Thanks for the info. I picked up an all-metal valve stem and grabbed the cap off the spare MC and installed the valve in it.

I didn't have a conventional pump, but I did have a 12-volt tire pump with gauge. I gave that setup a try, and I blew the cap off several times (it didn't fit too well anyway) but was able to sustain about 10-20psi in the reservoir.

I bled out the rear and front nipples and the fluld only just trickled out. I did manage to expel some air, but the overall braking improvement was neglible.

I think my replacement seals were a waste as they did not fit snuggly on the lower plunger (hole in middle of seal is much larger than the shaft). Getting the upper plunger in was nearly impossible because the seal was being splayed out by the return spring. In looking over the plunger and seals at CVI, those seals appear much thicker and more like the seals that were originally in the cylinder.

Last night, I did notice that my front reservoir-to-cylinder seal is degraded and leaking some. A trip to the dealer on the way home frome work netted me the wrong size seals. I do not think that this is the primary problem, as the front brakes (front seal) are the only ones that are grabbing - even if poorly. The 1st few inches of pushing the brake do nothing at all.

I'm going to try bypass the booster tomorrow and see if there is any change.
If not, I'll be stuck looking for an afforable conversion ring, or I'll be ordering a proper rebuild kit from CVI. Both are likely to run me around $85. Sadly both are beyond my available budget for some time.