Vaccuum balls

[Mastiff]

My '83 has two of those vacuum sphere things under the hood. I'm curious if they are required, and why I have two. I used to have cruise, but got rid of it, so maybe that is part of it? I have a big one on driver's side near cruise and a small one on passenger side, maybe for AC/heat? I'll keep them if needed, but I'm all about getting rid of clutter.

 

[K85 Octane]

My truck came with all that stuff too but only has the driver side ball.

Now, none of that stuff is on the truck/disconnected and so the ball isn't connected to anything.

 

[4xcrazy]

Vacuum reserve is what I was told they were. They are used to help prevent anything vacuum controlled from wigging out when you get on the throttle real hard and the vacuum from the engine drops.

Mine are unhooked and now when I get on the throttle real hard you can hear the HVAC blend doors opening and closing from whatever setting they were on.

Also mine had a heater control valve for the water flow to the heater core, when I'd get on the throttle real hard, in the summer while running the ac, the vacuum would drop and the valve would let hot water through, heating things up for a few seconds.

Don't "NEED" them, but that's the kind of stuff they help to prevent.

 

[Burbdood 74]

All I can add is that it's interesting to see a thread titled "Vacuum Balls".


Brings so many images to mind....

 

[Mastiff]

I guess I'll keep them. Thanks for the info.

 

[4xcrazy]

All I can add is that it's interesting to see a thread titled "Vacuum Balls".


Brings so many images to mind....

Yeah, they get vacuumed often enough.

 

[Upstate]

What kind of cam and carb or are you running a TBI?

 

[Mastiff]

TBI with mild ("RV") cam.

 

[Upstate]

TBI with mild ("RV") cam.

The canisters equal out the lows such cold starts, WOT, etc.

 

[Blue85]

Some trucks just have more balls than others, I guess.