No not that void that is left when the hot chick leaves the room...

Has anyone plugged the vacuum tubes on the base of the carb with something other than rubber boots? I was thinking solder or brass, not sure about solder's melting point. The reason I'm asking is that I've got my carb in pieces in the basement because of a nagging loss of power at the end of long straights last year. Of course my car will be running with one of the stock carbs from my parts bin cause this one will never work again .

Is this legal?

Anyhow the rubber boots where pretty cracked and I would hate to have an unchecked vacuum leak.

Any thoughts are appreciated.