one that is rebuildable
this is the newer version of what i use
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...ors-96677.html
i have the silverline version of the mity vac and it is rebuildable....i would definitely buy one that is rebuildable
Last edited by bobs77vet; Nov 15, 2011 at 04:10 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Dallas
Thanks for all the advice and thoughts. With my DocRebuild schematic in hand ready to give a go. Only use my headlights once a year at inspection time so it really has been more of nuisance than a problem. LH lamp is slow to open and often will take several minutes to close or will not close at all. As 7T1vette suggested will try and trouble shoot it with gauge only. If that doesn't work will try the other suggestions.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 5
From: Roseville CA
the vacuum pump from HF that hooks up to your air compressor is cheap as dog snot and they work great they go on sale for like $10......i have used these for everything. If you get this and the super deluxe mityvac kit that comes with fittings to make a mason jar into vacuum receptacle to pull fluids into you can drain anything. a word of advice though the vacuum pump does not like to get saturated with transmission fluid when the mason jars either gets knocked over or overflows.....
this is the newer version of what i use
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...ors-96677.html
i have the silverline version of the mity vac and it is rebuildable....i would definitely buy one that is rebuildable
this is the newer version of what i use
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vac...ors-96677.html
i have the silverline version of the mity vac and it is rebuildable....i would definitely buy one that is rebuildable
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Work on the same principle as a suction paint gun.
They are used a lot for suction type lifting devices and they do use a decent amount of compressed air.
Vacuum level: 28.3" of mercury at sea level
Pump air consumption: 4.2 CFM @ 90 PSI
Pump air consumption: 4.2 CFM @ 90 PSI
Doubt if the rest of the specs are true too, probably a lot higher consumption and lower vacuum, at least the pro models I have tried have been.
It would be enough to test your headlites though.
For 10 bucks the 134 adapters are worth almost that.