Orange component on top of thermostat housing.
Orange component on top of thermostat housing.
Wes - Thank-you for this additional explanation. I'll take another underhood look in the morning. I do know the 4-port rubber block is still there as I saw it when I removed the broken top of the TVS. I'll look for that 8th digit of the vin.
Ported Vacuum Switch
Was used to change the source of vacuum to the vacuum advance to the distributor,or deny vacuum ,according to the coolant temperature,they were also used to control when the EGR valve got vacuum ,you do not want it to open until the engine is up to operating temperature..
Those may still be available but I doubt any parts store will have one on the shelf unless they ordered one for someone 30 years ago and they never picked it up..
Rock Auto may be a good place to look online..be ready for sticker shock possibly,those 70's emission devices aren't cheap or plentiful today..
That switch has a brass or metal base so even if the plastic body broke off,coolant wont just gush out...I'd guess 99% of the vehicles that used those switches had pipe plugs put in place of them when they broke or failed ,and the vacuum hoses re-routed like older ones that didn't have any..
Actually it is a thermal vacuum switch.
Uses a wax pellet to open and close the vacuum passage, with temp swings.
They come with 2, 3 or more ports.
Guessing here, but yours probably controls the distributor vacuum advance. Also was used to delay egr till eng was fully warm.

Actually you are both wrong. It is a Thermal Ported Vacuum Switch.![]()
The 8th digit is "1"
I look and see if we have a vacuum map for your application