'82 Cruise Control Vacuum Lines - Please Help

I am hoping to sort this out quickly because I have partially lowered my engine to get at a vacuum leak up front.

While it was down, I noticed something odd with the cruise control servo (the system has not worked since I have had the car).

There are two vacuum lines going to the servo, a small ~1/8" one which goes to a multi-line connector near the throttle and a larger ~1/4" one. Now that I can see the front of the engine compartment, I noticed that the large line goies through a small rectangular opening in the sheetmetal right in the middle of the front of the engine compartment, but was not connected to anything. I can't imagine that it is supposed to just lie there, unless it's some sort of pressure release line. Does anyone know why it goies there or if it should be connected to something else? I think this may explain why the cruise control has never worked.

Also, the black box on the right side of the engine compartment, which I assume is some sort of vacuum accumulator, also has a large and small vacuum line coming from it. The large line goes to the air cleaner assembly, but the small line crosses the engine compartment and disappears just to the left of the left shock mount. I lost it from there, and I can't think of anything towards the front of the car that would need a vacuum line.

Sorry about the long post, but I really need help confirming all these connections before I raise the engine back up.

For anyone who has not tried it, the partial engine drop is really easy and gives access to all sorts of hidden stuff. My engine lowered about a foot, and it was great to finally see the front of the engine. I checked the oil pressure sending unit, and it seems completely dry, so I guess I was lucky. It looks like the engine has never been turned over. The drop was worth it, though , as I found the cracked vacuum line that Brian Haggard helped me troubleshoot between the AAR and the front of the airbox. I don't think I've ever seen a more complex vacuum line. I won't even ask Autozone if they have it!

Thanks again,

Olivier
'82 SC
ohecht@earthlink.net

Does anyone have any advice? A mechanic told me there should be a connection for the fat line on the front of the throttle housing, but I can't see any connection there.

Thanks in advance,

Olivier
82 SC

I'm going out to look, but won't be able to get under the car as I'm at work, actually.

Okay, I looked and was able to follow the small line to the hard line near the throttle body. The big line does go to the center of the fire wall and feels like it goes straight down through the sheet metal there, toward the joint between the engine and tranny. I do not recall reconnecting this line when I R&R'd my engine and tranny so I don't think it goes to either of those. But I was around during the sixties and my memory...now what were we talking about?

I have a question for you though. If I did a partial drop like you (I assume you did not separate the engine from the tranny), can I get at the oil cooler thermostat on these CIS cars? I need to change the o-ring there. Can this be done? Can you see/get to the thermostat. It is a round thing roughly between the oil pressure switch and the oil cooler, about maybe three inches in diameter with a male hex head at the center.

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'83 SC



[This message has been edited by Superman (edited 01-29-2001).]

I will look, Superman, when I get my hose and re-install it, probably this weekend. I saw several fittings on the front of the engine. Do you have a picture of what it looks like, just so I know I'm looking at the same thing. The fit for my head (relatively average size) between the top of the engine compartment and the top of the throttle assembly was pretty tight, but I could squeeze in there and it would seem possible to get to the fittings. I lowered my engine at least a foot, and could have probably gone further if I had tried. The heater air hoses on the bottom of the car were the limiting factor for me, but they are easily removed. The disconnecting and lowering, including the shift linkage set screw, took less than half an hour. I followed the tech article, but it is not totally complete. Make sure you disconnect the O2 sensor wire, I caught mine about 1 cm before it would have snapped.

I'll let you know what I can see when I get back in there. I wish I had a digital camera.

Olivier
82 SC