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Been seaching all day - both this forum and ebay - trying to locate the right heater control valve for a '76 cutlass (350 w/ A/C). I found a prior discussion (w Joe leading) indicating that older cars had valves where the vacuum opened the flow, but in early '70s Olds switched such that vacuum shut down the flow. I assume my 76 has a valve that is generally open but with vacuum shuts down the flow.
All the parts sites show a valve for my car that is incorrect, in that it includes a third port on the top for (what looks like) a flare nut fitting. My original valve is a Ranco H25.. but from my research it doesn't appear H25 means much at all - e.g. not even whether vacuum opens or shuts the flow? There are nice valves on ebay that appear identical to mine, but I assume these may be of the "vacuum opens the flow" variety (e.g. A/C Delco 15-5107).
Any pointers on where I might find an original replacement valve? Thanks! My original valve. Ranco H25 This is what the parts sites show for a replacement valve, which is wrong because my valve doesn't have the small flare nut fitting on top.
The port with the flare fitting is for a temperature sensor on automatic AC systems. Manufacturers have consolidated applications so they don’t have to make two similar parts, so they quit making the one without the port and the one with the port can be used on any application. It’s OK to use that valve on your car.
thanks - I thought it might function ok if I block off that port - but ideally I'd find one that looks original also. Seems odd that ebay has quite a few available for older cars (60s-early 70s) but nothing I've found so far for 76. I guess the later years are just not as popular so they stopped production on those parts earlier than on the earlier stuff.
Last edited by getmygoat; March 17th, 2024 at 03:53 PM.
That top one has the smaller inlet for the manifold, 68-70 and works opposite of what he needs. And the other is just a higher priced unit as the one I posted.
The third "port" on top isn't a port. It's simply a blind threaded hole for the temp sensor used on Comfortron systems. This is GM consolidating part numbers to save on inventory costs. It will work fine in a 1976, it just won't be optically correct. The latest P/N in the parts book is 22502236, which is a superseded number, not the original assembly line part. Here's a photo of 22502236:
Thanks Joe, would you happen to know a part # for the original looking part? Maybe I could setup an ebay search so if an NOS one pops up I can grab it. Thanks
From my 11/75 edition of '76 parts book: (please correct me if wrong part- I'll look it up again)
Gr. 9.795 VALVE Water Temperature Control
76 A,B,C,E (260,350,455) 411823 .... (w/thermal switch)
76 A,B,C,E (260,350,455) 411822 .... (w/no thermal switch)
411823 is also listed in my 11/73 parts book for 73 and 74
Hope this helps..
From my 11/75 edition of '76 parts book: (please correct me if wrong part- I'll look it up again)
Gr. 9.795 VALVE Water Temperature Control
76 A,B,C,E (260,350,455) 411823 .... (w/thermal switch)
76 A,B,C,E (260,350,455) 411822 .... (w/no thermal switch)
411823 is also listed in my 11/73 parts book for 73 and 74
Hope this helps..
Thanks much - the parts on ebay don't seem to reference these #s but instead A/C delco part #s like 15-5106, etc. Also, there is post from Joe in a previous thread that (I think) contradicts the idea that my 76 would take a 411822. Joe says:
>Note that this valve has a pipe thread fitting to screw into the intake. The Buick valve you posted previously has two hose barbs and goes inline
>in the heater hose. In any case, Oldsmobile typically used a valve like the one in your first photo.
> The correct P/N for your car is 411822, which is a normally closed valve that
>opens when vacuum is applied.
Since my car is '76, and per service manual, I need a valve normally open that closes when vacuum applied (max A/C). Also the 411822 parts I do find on ebay do not look like my (what I think is original) valve. So I'm just not sure.
Thanks much - the parts on ebay don't seem to reference these #s but instead A/C delco part #s like 15-5106, etc. Also, there is post from Joe in a previous thread that (I think) contradicts the idea that my 76 would take a 411822. Joe says:
>Note that this valve has a pipe thread fitting to screw into the intake. The Buick valve you posted previously has two hose barbs and goes inline
>in the heater hose. In any case, Oldsmobile typically used a valve like the one in your first photo.
> The correct P/N for your car is 411822, which is a normally closed valve that
>opens when vacuum is applied.
Since my car is '76, and per service manual, I need a valve normally open that closes when vacuum applied (max A/C). Also the 411822 parts I do find on ebay do not look like my (what I think is original) valve. So I'm just not sure.
Sorry, dyslexia on my part. Your car uses a valve that is normally open and closes with vacuum applied. I'm so used to responding to questions about the 72-earlier cars that my response was on autopilot. 411822 is the correct normally open valve for a 76.
Thanks much - the parts on ebay don't seem to reference these #s but instead A/C delco part #s like 15-5106, etc. Also, there is post from Joe in a previous thread that (I think) contradicts the idea that my 76 would take a 411822. Joe says:
>Note that this valve has a pipe thread fitting to screw into the intake. The Buick valve you posted previously has two hose barbs and goes inline
>in the heater hose. In any case, Oldsmobile typically used a valve like the one in your first photo.
> The correct P/N for your car is 411822, which is a normally closed valve that
>opens when vacuum is applied.
Since my car is '76, and per service manual, I need a valve normally open that closes when vacuum applied (max A/C). Also the 411822 parts I do find on ebay do not look like my (what I think is original) valve. So I'm just not sure.
Originally Posted by joe_padavano
Sorry, dyslexia on my part. Your car uses a valve that is normally open and closes with vacuum applied. I'm so used to responding to questions about the 72-earlier cars that my response was on autopilot. 411822 is the correct normally open valve for a 76.
i tried gmpartswiki to find supersessions but it apparently was down.if i find the supersessions i'll advise..
the newer AC/Delco numbers are hard to follow/compare..
So I purchased an NOS heater valve on ebay. It was listed as fitting a 76 cutlass (and other stuff I don't remember), and it looked exactly like the valve on my car, which I believe is likely original.
The part # on the box doesn't match any of the previous part #'s discussed so I thought it would at least be a new data point FWIW. The part # is 554401 and/or GR 8.866?
March 17th, 2024, 03:13 PM
