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Vacuum line nightmare! HELP

S

solowookie

1/2 ton status
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I have NO idea where these things go.

#1 this goes from where the radiator hose connects to the block back into the block this can't be right.
dscn0439w.jpg


#2 goes from the front of the carb into left side of the carb on the from where I am standing. again this doesn't seem right.
dscn0440z.jpg


#3 I presume this connected into into the alternators at some time?
dscn0441u.jpg


#4 this connects to a canister mounted to the right inner fender is this the EGR valve? do I need this if emissions are not required?
dscn0442.jpg


#5 the wires are snipped from this wiring harness what in the world were these for, or where did they go?
dscn0443.jpg


#6 a general overview of the mess on this side of the engine.
dscn0444.jpg



I don't know thing 1 about where to start with this all. this is in Wyoming no emissions etc so what is the bare minimum I can get away with running, and have this vehicle run correctly?
 
a manual will show you where things are supposed to be running and also to where they came from.im not sure if you have it,i assume you dont after wyoming winters,but most vehicles have a diagram under the hood for the vacuum lines also.half of the lines are not needed unless its a emissions needed vehicle.most of what you need is vacuum to distributor,vacuum line to brakes,lines going to the heater controls and other accesories that are ran from engine vacuum.at any rate,lines that are not essential can be capped off at th carb and to the accessories that you dont need or care about.as long as the lines are not leaking you can keep em.looks like you got some fun there.#1 no clue.#2 could be vacuum for secondaries.#3 looks like voltage output to guage maybe.#4 no clue.#5 looks like a temp sender for the steering fluid.#6 glad i dont have to deal with that mess.:eek1:
 
I think I'm going to hook up my brakes, distributor, and carb, and see where that takes me. the heater controls are broken, and there is not cruise control or anything like that.

is that canister on the right inner fender the EGR valve?
 
solowookie said:
I've had 2 TBI's, and it was plug & play lol. this is a shock to my system.
Click to expand...

I had an 84 that got an underhood fire.
I was still on the road so I hooked one vacuum line to the distributor and plugged all the other lines.
When I went to smog it, the guy told me to hook up a line to the AIR switch, that would be the canister on the passenger side fender, and it passed smog.
One more line could have been helpfull for cold starts which would have required a bunch of lines and new vac switches since mine melted so I left them alone, it just ran like crap until it warmed up then it was fine.
If you want the diagram to restore it, I should have it here, but if you want to just get it running, do what I did.
 
if you have a diagram that would be great... (I'm a 'bit' anal retentive lol)
 
hit up google. Should be able to find a diagram. Just search for your year of motor and you should come up with something.
 
What year truck?

The EGR valve is on the passenger side intake.
The canister is on the driver's side next to the radiator.
 
EDIT Everything I have for the 81 shows an airpump. I didn't see anything in your pics that looks like an airpump was ever there. Is there an airpump present?

Try this (this is for a 305):
1981 Vacuum Diagram.jpg

1981 Vacuum Diagram.jpg
 
I have no idea what the switch goes to. Is that for hydro boost brakes (some type of pressure warning switch or something)???
 
and what, exactly, is an air pump? lol I don't have a clue what most of the stuff in this pic is. I need a "1981 K20 Vacuum lines for dummies". so far this seems more complicated then an engine rebuild... :eek1:

so the canister is on the drivers side inner fender, I found that. the EFE-TVS has to be that T that has like 3 outlets on it. I presume the carb in in the middle, and then I can identify the distributor. there is a dist something before the distributor I'm not sure what it is, the EGR valve, the PCV, and the EGR TVS.

I'll take better pic's of this stuff, and compare the pic's to the schematics to make sure I have it all identified. if I can get that far the rest seems down hill.

where it shows the temp sensor etc is that the air cleaner?

another question - where is the vacuum source? it seems like that was on my intake in my TBI vehicles? (I could by crazy been known to happen)
 
AIR was a smog setup... your rig might not have it. Basically check your pulleys, your should be able to check off all of these: alternator, ac pump (maybe), water pump, and power steering. If you see another one then it's most likely AIR. It will have a bunch of tubes going from the pump to the manifolds (if you have it).
 
ok - I had an AIR pump on my TBI setup then on my prior vehicles. no I don't have an AIR pump on this vehicle I'm about 99% sure.
 
You may want to invest in a Chilton's or Hayes. Finding the right ported vacuum switches and stuff was a pain. My truck had all the emission stuff stripped when I got it. Not mine but here's a Chilton's for sale:http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252743


The source for the vacuum is going to come from the front and back of the carb.

Here are some pics from my Chiltons
P1060411.jpg

P1060412.jpg

P1060414.jpg

P1060411.jpg

P1060412.jpg

P1060414.jpg
 
Last edited:
alright thanks for your help. I'll pick up a book some where on this thing I haven't been anywhere I could get one yet.
 
so I'm sitting up at parts plus here locally, and my cousin owns the place. I'm in there getting a tire for the wheelbarrow fixed, and ask my cousin a few vacuum question. he talks me into spending the $35 to hook it up to his little smoke machine, and works all the vacuum problems out in about 5-10 minutes.

reason the thing has been running like crap is because the big vacuum line on the bottom of the carb was going into the top of the valve cover.

now my scheduled engine job is going to turn into headers, exhaust, and gauges next year (maybe a new carb & intake if there is money left). :o
 
solowookie said:
so I'm sitting up at parts plus here locally, and my cousin owns the place. I'm in there getting a tire for the wheelbarrow fixed, and ask my cousin a few vacuum question. he talks me into spending the $35 to hook it up to his little smoke machine, and works all the vacuum problems out in about 5-10 minutes.

reason the thing has been running like crap is because the big vacuum line on the bottom of the carb was going into the top of the valve cover.

now my scheduled engine job is going to turn into headers, exhaust, and gauges next year (maybe a new carb & intake if there is money left). :o
Click to expand...

Smoke machine huh? Didn't know they had those.
 
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