Lower Intake Manifold Heater Hose Connector - If Broken???

[cutlassman]

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.

[cutlassman]

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.

[RobertISaar]

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.

[xtremerevolution]

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.

[cutlassman]

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.

[BXX]

Yeah, not a bad design.. its not really meant to be removed:thumbsup:

[Crazy K]

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.