Pfc. Parts

I've started re-assembling the intake on my '85 and ran into a problem right away. My car has a "non-standard" vacuum distributor, aka the "octopus". When I began removing the 3 distributors in the car the first broke in half. Not a big deal by itself since I was replacing it, but when it broke one of the lines coming into it from the direction of the firewall was disconnected. I don't think it was ever connected since I didn't apply any pressure that might have pulled it loose, but it may have been. I can't be sure.

From the vacuum line drawings I have (see attachment #1) I think this is one of two lines that penetrate the firewall. I've located the other, it comes off a distributor attached to the brake master cylinder. I think this might be the line that's supposed to run vacuum to the EZF, shown as "E" in the vacuum routing drawing. See photos #2, #3 & #4.

I don't see an opening in the firewall the line might pass through and the line is only 8 or 9 inches long. My questions:

1) Should this line be the one going to the EZF?

2) Where is the EZF and what' the best way to open it up and find the route for this line?

3) Is it possible this line has been disconnected for a very long time? After reading up on the subject it seems the vacuum line may be disconnected and the car will just use a lot more fuel than it would normally. Reference:

https://rennlist.com/forums/928-foru...hat-is-it.html

I'd like to figure out where the line is supposed to go. The PET doesn't help since my vacuum distributor doesn't look anything like what they show in the manual.

Thanks,

h011yw00d

The EZF is located in the passenger footwell to the right of the CE panel (it's the box with the vacuum line going into it). You may try tracing that line to the firewall and jiggle it from inside while someone looks from the outside to see if that's the one you are thinking about. I would be shocked if it was unoticeable that it was disconnected all this time.

Pfc. Parts

Thanks Drew, I'll open it up tomorrow and get an assistant (my wife I expect) to wiggle it if there's still a line connected.

The other article sort of suggested the engine would run, but run poorly if this line wasn't connected, then went on to say the car would probably get poor gas millage, as in less than 19 mpg. For the past 30 years mine hasn't ever done better than 8 or 10mpg, so it may be the line has never been connected.

Regards,

emmanuelli

im going to be tuned to this tread as i think that line in my car was disconnected or also not connected before and after my intake vacuum line refresh a few weeks back. car runs fairly well but for an awful cold start, which the idle control valve struggles to keep the car going.

Pfc. Parts

I'll keep the thread current as I discover where this line is supposed to go.

h011yw00d

Turn on the car and pull that line from the EZF and put your finger against it. You'll be able to feel the suction... as it sticks to your finger (no lie it's pretty cool).

emmanuelli

I don't think its connected to the ezf anymore. I'll have to check. Is it supposed to help modulate something? Mine is an 86.5 5spd

WICruiser

It may be normally plugged given that you have a manual. One of the lines you are describing goes to the vacuum module on the automatic transmission that you do not have. It does not go through the firewall, it runs down the firewall, above the torque tube to the back.

You may want to check to see if there is something plugged into one of those two lines to prevent a vacuum leak.

otisp

I think what I would do is what I did do - start from scratch and run the lines fresh so you know where everything goes, and you're sure of the connections. I followed that diagram that you posted, it's simpler than stock.

You're right, the multi "T" thing does look weird, different from both my '85's. And on my 5-spd the auto trans vacuum line mentioned above was really short with a plug in it.
I'd think that line came disconnected from somewhere, because if you had that vac leak before it should have idled really fast, shouldn't it?

h011yw00d

Yep, it needs to be connected. The idle changes when you unhook it so there's definitely an effect on how the car runs.

Pfc. Parts

My problem is it ran very badly before I started the intake refresh but I found a line between the throttle and oil filler that had a 1.5" hole in it before I got where I am now, so this is a secondary problem. I really don't know if it was ever connected. It has always idled fast (when warm) but wouldn't even start normally for the past 2 years. Here's the first hole I found:

otisp

Well, I think the good news is that it will run much better with those vac leaks plugged!

Pfc. Parts

Don't I hope you're right

Pfc. Parts

After tracing the lines I'm pretty sure the mysterious one is the A/T kickdown line, but I can't figure out what it connects to. It's only about 8 inches long, I'm thinking there may be a port I can't see on the bell housing. If it's down there I think I need to remove the fuel dampers/regulators to reconnect it.

Basically, there are 4 vacuum lines running to the back of the engine (firewall side). 2 connect to fuel dampers/pressure regulators. One connects to the EZF through the firewall. The fourth is a mystery and is only about 8 inches long.

Can anyone confirm it's necessary to remove the regulators/dampers and fuel lines to reconnect this line?

Pfc. Parts

Apparently this is a well known problem, see: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsc...-question.html

I guess it's possible for the hard line to fall down and out of sight/reach if the short plastic line is disconnected.

The line isn't visible from under the car either. I'll attempt to remove the Cat heat shields as suggested in the quoted post and see if I can find it that way.