Vacuum Line Help
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 1,161
Likes: 0
From: Orangeburg, NY
Vacuum Line Help
I am in the process of changing the manifold and plenum gaskets on my 89 - automatic. During the process of removing the plenum and other parts I broke some of the hard plastic lines.
Now the questions. Does anyone know where I can get the hard plastic lines? Can I replace them with soft rubber lines? I also want to change the PVC rubber lines and was looking at the prices; Approx. $18 each. Has anyone made their own, and if so how do you make the bends in the hoses?
Now the questions. Does anyone know where I can get the hard plastic lines? Can I replace them with soft rubber lines? I also want to change the PVC rubber lines and was looking at the prices; Approx. $18 each. Has anyone made their own, and if so how do you make the bends in the hoses?
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 426
Likes: 16
From: Concord CA
I had to repair a few lines on my 88' that was causing the last owner some problem that he didn't know how to resolve. To get it going I just took some rubber hose that was the correct size and used it to patch/spliced the broken plastic tubing.
My PCV and fresh air tube(right side Valve Cover to the T/B) was both bad, I just replaced them wtih rubber hose for now.
Some day I will order the correct tube/hose, but until then.. I have just replace with rubber to patched and spliced what I have to.
My PCV and fresh air tube(right side Valve Cover to the T/B) was both bad, I just replaced them wtih rubber hose for now.
Some day I will order the correct tube/hose, but until then.. I have just replace with rubber to patched and spliced what I have to.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: California
Vacuum lines can also be made out of appropriate size aluminum tubing with short pieces of rubber tubing at each end to connect them. Also, it looks pretty good when the aluminum tubing is polished out. Another nice thing about it is that the aluminum tubing can be shaped and routed in an asthetically pleasing way. (Just another thought).
Hope this helps.
Norm.
Hope this helps.
Norm.
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
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,590
Likes: 48
From: W MI
For the hard tubing, I went to Autozone and bought some. I used that along with connecting joints bought NAPA and recreated the factory positions. Now I can lean on the engine and not hear a snap. For the soft tubing, I replaced those one at a time with lengths of hose bought at NAPA and matched them for inner and outer diameter and cut to length. I didn't hack anything up, I copied length for length for both the hard and soft tubing and replaced them.
No idle issues at all.
No idle issues at all.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: West Newton Pennsylvania
I looked, but didn't find anything, but it would be nice if some manufacture made a vacuum line kit that would replace ALL the lines on various years. I was looking at my 88 the other day, and I can see I need to replace most of the lines. I also have a small, (maybe 1/8th) plastic line directly behind the alternator. It goes from one line, to a molded on conection into two lines. One line snapped off right at the connection. 
I don't know what to call this line, and I know I going to have to get it from GM.
I don't know what to call this line, and I know I going to have to get it from GM.