[DeTomaso] If it's broke, don't fix it...

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

Chris, in my long reply, I forgot to mention that there are two different 
water heater valves possible, depending on the year. One has a simple bent rod 
that serves as the on/off lever while the second one has a flat sheet-metal 
lever that rides in a cam-slot cut into the brass heater valve top. Once 
disassembled, the guts are the same and the same o-ring is used. Chuck Engals wrote an 
article on repairing his valve some decades ago after much the same experience 
as you had. Or, there are replacement valves available at all the vendors, as 
well as good used dashboard heater levers. Just be careful to 'back up' the 
wrench used to remove the valve, or its possible to crack the copper tube its 
fastened to. Good luck- J DeRyke


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