Contact Us / Visit Us (click here)
If the Shopping Cart takes too long to respond, you can bypass the shopping cart and go straight to the checkout page by clicking the following link: https://secure.cougarpartscatalog.com/store/onepagecheckout.aspx.
International Customers Click Here [Updated 1/2024]
Loading Trivia . . .
'https://cdn.cougparts.com/dc/1000249/1000249_(2)-1028.jpg','https://cdn.cougparts.com/dc/1000249/1000249_(4)-1028.jpg','https://cdn.cougparts.com/dc/1000249/1000249_(3)-1028.jpg'
  • Check Valve - Headlight / Tilt Away Column Vacuum System - Repro ~ 1967 - 1970 Mercury Cougar / 1967 - 1973 Ford  - 26096
  • Check Valve - Headlight / Tilt Away Column Vacuum System - Repro ~ 1967 - 1970 Mercury Cougar / 1967 - 1973 Ford  - 26096
  • Check Valve - Headlight / Tilt Away Column Vacuum System - Repro ~ 1967 - 1970 Mercury Cougar / 1967 - 1973 Ford  - 26096

Item #: 26096

Login to add this item
to a saved wishlist
MSRP:$51.99
You Save: $15.99 (30.8%)
Price: $36.00
    Cost: 2880
    Earns: 144
    Bonus: 0

    Availability

    In-Stock Item - Next Business Day

    Applications

    Description

    Reproduction Headlight / Tilt Column Vacuum Check Valve for the 1967 to 1973 Mercury Cougar, Cyclone, Marquis, Ford Torino, Ranchero, Galaxie, LTD, Thunderbird, Lincoln Continental and Mark III.

    NOTE: The direction of flow is up through the dual ports and out through the single port. 

    For more in depth detail on this reproduction, see pictures below.

    *NOTE* For tilt column service, you can contact Tony Augustine at 6t8cougarguy@gmail.com. Tony is a trusted colleague of WCCC and we've sent many customers his way since our column specialist retired last year.

    Also fits many 1967 - 1973 Mercurys and many 1967 - 1973 Lincolns

    Click on images to enlarge.

    The part in the foreground is our new reproduction and the dirty used unit in the background is an original for comparison sake.

    The used check valve as will you notice, still has traces of the factory applied Gold Chromate coating. This coating was applied after Ford found that the internal silicone diaphragm was prematurely failing from prolonged exposure to engine heat. Our units will NEVER have this problem for reasons I will point out below.

    Only the single port side received the Gold Chromate, protective coating from the factory. The other side was left natural. Internal documents from the OEM supplier suggest the coating was used in the latter part of 1969 and forward. For those wanting a concours look for their late 69 and beyond cars, Eastwood sells a good product.

    Early 1967 Cougars / Thunderbirds with a dual nipple vacuum reservoir tank (located under the driver side fender) will have this single nipple version as seen above with no barbs on the ports. We are not going to reproduce this rather obscure version but our new dual port valve will work on your early 67 if you cap off one of the ports on the dual ported side. One of the short-falls of the early original unit shown above is that the halves were made in a one step casting process. In a one step process barbs cannot be built onto the ports. The vacuum hoses often fail to stay in place when heat and lubricants are applied on these early valves. The early Chevrolet Camaro and other GM products also chose to use a version like the one above as a cost cutting measure.

    Early internal documents show that the original Trico valves were only designed to last 24 months. Ours should outlast even the youngest of our customers and if they for some reason do not, we will replace it free of charge.

    If your tilt column or hidden headlamps do not function when the motor is turned off, this valve will often be the culprit. This valve was used on many models from the Ford Mustang, to the Lincoln Continental and almost everything in between.

    One other significant area we have improved upon the original part is the quality of the die cast cast. We produced these units using Zamac #3 which is two grades higher than what you would find the original valves were made from (i.e. higher Zinc content).

    Here is where our valve is vastly improved over what Ford offered... Our new internal disc shaped diaphragm is not only double the thickness of the OEM version but is made from a Fluorosilicone that will take any amount of engine heat you can dish out, even in continuous use applications. Since that is a rather BOLD STATEMENT to make we are offering a lifetime guarantee on these vacuum check valves with no restrictions other than the buyer is the only one who can make a warranty claim (non-transferable).

    The left is an original (blown) internal diaphragm and the right is our much improved, modern Fluorosilicone version.

    This leaking unit was cracked open with a hammer to show the innards. As you may notice, the diaphragm is not punctured or burnt looking on this original example. This diaphragm failed due to the dirt and rust particles embedded around it and the fact that it got dry and hard with age.

    The picture below shows our high temperature Fluorosilicone diaphragm next to a penny and an original diaphragm. Our diaphragm is exactly double the thickness of what Trico put in the units supplied to Lincoln - Ford - Mercury. These check valves have been tested under extreme circumstances far beyond what any motor could dish out in both heat and vacuum tests.

    A simple yet effective way to test your vacuum check valve it to place the single port between your lips. You should be able to freely breath in, but not blow out even the slightest amount. This little valve is responsible for holding all the stored vacuum in the system. I have personally owned and observed Ford products where one could open the hidden headlamps months after parking the car without running the engine first! The same holds true with the tilt-tilt away steering columns used in 1967-1969. A perfectly tight system should hold enough vacuum for prolonged amounts of time and one should be able to open and close the door and pull the column into the locked position 2-3 times with the stored vacuum in the system.

    This vacuum check valve was put on hundreds of thousands of Lincoln / Mercury / Ford products from 1967 throughout the 1970's. Some cars optioned with hidden headlamps, vacuum actuated trunk release, tilt-tilt away adjustable steering column, vacuum door locks and other vacuum operated options would have had multiple units installed to maintain a closed vacuum system. This TRICO valve came on the Mercury Cyclone, Marauder, Marquis, Cougar, Ford Mustang, Torino Brougham, Galaxie, LTD, SHELBY, Thunderbird, Lincoln Mark III, Continental and pretty much any other post 1967 Ford product that had a vacuum powered accessory. This valve is also a superior replacement part for your 68-82 Chevrolet Corvette and 1967 - 1969 Chevy Camaro with hide away headlights. If you own a GM with a like Trico valve, you will immediately be impressed with the fact that these carry a lifetime warranty. The low cost GM version was barb-less which means it is more likely to come unplugged and you would be lucky to get three years out of a GM Trico valve.

    Replaces original Ford part number C8SZ-13B064-A.

    Here is what some of our ebay customers have commented about this product;

    ONLY CHECK VALVE THAT WORKS! Great Product from WCCC, as always! Great part. Great service. Highly recommended.

    Thank you!! Received promptly and exactly as described Item accurately described and timely sent A+ seller. Good product at a great price. As always received as described, looks better than pictured. Awesome product! Great people to deal with! A+ Just as advertised Quality = 11 on scale of 1-10 !!

    Thank you for your ongoing support!

    Specifications:
    Shipping Weight: 0.10 LBS
    (weight shown may be the dimensional weight)

    This item must ship via

    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star

    4.98 out of 5 stars
    Based upon 16 Review(s).
    5 Stars
    94%
    4 Stars
    6%
    3 Stars
    0%
    2 Stars
    0%
    1 Stars
    0%

    69 351W 2v

    4.75 out of 5
    Material:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Fit:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Craftsmanship:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Correctness:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Pros:
    • Holds vacuuum
    Cons:
    • Repro
    • so judges may judge
    This is the easiest piece to check if you have vacuum issues with your headlight doors, and after 50+ years, mine didn't hold vacuum at all. I didn't even bother with my MightyVac to test this piece. You can pull it out and use a finger and draw air on the alternate ports to see if it holds, or just lets air flow like my bad one.

    I had 4 problems in my system, (actuator, tank, loose lines and this valve) and replaced them one at a time to compare results. I didn't think about this valve at first and might have accepted some minor/slow leaks in the other components if I had started with this part.

    AUSTRALIA,South Australia
    2020

    Great item!

    5.00 out of 5
    Material:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Fit:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Craftsmanship:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Correctness:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Pros:
    Cons:
    Cant fault anything, easy install, i had no real reason to replace, i just did for the sake of it hoping that this product outlives the one that was already on the car! A+

    Delta, BC, Canada

    5.00 out of 5
    Material:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Fit:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Craftsmanship:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Correctness:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Pros:
    • wonderful reproduction item.
    Cons:
    Most Cougar owners don't realize how many things in our cats rely on proper vacuum to operate. Replacing a faulty check valve might save you hours of troubleshooting every vacuum system one at a time.

    2017

    Pricey but worth every penny!

    5.00 out of 5
    Material:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Fit:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Craftsmanship:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Correctness:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Pros:
    • Quality
    • performance
    Cons:
    • Price
    I’ve been waiting for this part to come available again for quite some time. My tilt away steering has been intermittent for a couple years and stopped working all together 6 months ago. I have tried several generic check valve and none worked well. I finally got this new repro piece. 5 mins later it’s installed and my tilt away has been working EVERY TIME for a month now.

    2015

    Check Valve solved the problem

    5.00 out of 5
    Material:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Fit:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Craftsmanship:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Correctness:
    review-star review-star review-star review-star review-star
    Pros:
    Cons:
    The check valve solved my loosing vacuum problem on the headlight doors for a 69 Cougar.
    Easy to install and fit just like the original. Encountered no problems at all.

    Number of questions: 1
    Please login to ask a question.
    Question
    JimGeorge1 Asked:
    where exactly is the check valve located? At or near the vacuum canister under the drivers side fender?
    February 23, 2023 8:33 PM
    Answer
    JimGeorge1 Answered:
    Found it no where close to that. My '68 Cougar's check valve was underneath the air filter, behind the carb, and over the motor.
    March 5, 2023 2:36 PM
    Answer
    The check valve is located on the driver's side near the brake booster where the hoses come out of the firewall.
    February 27, 2023 9:38 AM

    Why am I being warned about potential exposure to chemicals in motor vehicle parts?


    • Some chemicals in motor vehicle parts are on the Proposition 65 list because they can cause cancer and/or birth defects or other reproductive harm.
    • When purchasing USED or NOS items, we do not know if listed chemicals are present in these products.
    • This product is known to contain the following listed chemicals:
    WCCC hooked me up with an original glove box cable and the correct screws WITH shoulders for my glove box. Their listing for these screws explains that the original screws have a shoulder for the cable and most people put in the wrong screws--which...
    - Jim Davis
    I have been a cougar owner for just shy of 30 years, I have been dealing with part problems for a very long time. The people at WCCC have always be honest, and overly helpfull. I now have a 1970 XR-7 mostly rebuilt, and my son has a 1968 base...
    - Voodochild5
    What did you LIKE about your experience? * : I am fairly new to WCCC, four or five orders (at the time of writing), but I am blessed to have found WCCC for sure. I had a small problem, couldn't find anything to work for the condensation drain on my...
    - Kenneth Milden
    I have been working with Don Rush and his team for close to 20 years. In all of these years with many sales transactions I can say they have been 2nd to none. They have always been not only helpful but extremely knowledgeable. I certainly continue...
    - Denver
    I have made many purchases online with WCCC but chose this time to make a 1400 mile round trip and visited them in person. I brought a van load of parts with me that needed a home. Don helped unload them then quickly assessed the value which I...
    - pandamonium2112
    I just wanted to let you know that my order which was shipped (via UPS Mail Innovations) December 05 was at my front door, having gone thru Canada customs, on December 16. It arrived in excellent shape. Kudos to you guys, UPS, and the USPS for...
    - Rod (Saskatchewan, Canada)
    I liked that I could see a picture of parts and that you could type in what you were looking for. What was handy for me was the ability to chat with Darrell. He was a big help. Also high on the you gotta keep on staff was Joshua, I had some issues...
    - Rod (Canada)
    I was having difficulty placing my order on the website and spent a couple of hours trying with no luck (ending in immense frustration). I decided to finally just call and order my parts over the phone (4 small items). Was surprised that Don Rush...
    - Tim (1969 Cougar XR7)
    Brake booster failed on our 1970 Mach1. We had ordered a new 2022 Mach1 to match the old one and the dealer wanted to use both cars in a promotional ad. When we received the replacement booster it failed within a few minutes of installation. I...
    - Alan
    WCCC makes finding the right part with the right fit easy. I love that they try to get great parts and when there are parts that don't meet their standard they WARN you up front! I've bought new reproduction parts from them, used parts and even had...
    - Daniel
    D3F19