Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

In this Discussion

Treadle Vac Input, pictures?
  • SaveTheHashSaveTheHash
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    Has anyone used an electric vacuum pump for their treadle vac system? I understand that there is a large group of you who have made conversions, but my father has had no problems at all with several vehicles. I just found a small hole in the tank and my first thought was, maybe I can just hook up an electric setup, like I did with my electric power steering setup.
    Thanks!
    SaveTheHash
  • brumac
    Posts: 187Expert Adviser
    Hey, SaveTheHash. I'd like to hear about your electric power steering setup. Didn't know that such a thing existed.

    Thanks, Bruce
  • SaveTheHashSaveTheHash
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    Hey Bruce, it is actually a pretty easy set-up. Have you never heard of the pumps at all? Either way, the reason for doing this was because I needed power steering without the engine being in the vehicle. I can post some pictures when the setup is back on.

    Just to let you know, this takes some foreign parts (toyota MR2 power steering pump, or even some scions have some that will work), so making your own power steering hosing from some jegs, summmit, etc parts will be necessary (metric fittings on one side, standard on another). It worked for the two minutes I needed it, it worked semi-well. I am not an expert on retromods, especially for my 56', but I can tell you this is the only one that I did not needing to post on 700 different sites to figure out how to do.

    My brother is a street performance guy who works on fords, chevys and pontiacs and he did the same set-up.

    Pictures soon,
    SaveTheHash
  • SaveTheHashSaveTheHash
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    Still WANTING TO KNOW ON THAT ELECTRIC VACUUM PUMP. Even if you don't quite know, but you think one will work, I am thinking a diesel vacuum pump could be adapted.

    Bruce, just checked my budget spent page and here is how it broke down

    Pump - $130 (on ebay, scrap yard is a better bet if you are near one) i used an MR2
    Hosing - $24 (got too much, you can go for the 6 foot, not 10' SUMMIT RACING IS CHEAPEST)
    Fittings - $5.99 each x6 (need new adapters in the actual pump) you only NEED 4 though.

    Last thing, I highly recommend trying to find one with a remote fluid center...they come with a very small reservoir. Once again, scion and audi make some that you can adapt to your own remote reservoir (audi just costs $$$$$$)

    I plan on posting pictures of all of my custom setups, despite the fact some may see them as inane, when the project is finished.

    Thanks,
    SaveTheHash
  • ESSX28-1ESSX28-1
    Posts: 994Platinum Member
    6 volt electric vac pump avail from 50's GM converts. Got one via eBay some years ago to power vac wipers on my Essex
    Dave Y
    New Zealand
  • SaveTheHashSaveTheHash
    Posts: 60Senior Contributor
    Okay, I have settled down and decided to go the normal route and use the treadle vac with the vacuum reservoir. I was having trouble finding a particularly similar canister that I was sure had been pressure tested, so I have been looking at some Mr. Gasket canisters. My question is this, has anybody used an after market canister? Also, has anybody mounted the canister in the engine bay?

    Thanks,
    SaveTheHash