Question : 3100 VIN M - Heater Pipe

[Century7667]

I'm in the middle of a LIM job, and I am looking at this heater pipe that's coming off the back side of the intake manifold near the thermostat housing.

This thing is wierd. It has fitting for two hoses that go to the throttle body, and the main pipe goes to the heater core.

The thing that worries me is there's this large 1" screw-in fitting mated to the pipe. ...and it wobbles! There's a layer of plastic in there, and that gives me a less than secure feeling about it. I don't want the thing to leak when I put it all together again. The pipe actually has a bracket that bolts it to the head to keep it secure. It just looks and feels hokey.

What are most of you doing with this thing? I've heard of people bypassing the throttle body, but what about this interface between the 1" fitting and the pipe? Just want this thing not to leak.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Ken T.

[3400-95-Modified]

Your referring to the threaded o-ring pipe adapter... It's readily available from auto parts stores and feels weak because it's just a rubber o-ring around the pipe in there to seal it. The upgraded versions of the motor deleted the big threaded adapter and just put the o-ring right on the pipe and the intake was a straight hole and it was just pressed in... Same type of seal though. Just replace this with a new one if you feel like it's that old and frail...

[robertisaar]

I believe the size of wrench/socket needed is 27mm.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/DOE0/800401/03867.oap

from what I'm told, a lot of people have issues with the white plastic clip on the inside of the Dorman units, I guess they randomly fail? a new Delco one comes with a black clip, which I think matches the factory ones.

[Guest]

Your referring to the threaded o-ring pipe adapter... It's readily available from auto parts stores and feels weak because it's just a rubber o-ring around the pipe in there to seal it. The upgraded versions of the motor deleted the big threaded adapter and just put the o-ring right on the pipe and the intake was a straight hole and it was just pressed in... Same type of seal though. Just replace this with a new one if you feel like it's that old and frail...

That was a year change and suspect it was simply for parts reduction and ease/speed of assembly reasons it was changed. The threaded insert was used as far back as 1987 IIRC on the gen2 660s. I personally have never had an OEM version leak, but have not used aftermarket versions to compare to.

[Century7667]

That was a year change and suspect it was simply for parts reduction and ease/speed of assembly reasons it was changed. The threaded insert was used as far back as 1987 IIRC on the gen2 660s. I personally have never had an OEM version leak, but have not used aftermarket versions to compare to.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I actually had the dealer one on hand, with a black clip. It was $30, so I returned it.

So, it's probably a good idea to just go get the part back and put it in?

I've heard of troubles with rust out on the pipe portion. But, I have owned this engine since it was new, maintained the coolant. This part is not available (the pipe). What would my options be if after separating the two parts and I find that the pipe is too pitted to be re-used?

Thanks,
Ken T.

[robertisaar]

there is an option that allows for the quick-disconnect to be replaced with a barbed fitting, at which point you could just run rubber lines until a portion of the pipe that isn't corroded or you may need to go all the way to your heater core with it.

[Century7667]

there is an option that allows for the quick-disconnect to be replaced with a barbed fitting, at which point you could just run rubber lines until a portion of the pipe that isn't corroded or you may need to go all the way to your heater core with it.

I'm thinking that's what I'll do. I just don't like the that thing feels. I need to make sure I've got a good route out of there....

Ken T.