Thanks Mitch that makes sense, will try the better hardware store and see what they come up with, Looks like the parts will be here tomorrow and should only take a few hours to put it back together since everything is cleaned up but the gauges.
unfortunately I have to get under that cover to replace the vac pump lines and check out the pump also. Really want to re use the screws, this dam thing is in great shape.You know it is old when one half of the test set runs on a 6v car battery!