Coolant Pipe - Plastic Seal?

[Rabbi]

i took the plenum off the 3.4 today and i ended up having to pull that metal coolant pipe that threads into the lower intake manifold.

There is a little plastic fitting on the pipe to hold it into place.

I broke the fitting,

Does anyone know what this fitting is called and where i could buy one from?

[IsaacHayes]

It doesn't really hold it in there (the tabs that hang out). There is a metal tab on the metal pipe that bolts to the motor. If the guts inside the metal screw fitting are ok (the round plastic parts) then you can get a new o-ring at the hardware store and put it back together and it won't leak. That's what I did last time to be cheap. Other wise go to the HELP! section of the parts store and get the new screw metal fitting. It has all the stuff inside it for like $7 or $8.

[Rabbi]

the round plastic parts are nowhere to be found.

The only reason i remember this specific coolant line having that fitting is from my old z34. I Had to take that dam coolant pipe off 5 thousand times.

[pocket-rocket]

If I remember right, I think they call it a coolant nipple. GM used a few different sizes, so if I were you, I would take your old one with you so you get the right size for the part that threads into the LIM, and the heater core hose that goes up by the master cylinder (both parts can be different sizes). I personally never put that screw back in on the metal part of the hose that bolts to the engine, so my plastic tabs always had to work.

[Rabbi]

wait, so this is just the heater core output hose?

hell i will just block that bitch off then and call it a day if thats the case.

[IsaacHayes]

You may have air bleeding issues if you do that. Superdave had that problem until he connected them like stock (minus the heatercore).

[pocket-rocket]

wait, so this is just the heater core output hose?

That be the lil turd.

[GutlessSupreme]

I took hate that "quick release" fitting they have there. It must be the same as the 3.1s. I replaced the female fitting on the LIM with a brass barbed hose fitting from Home Depot and slid a piece of heater house over than and the pipe end and clamped it down good. No problems so far.

[series8217]

the round plastic parts are nowhere to be found.

you can get them in the Help section at most auto parts stores. it comes with the metal part of the fitting too.

the best solution is to replace it with a barbed fitting.

[Schurkey]

Replacements are available at any GM dealer. I had one that rotted out on a '93 about a month ago; the local Chevy dealer had the replacement female fitting and the plastic retainer piece as well. It's an updated version; so it doesn't look "exactly" the same as what was in there--but it works just fine.

[IsaacHayes]

Putting a barbed connector on there is a good idea. The metal pipe has a lip on it too right? So that should hold. Does the metal hold down bracket still bolt up to the metal pipe?

[Juglenaut]

rabbi, howmany work-arounds are currently in place on your vehicle??

[Rabbi]

none.

I ended up getting a new fitting for 93 cents =)


car runs and drives like new now.

[IsaacHayes]

wow 93 cents where? That's uber cheap!

[Rabbi]

AutoZone,

They have a big box of open parts that i went through. They had a TON of fittings to!