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Vacuum pipe?

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Velox

Velox

Jedi Hopeful
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There is a small copper tube descending from under the front of the intake manifold of my BJ8 and pictures I have of this area indicate "vacuum pipe" and/or "drain pipe." Mine just hangs down over the frame and apparently over the years something drains out as there is an obvious discolored area on the frame just below this pipe. Can someone tell me what this is for, why it is there?

And now for something completely different:
HAPPINESS /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif is getting all ready to complete a positive to negative ground conversion, having everything ready, instructions downloaded for converting the tach etc... and taking the battery holdown off... and finding that the negative post already is going to the frame, somebody already did the conversion /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
There are actually suppose to be two of these pipes. One in the front as you said and one in the back of the manifold. They are meant to be drain pipes to evacuate excess fuel from the manifold. Cheers,
 
HI Velox, Scot has correctly identified the purpose of these tubes.However, there should be small brackets attached to the oil pan that these tubes pass through and are permanently anchored in. These small brackets will elliminate the discolored area on the frame.---Fwiw---Keoke
 
Just to add to Keoke's comments,I had to actually make these brackets as they are no longer available. The two bolts that hold these on the oil pan are somewhat longer than the rest of the pan bolts,same washers. Also there are rubber grommets in the bracket holes that hold the tube in place as it drains below the level of the engine block.Both brackets should be painted engine color. Hope that helps...
 
Yep Scot, but you know what makes them up easy is the mounting bracket of an old Lucas relay. Cut it in half and it will make two---Keoke- /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
British Car Specialist has the bracket which should have a rubber gromet for the copper pipe to fit thorugh. If you only have one copper pipe they sell them too. Be sure you have the brass fittings for the intake manifold. I got mine several years ago but they seem to have every thing. Many people have blocked these fittings to eliminate the pipe all together. These days the EPA would make you send the fuel back to the tank.
 
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Why is it that on any other car these tubes would be called 'a vacuum leak'. But on a Healey they're 'drain pipes'?

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Well MH,I guess its cuz vacuum is so low on the Healey and petro is so high it beats it to the hole every time.---Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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