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Can anyone out there tell me the diameter and length of the '80 to '82 "soup can" style vacuum tank? I have removed my '69's leaky tank (4 stress cracks) in pieces because it's too much work to pull the brake booster and I do not want to dig into the dash board. I want to figure out if the later style round tank will fit back into the same location with the master cylinder removed and the brake booster in place. If I just know the diameter and length I can make a wood mockup and sort that out before buying a tank to go that route.
Thanks to anyone who can help. Picture below of the old tank I removed.
I just replaced mine with a Summit canister.
Dimensions per their website, are 5" diameter, and 6.65" height.
It fits well into the space (but I don't have a brake booster).
I did have to drill 2 new holes in the fender liner to mount the new bracket.
Due to it's smaller size, it's volume is significantly less than the stock reservoir.
This only allows for 1 headlight cycle or wiper door cycle after engine stop, and then the tank is back to atmospheric pressure.
I also put a vacuum gauge on the top extra fitting on the tank.
I tried valiantly three times to repair the stock tank which had several hair line cracks.
Removal and replacement was a real chore, even without the brake booster.
I tried Flex-Seal first, then JB Weld, then welding.
In each case, the tank tested good for vacuum hold (overnight held to 18psi), but then ended up failing after install (maybe temp cycles?).
Finally gave up and went with this aftermarket tank.
Thank you for answering my question. I will make a mock up and check the fit using the 6 1/8 D by 7" Long numbers. If that appears to be too tight of a fit then maybe the summit tank would be better.
Can you run without a vacuum reservoir? Yes. But the vacuum tank serves more than just the headlamp buckets: HVAC system; vacuum advance can (pre-'82); wiper system ('68-72). And, if your headlamps are open at night and you stab the accelerator, the buckets could start to close until throttle is released and engine vacuum builds-up.
For $40, I would install some sort of reservoir tank.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jan 14, 2021 at 07:04 AM.
I made a mockup of the 80 to 82 style vac can and it does fit. However, based on the slight,y smaller size and lower price i ordered the sumit vac can suggested above except in the glossy powder coat finish. It will be here Saturday and I plan to fabricate an adapter bracket to allow me to mount it using the stock holes in the fenders. Thanks to all for the suggestions.
Question regarding vacuum can size
