Hi. I have a 1960 leSabre. My problem is the vacuum diaphragm which opens the blower door for interior heat no longer works. Does anyone know if this part can be rebuilt. If not does anyone have one or know of one for sale? I don't know if other years or models are interchangeable.
Most A/C cars from the late 60s used something similar to that thing. I got a new one for a 68 Sportwagon with A/C that was essentially the same thing. I seem to recall I had trouble with mine, and at the time there was no rebuild. I ended up disconnecting it from the diaphragm and wiring the door open and bypassing the vacuum entirely.
Jim at Odd Parts advertises he rebuilds them. http://www.oddparts.net/home/cast-iron-manifold-repair. However the website hasn't been updated since 2015 so I don't know if he is in business. One thing I would suggest is using a vacuum tester such as a Mighty-Vac on it. I've found that sometimes it isn't the actuator, it is the hose, a restriction in the hose, or the nipple going into the valve being cracked. If the inside diaphragm is still intact, a lot of time you can repair what ails at home.
