Where to buy ... thin vacuum lines

[RobClark]

There are a number of skinny, semi-rigid vacuum lines on the engine for my 1986 302 Windsor.

Most have cracked/broken at some time - and now been patched by me.

But - I would like to replace them with new vacuum lines.

My problem is: I am in Australia (where this car was never sold .. it is imported) and I can't find something like a 'vacuum tube kit' on rockauto.com from my car. (Rockauto is great at posting parts I need).

Can you guys advise:
* Online places that might sell the part(s) I need
* Should I be buying more than just the tubing? Fittings of some sort as well.

Thanks in advance

Rob

[BerniniCaCO3]

man, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that for sale.
If you were here, I'd say try a junkyard. Mine are from 1990 and they're OK, the other GM I worked on was from 1989, and those were OK too.

But honestly, your best and easiest bet for new lines is to make your own.
They were only done that way for efficiency/$, but iirc they're all like 1/8" inside diameter right? Just get some 1/8" vacuum line (or any stiff enough rubber hose to not collapse under vacuum. Fuel line is good I believe), some T-style generic plastic couplers for where the lines branched, and make your own!

[mcninetyone]

Most of those lines but not all, had to do with emissions. And if that doesn't matter where you are, just delete them and plug everything up. Or do what BerniniCaCO3 said, try and make your own. Because shipping you good replacements might be very expensive. Of course if that is not a problem, I'm sure those lines and anything else you need can be located here easy enough.

Good Luck!

[johnunit]

I agree that the only option out there is to cobble your own. There is no way to buy them new i'm aware of.

[turbo2256b]

I have replaced most of mine with old school rubber hose. Most of the time clip the end with the rubber fitting on leaving enough OEM nylon tubing to push the rubber hose on.

[sly]

I have replaced most of mine with old school rubber hose. Most of the time clip the end with the rubber fitting on leaving enough OEM nylon tubing to push the rubber hose on.

This... or just run point to point with the hose all the way. Every time a hard line breaks, I just replace it with rubber all the way. Fixes it every time.

[gadget73]

Mine are all rubber as well. The plastic crumbled, and nobody really sells it. Rubber works fine, and you can get it anywhere.

[mercurygm88]

everytime I break one the local NAPA trys to sell me the plastic emissions line crap but I always get the rubber instead.

[turbo2256b]

I have done all rubber too. Sometimes its a nicer run with the old ends on.

[GM_Guy]

My problem is: I am in Australia (where this car was never sold .. it is imported) and I can't find something like a 'vacuum tube kit' on rockauto.com from my car. (Rockauto is great at posting parts I need).

Can you guys advise:
* Online places that might sell the part(s) I need
* Should I be buying more than just the tubing? Fittings of some sort as well.

Those vacuum tubes where never a service item, you replaced/repaired any broken sections with generic vacuum line. (Its noted in the service manuals that generic vacuum line be used for repairs).

Alex.

[85crownHPP]

You can buy rolls of that thin plastic tubing - I tried to replace my CFI lines that crumbled when I did VC gaskets, but it wasn't gonna work out. It was a PITA to try to pull the broken plastic ends out of the rubber vacuum connectors, and the line wouldn't even begin to lay in any way other than a want's-to-curl-up mess. I somehow wound up finding a nice supple still-flexible set from a junkyard car to replace mine. Once I studied the plumbing map and started moving things around the engine bay, I just re-did everything with small rubber lines as suggested.