Vacuum pipe repair

[wishbone]

I had to force the thermostat housing off today to get to a stuck thermostat, needless to say I need a new housing. I also in my 'enthusiasm' managed to break the vacuum pipe off (metal type) right at the distributor.

It would seem like a good time to test the advance mech on the distributor, because I'm reluctant to buy a new pipe (they aren't cheap) only to find the vacuum is shot at which point a new dizzy becomes favourable to which I guess I could fit a plastic pipe anyway?

Is there a way to test the vacuum unit with out the pipe fitted? I'm not sure if you can just suck on the unit!

Also is it possible to re-make the end of the pipe? Is there a tool or a bodge or something?

[bmcecosse]

There is always a bodge.......... Take the dizzy out and suck the A/R unit directly? Why did you think the thermostat was 'stuck' ??

[wishbone]

I thought the thermostat was stuck because there was no hot air from the heater after a few miles. Usually there would have been. Thermostat was pretty coroded when I got it out. The car had been stood for several months.

I am hoping I can recreate the bulge in the end of the vacuum pipe but was wondering if anyone had done this before?

[bmcecosse]

It's 'never' the thermostat....

[tomas.geoghegan]

But some times the coil lol

[bmcecosse]

Nope - NEVER the coil.

[MarkyB]

I'd try getting creative with some PTFE tape to remake the bulge, make sure the pipe is pushing towards the dizzy, not trying to pull itself out first though.

If you didn't even get at least tepid air from the heater look for blockages, collapsed or kinked hoses or even a knackered tap.

[wishbone]

yes ptfe could help. i'll try getting a bit of a bulge in the pipe then maybe ptfe!

Well once I have the new thermostat housing and thermostat. I can put it back together and test again. If it is 'never' the thermostat I'll try flushing etc. Makes you wonder why they sell replacements though

If it was water pump i'd get a leak or a squeal wouldn't I?

[bmcecosse]

Probably - but the impeller could be rotted away - although not a common thing. Most likely (as I think I already suggested) is gas getting into the water system - beginnings of a head gasket problem. This assuming of course that the engine doesn't have a leak/losing any water....

[wishbone]

I got round to re-fitting the thermostat and housing but still no hot air at heater.
The water in the top of the rad gets hot but the bottom hose stays cold. I tapped a bit of talc in to the rad to see if there was any movement but the water appears not to be moving.

I should mention that the head gasket was replaced a few weeks before the car was layed up. It blew between 3-4 cylinders I think. I only drove it a few miles before the lay up and never noticed if the heater was working. I don't have a temp guage.

I'm now wondering if the water pump could have been the cause of the head gasket blow and now the lack of circulation?

[MarkyB]

Did you warm the engine right up before doing the flow test?
You won't get very much flow otherwise, rev the engine a bit too.

[wishbone]

Yes I think so, and I was pretty sure there was no flow yesterday and I ran it for 15 minutes but I had no talc! Did it again today to make sure with the talc.

[bmcecosse]

Take the hose off the heater tap briefly to see if there is water flowing up from the heater (when you pinch the hose shut) and the other way when you shut the tap and then 'un pinch' the hose..... fill the rad right to the top for this test.

[philthehill]

wishbone
Hi
Modern thermostates i.e waxstat remain closed when they fail and the engine boils. The old ones stay open and your engines runs cool.
To check that the thermostat is working place it in a container of water with a thermometer, raise the temperature of the water and see what happens. The thermostat should be fully open at whatever is stamped on the thermostat (a rough guide is about 80 degrees). The fully opening temperature for the old type is usually stamped on the top rim and for the new type it is stamped on the bottom middle.

[bmcecosse]

I've never seen a thermostat fail closed........

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

I broke my metal vac pipe at the end and put a blob of solder on, but not sure if this is airtight. Manipulation whilst it was still malleable worked.