Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum

Trans Am Information => Restoration => Topic started by: drtracer58 on June 06, 2011, 09:57:03 PM

Title: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 06, 2011, 09:57:03 PM
I recently bought a 79 T/A that someone had removed or rearranged all the vacuum lines, I have a Schematic , but my question is... The hose/line from the TVS on the front of the Intake to the driver side exhaust manifold, Is it rubber all the way or metal tube with a rubber hose on each end ???  I can't seem to find any pictures of it anywhere  I don't know the terminology for all the items        EFE Valve =??       SVB-TVS= ??  where is it located ?   
DS-VMV = ??  Where is it located ???       I have figured out that TVS= Thermal Vacuum switch " I Think"      also can't find what is the correct size of hose , I do know some are bigger than others       
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 07, 2011, 12:10:04 AM
Just happen to have a shot of the EFE, it's on the drivers side between the exhaust and the manifold  Early fuel evaporation, i think. Its the only metal line on that system, at least for 1978
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera637.jpg)
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: 4SPEED on June 07, 2011, 07:53:08 AM
(http://i846.photobucket.com/albums/ab27/4_SPEED/help/egrmap.jpg)
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 07, 2011, 12:31:04 PM
Thanks Burd & 4-Speed,   That is the drawing I am using from the CD I bought from Brett, It helps but I still am not sure where the location is at on some of the parts,I am betting it is the ones located in the shaker base !!!    Anybody have one of the tubes for sale or know where I might find one ??

 BURD,  I am finally getting around to installing the TVS I got from you   Thanks Again ...
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 07, 2011, 01:58:16 PM
There is 2 diff dia's for the 400 in my GM book, one for dual exhaust, and one for single.and a high alt too. 3 actually.What car would be the single exhaust, my car had the muffler w/3 holes in it, is that considered duals? They had duals from the cat back too
Glad to help on the TVS!
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: 4SPEED on June 07, 2011, 02:45:11 PM
to your question,  No.  the metal line runs from the efe valve, with a maybe 3" high heat tube .  the metal line runs to the right side of the intake then a rubber vack line the rest of the way to the switch.

the pic I posted is correct. in 79 there was only one 400, the W72 4 speed

the last dual exhaust was in, what?  73 I think. not sure.   
and the high altitude , thats a carb change. and I only know of the 1 carb for the 79 w72.

but I've been wrong before...

Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 07, 2011, 06:54:36 PM
Heat Tube ???    I am not sure I understand ...   Maybe I should have been asking for a metal line , not a tube ?.   But Am I correct in thinking it only comes over near the distributor ,then goes rubber the rest of the way ????
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 07, 2011, 07:36:31 PM
The metal tube you can see in my photo is longer than 3", it has a high heat rubber pc. that goes on the efe, it gets hot down there,sounds like we are confusing you more than helping. The ds-tvs is in the side of the air cleaner, in the air cleaner base is a heat modulator, and the light blue snorkle door sensor, I have all those if you need one.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 07, 2011, 08:25:59 PM
Look at this, heres the choke modulator, and the dual exhaust for 78-79, and the vac routing for the dual exhaust and the single like what i have, 79 I thought used the 78 gm manual also, in that case there were two types of exhaust on the z engines,
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera706.jpg)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera705.jpg)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera708.jpg)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera707.jpg)
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 07, 2011, 09:07:47 PM
I think all I am missing is the metal line and the clip that attaches it to the exhaust manifold ???    Thanks for the pictures , they help with visuals , I feel confident I can find the line, If not I guess I will have to fab one if I can find a picture of a complete one .. 
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 18, 2011, 05:28:58 PM
Can anybody tell me what  DS-VMV is ??   and where it is located ???
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: ta78w72 on June 18, 2011, 05:58:14 PM
Can anybody tell me what  DS-VMV is ??   and where it is located ???

It's interesting.  The 1979 W72 engines are just the 1978 engines saved for 1979, yet they have different emission diagrams.  The 78 manual doesn't show a DS-VMV.  If it were my car, I'd use the 78 manual and the diagram for the 78 Z four speed.  They got a little crazy with the vacuum lines in 79.  

They may have changed some nomenclature from 78 to 79 also.  They use TVS (thermal vacuum switch) in 78 and TVV (which I assume means thermal vacuum valve) in 79.  I assume those are really the same parts.

The DS-VMV (distributor spark vacuum modulator valve) would be a vacuum modulator valve that would be connected by vacuum lines to the distributor as shown on the above diagram.  It floats with the vacuum lines and is not something that bolts somewhere.

My 78 doesn't use a DS-VMV so I couldn't tell you where to find one.....but I can't believe you couldn't simply use the 78 configuration which omits that part.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: ta78w72 on June 18, 2011, 06:04:43 PM
to your question,  No.  the metal line runs from the efe valve, with a maybe 3" high heat tube .  the metal line runs to the right side of the intake then a rubber vack line the rest of the way to the switch.

the pic I posted is correct. in 79 there was only one 400, the W72 4 speed

the last dual exhaust was in, what?  73 I think. not sure.   
and the high altitude , thats a carb change. and I only know of the 1 carb for the 79 w72.

but I've been wrong before...



You're kind of correct and kind of wrong.  They aren't true dual exhaust as the exhaust is routed through one line to the cat and then out the cat to two mufflers.  So, they kind of had dual exhaust and kind of didn't.  But basically, you're right, no true dual exhaust.

I think the non W72 400's had one muffler.  Some had one exit (single exhaust) and some had two exits (dual exhaust).  Not true dual exhaust that for sure.  I think they wanted to save money on cats.  Why put two cats in a car wihen you can get by with one.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 18, 2011, 07:00:12 PM
My 78 L78 400 had the 3 hole muffler, what a bad system, I have the cat and the crossover saved, why I don't know.I had my carb rebuilt the first time around 1984, the ds-vmv was removed by the carb guy when he set up my carb, I don't have one on now, and I think the charcoal canister is all thats hooked up.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 18, 2011, 09:29:21 PM
Now I am really confused  ???   Quote from 79 manual : The DS-VMV limits the distibutor spark vacuum to a calibrated value until ported vacuum applied to the control port of the DS-VMV is greater than the calibration value  ???      THAT SURE WENT OVER MY HEAD ......   
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: ta78w72 on June 18, 2011, 09:43:02 PM
Now I am really confused  ???   Quote from 79 manual : The DS-VMV limits the distibutor spark vacuum to a calibrated value until ported vacuum applied to the control port of the DS-VMV is greater than the calibration value  ???      THAT SURE WENT OVER MY HEAD ......   

I think it means that valve limits the vacuum advance until the ported vacuum is over a certain value.  But I have to admit, I don't understand all the functions of all the vacuum lines and valves.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 18, 2011, 10:19:57 PM
Did you read that in th 1978 New Product Info. manual, that's confusing :P
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera782.jpg)
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 18, 2011, 11:43:25 PM
I read it out of a " 79 " Manual, But it looks to be the same text ......... Whew !!!   I need a interpretur
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 18, 2011, 11:46:27 PM
Burd..  I just noticed your page refers to a Automatic,    Mine is a 4-speed  ?????????????    Please speak up John W.....
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: ta78w72 on June 19, 2011, 10:45:30 AM
The 78 automatics had the VS-VMV, the four speeds didn't.  It appears from the 79 service manual that the four speeds got them in 79.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 19, 2011, 01:31:33 PM
That makes me feel better that you agree with what I was seeing,   Thanks TA78
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: Burd Turd on June 19, 2011, 05:35:58 PM
Well i looked in the parts book and they have a page that has all the emissions parts, maybe you can figure it out from this
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera808.jpg)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera807.jpg)
(http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x466/rogerbb/carlyscamera806.jpg)
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on June 20, 2011, 05:18:34 AM
Thanks, It will help   I think I need one that looks like part # 10002947
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: dreamn2 on June 20, 2011, 09:56:23 PM
I will try to get some better pics and post them up for you tomorrow evening. I am not sure my car still has all the items you are discussing, but it appears to.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: johnc9909 on May 28, 2012, 07:48:18 PM
I have a 79 with a 400 manual and it has headers and a lot of vacuum lines were disconnected. I found today the one that comes off distributor just laying in engine compartment. Should I plug it or route to back of carb. From diagram it looks like a ds-vmv is in place before it hits back of carb. but I don't have one. Do I need one or should i plug or route without?
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on May 28, 2012, 09:42:35 PM
seems to me that if it is just laying there, it might be a source of vacuum leak ???   or is it connected ???
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: johnc9909 on May 28, 2012, 10:27:50 PM
It was just laying there. I plugged it in to back of carb. and it made the idle go up, unplugged it and idle dropped way down. From diagrams I've seen there is suppose to be a ds-vmv valve before it hits back of carb. don't know if i can find one or if i really need it. Car has headers now and some emissions stuff has been removed.
Title: Re: vacuum routing 1979 w-72
Post by: drtracer58 on May 31, 2012, 09:35:29 PM
Is it a open vacuum leak ????     Plug it and readjust Idle