VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1971-1979 77 Impala 305 Water valve

The beige, plastic vacuum line for the water valve has broken in two. I assume that somewhere under the dash it is connected to a switch for the air conditioning/heating system? It has been 18 years since I did any work under my dash. What must I remove to locate the end of this line so I can replace it? Will I still be able to purchase the original style line or must it be replaced with a rubber hose?

Thanks, Mike

Yes, I have noticed that a lot of my engine does not look original. Some people do dumb things when they are young. Most days I wish I had left the engine all original. I think it is time to post in the parts wanted forum?

As long as things arn't original I would slip a hunk of rubber tube between the plastic sections that remain.
Being vacuum I would get hose with some "body" to it so in doesn't suck together.

I did just as Gene suggested to with rubber hose over the broken plastic hose when it broke on a similar era Buick, and again when it happened to my Fairmont. Its not pretty, but it works. That plastic tubing isn't available as far as I know.

I repaired this brittle line 2 years ago using a small clear piece of hose from the heater control valve back to the pass hood hinge corner.
The clear hose is much lighter than black rubber vaccum line.I zip tied the brittle oem line to a loom to stabilize it and let the clear line provide the flex.Been working great. Jim

Just curious where the hose from the heater control valve goes? I can see in the picture that it goes back towards firewall on the right side. Thanks

My recollection of the vacuum hose is that it is connected to
the A/C heater control in the dash! Laying under the dash and
looking up you should be able to find it. I worked for a Chevy dealer in '79, and never saw clear plastic tubing to the
water control valve; it was always just plain rubber vacuum
hose. The inner diameter was 7/32" I believe. You can easily
splice it using a piece of 1/4" tubing or a plastic splice
available at most parts stores. If you can have a buddy move
the hose remaining under the hood you can pick up the hose
under the dash and follow it, it just goes through a hole in
the firewall.