What is this?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

tadslc

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Posts
120
Reaction score
134
Location
Birmingham, AL
First Name
Tad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350 Blueprint
Circled in Yellow

One of the nipples broke off the other day.

Several vacuum lines go to it. Looks like it's threaded into the thermostat housing.

You must be registered for see images attach



1981 C-10 305

Thanks,
Tad
 

45tt

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2020
Posts
272
Reaction score
1,023
Location
Florida
First Name
MJ
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
GMC Sierra Grande K15
Engine Size
350
Possibly a flush & fill access? But I suspect I’m wrong.
 
Last edited:

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,450
Reaction score
8,693
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
It's a thermo vacuum switch. How many hoses on it and where do they go. And don't just say carb there are multiple ports on the carb.
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,439
Reaction score
5,581
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Like Ricko said, i is a thermostatically switched valve. There can be several of them and they can do various functions. They will show up as a "TSV" on your vacuum diagram and often are used to switch when the vacuum advance canister is activated and when the EFE(heat riser crossover) valve is actuated based on engine temp. They are pricey and mine are simply bypassed.
 

tadslc

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Posts
120
Reaction score
134
Location
Birmingham, AL
First Name
Tad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350 Blueprint
From memory there are 3 possibly 4 vacuum lines attached and like I said, it's located on the thermostat housing and is the only solenoid.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,450
Reaction score
8,693
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
It's not a solenoid, and it hasv3 maybev4 hoses attached is not enough info.They've only used like 100 of these over the years to control blah blah blah. And I don't have everyone of them for every year every option every engine combo memorized.Like I said, how many hoses and where do the go to. I'm trying to help but I need correct info. I'm thinking it is the tvs for the EGR/EFE. But correct info will confirm this.
 
Last edited:

tadslc

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Posts
120
Reaction score
134
Location
Birmingham, AL
First Name
Tad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350 Blueprint
Roger that, I'll do more research and get back to y'all.
 

tadslc

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Posts
120
Reaction score
134
Location
Birmingham, AL
First Name
Tad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350 Blueprint
Problem solved, I just Glue'd the nipple back on.

But to answer your question, it has 4 nipples total and with various T's and such they go everywhere. To the distributor, to the carb, to some diaphragm on the the carb. It's the orange one.

I would like to know what it is and do I really need it.

Thanks,
Tad
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,450
Reaction score
8,693
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
Yes you need it, you could route around it but with your expierience level at this point I'd say leave it alone looks like it controls. Vac advance. EGR. And vacuum tip in.
 

tadslc

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2020
Posts
120
Reaction score
134
Location
Birmingham, AL
First Name
Tad
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
350 Blueprint
Yes you need it, you could route around it but with your expierience level at this point I'd say leave it alone looks like it controls. Vac advance. EGR. And vacuum tip in.

Thanks, I have a ton of experience on everything except American cars, they are so foreign...
 

Craig 85

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
3,917
Reaction score
4,116
Location
Nashville, TN
First Name
Craig
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K30 SRW
Engine Size
454/TH-400/NP205
The orange valve is actually called a "ported vacuum switch." I looked up Napa, Oreilly's and Rockauto. All show a 4 port switch for an '81 C20 with a 305, but it's black. Many of these switches are color coded and I believe it relates to the temp at which the inter switch moves to allow vacuum to go through the different ports.

Rockauto is a great place to search for parts even if you don't buy there. When you click on the info tab for a part it will usually give you OEM part number to cross reference. FYI I found an Airtex #7P1066 is a good number but is out of production. This may help you find a direct cross reference if you need to find a replacement.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog...ical-switch+&+relay,ported+vacuum+switch,4604

You must be registered for see images
 

80BrownK10

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Posts
1,878
Reaction score
1,247
Location
Greenwood, SC
First Name
Nate
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Yes you need it, you could route around it but with your expierience level at this point I'd say leave it alone looks like it controls. Vac advance. EGR. And vacuum tip in.
I see the same and I agree with that recommendation
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,450
Reaction score
8,693
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
AC Delco OEM it's called a thermo vacuum switch. Standard ignition calls them ported vacuum switches, other manufacturers call them thermal vacuum control valves. OE hose schematic lists them as tvss. Name isn't that important. The function is it turns on and off different vacuum operated accessories based on engine temperature.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,167
Posts
950,727
Members
36,282
Latest member
Doug Hampton
Top