1963 Distributor Vacuum Replacement

[jrs.gordon22]

Hello all, this may seem like a simple question that I’m making more complicated than it is, but I don’t want to mess anything up!
I’m looking to redo the components on my distributor and am stumped by my vacuum line.
Currently equipped with a metal line, to and from the advance.
I ordered a new vacuum advance and the end on it is for a hose type connection, not a tube connection.
Is it now that I must use a hose connect, as I can’t seem to find instructions on how to run the line?
I also want to be sure that my connection to the carb is correct in the correct port, as I’ve seen others connected elsewhere??
Are any of the ports on my carb supposed to be capped??
I recently purchased this and am slowly going through and fixing what others had done before me.
Sorry for the openness of these questions but I am new to this and you all have the answers!
Any help or input would be greatly appreciated🙂
Thank you, James

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[Critterpainer]

Original vacuum lines were metal with screw in fittings. Modern vacuum advance units have rubber hose type connectors. Please DON'T cut the metal line as those original lines are hard to find. I usually force a piece of rubber hose to slide (force) onto the steel line to make the connection to the advance unit. Your second picture shows the correct port to screw the line into. IIRC it is the only fitting of that size.

 

[jrs.gordon22]

Okay thank you this was very helpful!

 

[63mroadster]

NOS vacuum advance units with the correct metal connecton fitting show up frequently on Ebay. I just looked and there are several listed right now. Try using "NOS Ford distributor vacuum advance" as your search query. Just make sure you choose the correct relacement unit with the "flat" connecting arm. The later Motorcraft unit which is the most common will have part number DD-9, B9AF-12370-A, athough there are other NORS units available that look and function exactly the same. If you do use a NOS or NORS unit unit, save the hex end cap, spring, and spacer, and washers from your original unit and reuse them. The replacement unit will not include those pieces and the originals will work just fine. The rubber vaccum diapragm, which unfortunately cannot be repaired or replaced, is the only part that fails.

 

[74 Harley]

Have you tested the one you have to verify it's faulty?

 

[jrs.gordon22]

Have you tested the one you have to verify it's faulty?

I have not. Was just intending to replace since I was installing electronic ignition, cap and rotor.
What is an easy way to test?!

 

[jrs.gordon22]

NOS vacuum advance units with the correct metal connecton fitting show up frequently on Ebay. I just looked and there are several listed right now. Try using "NOS Ford distributor vacuum advance" as your search query. Just make sure you choose the correct relacement unit with the "flat" connecting arm. The later Motorcraft unit which is the most common will have part number DD-9, B9AF-12370-A, athough there are other NORS units available that look and function exactly the same. If you do use a NOS or NORS unit unit, save the hex end cap, spring, and spacer, and washers from your original unit and reuse them. The replacement unit will not include those pieces and the originals will work just fine. The rubber vaccum diapragm, which unfortunately cannot be repaired or replaced, is the only part that fails.

So I should be looking for the 12370-a, or the flat connecting arm(which appears to show as 12370-j)??

 

[74 Harley]

Just use a hand vacuum pump. If it pulls in and holds you're good.