Alternator and water pump replacement gone bad

[Z34Lee]

Well I just recently replaced my water pump and alternator in my 92 Z34. My friend and I tried to get fancy and remove the alternator from the backside between the intermediate shaft and the steering rack. To make some more room, we removed a line from the steering rack, but I ended up taking the alternator out by the RF wheel anyway. The problem is, I STRIPPED the line going to the steering rack when I put it back on. As can be guessed, my attempts to rig this line back on and have it be airtight have failed. Any suggestions besides replacing the entire rack??? Please help!

[Lyle's GTP]

Fuck man that hurts, you can get thread repair kits for almost anything. But that one I doubt it. Find out the thread size and let me know. But if it makes you feel better, that repair kit will cost $30.00 minimum and a rebuilt Rack is only $80.00-100.00, probably less.

Lyle

[Juglenaut]

I am sure they make a replacement line to rack...

Which line is it..?

Stripped the nut or the threads??

[Z34Lee]

It is the threads on the male end of the fitting on the rack. A rebuilt rack at Auto Zone or something comparable is $170 and a lot of hassle.

[Juglenaut]

And no GM replacement part Hmmm fishy I thought there was..Why would a person have to get a whole rack if the threads strip.

You better repair that thread good and use liquid bonder thread seal.

[Lyle's GTP]

Damn, they are cheaper up here! Well if it's just the fitting then get a new hose. They are cheap, at least the short one is. Just make sure that you've cleaned out the old threads before installing the new line.

Lyle

[Z34Lee]

The fitting is welded to the rack...that's the problem. If i could just replace the metal tubing or the fitting itself I would've done that. There is no replacement "part" because it is all one piece. I'm fed up with trying to rig it. I don't believe there is anything I can do that will be able to hold up to the hydraulic pressure. The rack has to come out at the very least. Anyone know how much of a pain that'll be? Surely no more than the alternator I just replaced.

[pocket-rocket]

It isn't that bad of a job. I did it on the 91 a while back. My biggest PITA with it was the lake I was swimming in since it was the middle of winter and I had a heater in the garage I was in. I dropped the drivers side of the subframe (because the pass. side rear frame bolt is fuct), undid the lines, shaft from the steering wheel, both tie rod ends, and the two bolts that hold the rack to the frame. It slid right out the drivers side of the car, and the new one slid back in just fine. If you did the alt already, the rack shouldn't be too much more of a pain then the alt.

[Z34Lee]

It isn't that bad of a job. I did it on the 91 a while back. My biggest PITA with it was the lake I was swimming in since it was the middle of winter and I had a heater in the garage I was in. I dropped the drivers side of the subframe (because the pass. side rear frame bolt is fuct), undid the lines, shaft from the steering wheel, both tie rod ends, and the two bolts that hold the rack to the frame. It slid right out the drivers side of the car, and the new one slid back in just fine. If you did the alt already, the rack shouldn't be too much more of a pain then the alt.

That's good to know. It's my project tonight, I'll let you know how it goes.

[pocket-rocket]

As an update, I just changed the water pump on the 91 yesterday. Personally I think it was the easiest thing on the engine besides changing the front 3 plugs, lol. My only bitch was I took off the timing belt cover so I could see better so I could scrape the old gasket off. Actually I can't say it was really a bitch because I found out my belt has walked again, and the edge of it has been rubbed partially off, so in the next few weeks I need to change it. Also I found out that one of the 3 bolts holding on the PS pump had started to back out, and wasn't really that far from the pulley, and since that pulley is made of plastic, that could have been really bad, lol.