The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot Big Bolts Hydrovac replacement

OK, tonight I started to tear down the hydrovac to begin my rebuild and discovered piles of rust and decay and it's totally shot. My truck is a 1954 chevy 6400 and I'm almost sure the hydrovac unit on my truck is from a 1965 or so truck I know it is not the 54 unit. I heard that I could use almost any unit to replace it dosen't really matter the year or make of the truck. Is this correct?

Absolutely not. The hydrovacs we're used on specific sizes of truck based on tonnage/weight. To use one for a smaller truck would make it less effective or not at all. To use one from a larger series truck would have little affect at slowing the vehicle.

There are a ton of different sized units available for all makes and models of trucks. There can be a little leeway in choosing a size, but your better off choosing the correct model for your truck.

The hydrovacs function is to make braking easier, not better. Using to large or to small a canister will affect braking.

Jeff

I have a NOS Bendix major repair kit for 48-59 Hydrovac. PM if interested. Bendix #377766, Chev 3738753. David

Hydrovacs are pretty commonly rebuilt. There is a place here in town that rebuilds them. They didn't have a kit for mine but called and found one already rebuilt in NC. I had it back in the truck before the shop could have rebuilt it. My core was good, but I could have paid the core charge if it wasn't. If your hydrovac isn't original, and had lost the tag then it might be fun figuring out what you have. Shoot, even NAPA had my hydrovac, but i had it rebuilt for about 1/3 their price.

My core was beyond repair. The end piece seemed to be a pot metal casting and it had totally corroded. I bought a new one from Vehicles of Victory for $388.

http://vehiclesofvictory.com/buying-selling/reproduction-to-parts/

WOW!, $388 for a hydrovac. With shipping, I bet it was alittle over $400. They were proud of that bad boy.