Early C-3 heat control Vac switch. Joe L ?

[Robert M.]

I've a 70 non AC car.
I've managed to lose, (tossed away) the 4 port vacuum switch on the left hand side of the heat control assembly. I've looked through the vendors looking for a replacement, and not found the same part. I have seen a 9 port version offered. Is the 9 port switch intended to be a functional replacement, by blocking off unused ports?

Thanks in advance.

[Joe L.]

Re: Early C-3 heat control Vac switch. Joe L ?

Bob------

GM never cataloged the 9 port rotary vacuum switch for non-C-60 applications. However, that does not mean that the switch would not work with certain ports capped, as you suggest. I've never done this, so I couldn't tell you, for sure, if it could be done or, if it can, what ports to plug.

[George D.]

Re: Early C-3 heat control Vac switch. Joe L ?

Bob,

You may have to by the whole assembly, but you can probably find these at swap meets, used parts dealers or on e-bay.

[Joe L.]

Re: Early C-3 heat control Vac switch. Joe L ?

George------

You wouldn't believe what I went through YEARS ago trying to buy an NOS example of the 1969 without C-60. I recall that I bought it from an outfit called Andover Automotive. They were asking a quite high price for it, but I knew they were hard-to-find so I agreed to the price (I almost never haggle over prices; I either buy it or I don't buy it). Then, I never received it and nothing was charged to my credit card. So, I called back several times and I couldn't seem to get in touch with the guy I spoke with. From talking to others at the company, I got the impression that since I didn't argue with the guy I ordered the part from, he must have figured that he was letting go too cheap. Finally, to his credit, the owner of the company got involved and I was sent the controller for the agreed upon price.

There was a very strange deal with these controllers. It seems that the "with C-60" version of the controller was available both through GM as well as Delco parts channels. It was available for many years and could actually be purchased for a very good price through Delco dealers.

However, the "without C-60" controller was never available through Delco; it was a GM parts system-only item. It was discontinued many years prior to the time that the "with C-60" controller was discontinued.