Ac help and What is this part?

You should be able to run new vacuum lines through any grommet. For the heater valve, I have 1/2" inlet hose. If you have 5/8", you can find many options. In the attached picture, my factory valve looks like the upper drawing and the new one looks like the lower one. Just be aware that this is for 1/2" hose. A '73 might be different. The heater valve picture you posted looks like it's cable operated. If that's the case, the controls are different than my '72.

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