jake91 Posted June 24, 2012 Report Share Posted June 24, 2012 I broke it at the track last night had to tow it 80 miles home at 4 am It just blew up a coolant elbow so nothing too bad I ran a 15.8 in 105* weather Then it broke when I went for one more at 2 am when it was only 85* out and I got a 15.4 but the 60ft sucked with a 2.6 No Pb tonight. Well I did get a PB on breaking something lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intern8tion9l Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 that's always the risk you take at the track! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Especially when its that hot out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1994RedVert Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 It happens. But, I am sure you had a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GtpKo Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 I blew one of those last year. Stranded 100mi from home on a Sunday night. I happened to have a new coolant elbow set and my tools in the back. Changed it out in a Wal-Mart parking lot in about 3 hrs, then back on the road. Cheap plastic coolant elbows, one of the 3800's achilles heels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Achilles heel alright these were 3500 miles old lol Luckily roadside got it halfway home for me for $20 then a good friend of mine got his trailer and we got it home the next morning so I only am out $30 in towing and hopefully delco will warenty these elbows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted June 25, 2012 Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Well, if they don't warranty the elbow(s) you're only out, what, $5?? Now if the warranty covers the labor to replace them, that would be a different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2012 Gm ones are $25 I think either way even if the labor is warranties I can still do it myself cheaper than the tow bill to my mechanic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GtpKo Posted June 26, 2012 Report Share Posted June 26, 2012 Didn't GM finally fix this problem with aluminum elbows integrated into the alt bracket on 04+? If so, could one of those be swapped over to a 97-03? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted2bass Posted June 26, 2012 Report Share Posted June 26, 2012 They never made a replacement metal one for the Series II? My 93 Park Ave with the 3800 Series I S/C motor had the same problem. Luckily it happened pulling into my driveway. When I went to the dealership to get a new one it was solid metal. I think it cost $20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2012 Yeah got some genuine gm ones today cost $17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twenty Posted June 27, 2012 Report Share Posted June 27, 2012 Hmm, looks like the Thunderbird. That is, on a flatbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted June 27, 2012 Report Share Posted June 27, 2012 My GP was up on a flat bed last week too. Glad to hear it wasn't anything major, Jake. It sucks that you were kinda far from home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted June 28, 2012 Report Share Posted June 28, 2012 Didn't GM finally fix this problem with aluminum elbows integrated into the alt bracket on 04+? If so, could one of those be swapped over to a 97-03? No, they never fixed it. The 04+ GPs still have the stupid ass plastic elbows. I had one fail on me after 2 months of being on the car... driving down the highway at 65, it decided to snap in half and dump nearly all the coolant out. Fortunately, I was at the end of my 150 mile trip and only 2 miles away from my work (where all my tools live) and I limped it there and replaced them in the parking lot. It would be REALLY nice if someone would make them out of metal so this wouldn't happen ever again. I'd like to not have my engine grenade from these failing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
base93lumina Posted June 28, 2012 Report Share Posted June 28, 2012 Someone made a set out of metal. Only problem is they wanted like $100 for them and takes forever and a day to get them made up. Sorry to hear about it blowing out on you man. Were you out at Speedworld? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 28, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2012 Yep speedworld went to the midnight run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted June 28, 2012 Report Share Posted June 28, 2012 What? Almost $20 for GM coolant elbows? Why not get the Dorman/ HELP! brand one's from the parts store from half the price. Exact same quality as I'm pretty sure they're the ones whom make them anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted June 29, 2012 Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 Someone made a set out of metal. Only problem is they wanted like $100 for them and takes forever and a day to get them made up. Sorry to hear about it blowing out on you man. Were you out at Speedworld? I'd gladly pay that for a set of them, knowing they would never break and strand me again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 x2 i would also well just finished buttoning up replacing them all is good now replaced with genuine gm parts i have pics of the broken one i found out my mechanic replaced the front one with a Help brand one (the one that broke) and left the factory rear one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted June 29, 2012 Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 (edited) The HELP brand ones aren't any different than the GM ones, unfortunately. I have a set of HELP ones in my 04 GP with ~5k on them now. Yours looks extremely warped, he probably didn't have it seated all the way. You have to be very careful installing them and wiggle it until it is fully seated into both coolant ports. If it is not in there squarely, it will warp and eventually break. Edited June 29, 2012 by Addicted To Boost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 trust me they are different i held them side by side the gm ones were much thicker plastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 29, 2012 Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 how the heck did it get that shape? I've run those Help! Brand ones for years and thousands of miles never seen that happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jake91 Posted June 29, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2012 yeah lol idk mabey what nick said not seated properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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