cutlassman Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Alright, I'm in the middle of re-assembling my engine after blowing the rear head gasket, (3.1L '92 Cutlass Supreme Convert). The lower intake manifold heater hose connector is a bit jacked up. The pipe came out of the connector when I removed the LIM. I tried pulling one from the bone yard, but the first two I tried broke with the threads still in the LIM. The third one I got off. I used the parts to try repairing my connector, but I'm not sure if I have it right. The pic here is my LIM...notice the patch job someone did at some point. I know Advance sells a new connector for $9.29, but I'm guessing the connector on my car is broken with the threads inside the LIM, which is why someone repaired it. Have any of you removed a broken connector from the LIM? I'd rather get the new replacement part and start from scratch, but I'm afraid I may not get the connector that's on my LIM now off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlassman Posted May 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 I ended up chipping off the old sealant to see what was happening. I was able to unscrew the old connector, thankfully, only to find out the threads inside the LIM are pretty much stripped. Thus, the need for sealant. I ended up buying the new Dorman connector at Advance for $9.29 and added a bunch of Permatex hardening thread sealer in the process of screwing in the connector as far as I good. Then I layered it up pretty good on the outside. This should work...but what a crummy OEM design! Good luck to anyone else that has this problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 IMO, it's not the bad design, it's usually the gorilla working on it that causes stripped threads... sure it's aluminum, but that's why there are torque wrenches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtremerevolution Posted May 31, 2010 Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 IMO, it's not the bad design, it's usually the gorilla working on it that causes stripped threads... sure it's aluminum, but that's why there are torque wrenches. X2 on that. I had to remove these a few times and never had a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutlassman Posted May 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2010 Valid point...someone really wrenched on that connector at some point to strip the threads. But two of the used ones I pulled at the junkyard, which were the original aluminum connectors, just twisted off with the threads stuck inside the LIM. That really sucks! I see the new design is zinc...or zinc-plated and much more-durable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BXX Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 Yeah, not a bad design.. its not really meant to be removed:thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 1, 2010 Report Share Posted June 1, 2010 I've dealt with a broken off OEM connector. I took a hacksaw and cut grooves in the separated thread and tapped it out till the chunk of the connector came out. ran the new connector in and out while oil coated a few times to chase the threads and installed with teflon sealant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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