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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Jan 2025 Posts: 3 Moderated | | Moderated Joined: Jan 2025 Posts: 3 | Newbie here.....found an article about Bendix hydrovacs. I believe the author was "rustednuts" He mentioned finding rebuild kits. I would like to know if these kits still exist. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,751 | Sometimes it's more effective, cost and time-wise, to purchase a rebuilt unit from NAPA. They usually have access to them on special order, sometimes even overnight from one of their warehouse distributors. Try to find any ID tags there might be on your part, and/or take a few pictures to help the counter guy pick a suitable item. Also, try to find a parts guy with gray hair and enough brain cells to rub together to read a paper catalog. The 20-something keyboard jockey with the man bun at the front counter probably won't be much help! Most Hydrovacs aren't brand-specific. They go by gross vehicle weight rather than Ford/Chevy/Dodge/International, etc.
LOL!
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,778 Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT | | Gearhead, Stovebolt Tech and Parts Tracker, Mod for Swap Meet and GTT Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 5,778 | Farmerjoe - 1st off, Welcome to Stovebolt. Since your topic best fits (for now) in the Driveline forum, it's been moved there for further discussion. BTW - Jerry's advice above is spot on. I would say though that many of the early Big Bolt truck hyrdovacs are extremely rare, including parts. More folks will chime in on the topic, especially if you would let us know what truck you have. 
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100Follow this story in the DITY Gallery"My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine"1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 | Farmerjoe, welcome. I rebuilt my Bendix HydroVac, the kit cost me roughly $175. I first disassembled it to inspect and confirm if I could do a good job. I did mine about 3 years ago.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2025 Posts: 3 Moderated | | Moderated Joined: Jan 2025 Posts: 3 | Where did you get the kit? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2025 Posts: 3 Moderated | | Moderated Joined: Jan 2025 Posts: 3 | I have been in touch with 4 different parts stores, NAPA being one of them. Each one has them in the catalog, but are "unavailable" | | | | | Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2016 Posts: 1,982 | Where did you get the kit? Midwest Power Brake Products, Inc. 8045 W. Grover Cleveland Blvd., Homosassa, FL 34446, ph. (352) 419-4122. midwestbooster.com, My Bendix tag is 37400, kit was 374000K. They have parts, rebuilt units, or they can rebuild your unit.
Last edited by 78buckshot; 01/17/2025 12:46 PM.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 892 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2014 Posts: 892 | Some years back I bought one at a Car-Quest store from a knowledgeable parts man with gray hair just like mine only more of it. The part number that was available was for a 2-ton so that's what I ordered. It was a reman from A-1 Cardone. I gave them a core from an old Cadillac and nobody complained. This was maybe 20 years ago and the price was $175 if memory serves. It has worked ever since in my 1-ton. Hydro vacs were an RPO (regular production option) on 3800 and 4400 trucks and standard on 2-tons. The frame was even drilled for the bracket from the Cadillac. I fabbed the vacuum lines and a big vacuum tank and ran the both the brakes and wipers off the vacuum tank till the wiper motor gave out. That was a setup I'd seen on trucks pulling trailers with vacuum brakes.
1951 3800 1-ton"Earning its keep from the get-go"In the DITY Gallery1962 261 (w/cam, Fenton headers, 2 carbs, MSD ign.), SM420 & Brown-Lipe 6231A 3spd aux. trans, stock axles & brakes. Owned since 1971. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,707 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,707 | This company did my '56 Cadillac Bendix Hydovac unit 20 years ago. Still going strong. Specializing in antique, vintage, classic, obsolete, unique and hard-to-find brake parts, bonding, riveting, rebuilding, drum and rotor machining, custom made brake hoses Brake Materials & Parts Inc 800 Sherman Boulevard, Fort Wayne, IN 46808 260-426-3331 http://www.brakematerialsandparts.com
Last edited by Otto Skorzeny; 01/19/2025 3:13 PM.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 899 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 899 | This link didn't work for me.
Brian
1955.2 3100 Truck
The older I get the more dangerous I am!!!!! | | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,707 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,707 | This link didn't work for me. Sorry. Corrected now.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
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