Don't know if this has been mentioned here before , but bears repeating. From CorvetteForum.com c3 tech tips:

cheap one man brake bleeder -- 1 of 1
Date Published: 2002-02-12

Submitter's Name: gary dion
Email Address: clutch_dust@hotmail.com
Corvetteforum.com Member Alias: clutchdust

so how many of you have wives (or husbands) that are tired of getting called out to the garage to pump the brake pedal while you bleed the calipers? don't do enough brake work to warrant buying a vacuum or pressure brake bleeder? here's a super easy and cheap way to do it all by your lonesome. go to your local hardware store and get yourself a piece of 3/4" PVC piping. cut it to 54"-56" long. the PVC acts like a spring or bow. pump your brakes 4 or 5 times then take the PVC and put one end on the brake pedal holding the other end, push until it bows and you can slid the end your holding over the door striker bolt. this puts a surprising amount of pressure on your pedal and as you crack the line, the PVC pushes the pedal to the floor. just make sure that there is still some bow left in the PVC when the pedal is all the way on the floor so there is still pressure and the PVC doesn't fall off. bleed the brake system as you normally would making sure not to run out of fluid. i have used this trick on my '81 every year for the last three years when i drain my fluid (don't you?) and on a friend's '91 so i know it works and my wife is much happier now too!

A piece of scrap 2X4 cut to length works great also!

There is an easier way to bleed brakes by yourself.
Open the bleader screw,place a length of 1/4" ID hose
over the bleader and stick the other end in a can half
full of brake fluid. This will allow you to pump out the air and not suck any back in when you release the pedal.
Steve

Engine running or not on this. Make any difference on power brakes ?

You can do it with out the engine running, it's just that you will use up the vacuum assist after the first couple of pumps. After that it will be harder to push, but will still work.I've done it this way for years, just thought I would pass along this other way.

Thanks, Snoopy !