Ok, I melted through the vacuum ball that mounts by the heater core. I had a different vacuum leak which leaned out my engine, heated up the headers and melted the bottom of that vacuum reserve canister for the heating/A/C system. WHERE can I find a replacement? I know that there is always junk yards or ebay, but I would prefer a new one or a real nice used one! Anybody have any ideas? I need one ASAP! What exactly is I called so I know what to look for? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks -Matt

I bought a new replacement from one of those really large auto parts warehouses. Most larger cities have one or two. They do not advertise themselves as auto parts stores, but call themselves auto parts distributors/warehouses. Check your yellow pages to see if one is in your area.

thats one of those parts still avil. new from a Chevy dealer

yeah, i got a price quote from a GM dealer online for $18 including shipping. It is not worth it. I will go to a junk yard and take one off one of the 100 cars that have these. Thanks for your help. -Matt

I checked salvage yards too, but found the plastic pieces too fragile to invest anything in them. If memory serves me correctly, I paid 8.xx pluc tax.

spoonplugger, if you need another locally, I've got an extra. I swapped my stock '87 large reserve for a smaller early 5th gen version.
-dan

Thanks for the generous offer Dan, but mine is doing fine now. Really nice of you to offer.

The reason I had to replace mine was the fact that vacuum had actually collapsed mine resulting in too little volume in the storage device to effectively operate everything requiring good vacuum. The most noticeable thing in my case was the power brakes. Power brakes with marginal vacuum causes very strange and different sensations when applying brakes, especially just after startup and immediately backing out of a parking space!!!

I have the same problem with my engine not making enough vacuum to control everything properly. The cam doesn't make enough vacuum, so I eliminated the problems with the brakes by adding a vacuum reserve canister made my Comp Cams. My problem now, is keeping vacuum to the vent/AC/heater controls. Is there a bigger vacuum reserve ball that i can get to solve or help this problem? I actually burned through the bottom of mine and I need to replace it anyway, even if is with stock. Anymore Ideas? Dan, do you want to send the vacuum canister to NJ? or can you tell me where you got a bigger one? Thanks guys! -Matt

When I bought mine, the parts guy said he had more than one size and which did I want? I elected to get the largest, about 3/4 the size of a volley ball. Actually, it was not made for my vehicle. Not sure what it was designed for, but I think it was a made for a Ford product. I had to jury rig the mounting, but the vacuum hose fit perfectly. It works really well. Call around or check the on-line auto parts stores.

If you cannot find one, I'll go back and see if they have another. PM me and let me know.

Well I definitely don't want to rig one up because it will be going into into a showcar and it needs to look presentable. I would like to get a larger one to store a bit more vacuum to compensate for the cam. I know they are still available from GM in different sizes but i don't know the part #'s. If you know any part #'s i can look it up. thanks I appreciate your help! -Matt

Part Number: MN 4202. At El Camino Parts www.ecparts.net

Try #14078506
It lists for $30 at gmpartsdirect.com, but their price is $15.
I believe that's the large vac. tank, the other number I have is 14056624. It lists for $20 and sells for $11. Just from that I'd think it was smaller?
Good luck.
-dan

Thanks guys I will order one soon!

ElkySS, I ordered both those vac. balls from GM to be sure I got the right one. Both of them are three times the size of the factory ball, and they only have hook-up for one vacuum line! The factory one has an in and out. The one line hook up doesn't have a one way check valve either. So, now i paid $38 for 2 useless vac. balls that i can't return beacuse they were special order! O-well, anybody want them? I guess I am back to square one. -Matt

The vacuum ball with only one line is the model that installs way up front on the dirvers side next to the charcoal cannister. It is the vacuum reserve ball only. It is not the one installed on the firewall near the AC/heater fan. That one is about the size of a softball. For some reason I am not aware of, vehicles with the large ball usually do not have the smaller ball at all. Don't know why. I'll bet Robert does.

Unfortunately I need the one that goes on the firewall, and I don't think I can use the 2 I just bought from GM. I didn't want to get one from a junkyard but it looks like my only option. -Matt