Proper Vacuum Hoses - Help!

[Patrick Reily]

I'm new to Autosticks and I'm looking for some help to find the proper replacement for the vacuum hoses of my 68 beetle. At 68,000 mile the old bug is in remarkable condition but the motor, transmission and all the autostick components are orignial. While everything works great, the rubber is hard and fragile. I would like to replace all the hoses before I have any leaks. Are the vacuum hoses a specialty item? Can I use general purpose vacuume lines from the local autoparts store?

Thanks,
Pat

[bookwus]

Hiya Pat,

You need to exercise some care when replacing those vacuum hoses.  The original vacuum hoses from VW bore a resemblance to their regular duty braided hoses.  They were anything but........   The original vacuum VW hoses for the AutoStick were wire reinforced.  Your replacement hoses (and you should check and replace if needed every 10,000 miles) HAVE to be wire reinforced also.  You'll not be finding that item at your FLAPS.  
When I replaced mine I went to our local hydraulics specialist (Oil Filter Co. in Portland, OR), took a hunk of the old stuff, the measurements, and details about the application and let them do the work.  They gave me hose which, according to its service range and guarantee should be on the job well after my Bug has rusted to pieces.

[68AutoBug]

I have replaced all My Vacuum and oil lines with Hydraulic oil hose. It will NEVER Burst etc and will last virtually forever...  Its amazing how stardard oil hose available from the local auto parts store can deteriate within such a short time....  even without being used... Oil Hose without steel in its construction will suck in after a time... steel will never..