Thread: How to change coolant elbows

goin to replace both elbows tomorrow, I have changed the top elbow so many times now its a 15 min job lol I have the aluminum ones now so those are going in and I did pick up an extra set just incase something goofy happens.

Is it a common problem to have the coolant elbow o-ring fail but the intake gaskets still be good? I pressured the coolant system up and found one of the elbows was not holding pressure. I have no coolant in my exhaust or oil. It seems like i need to replace the coolant elbows, but it seems too simple. I have an 05 which from my reading is hit or miss on getting the plastic intake gaskets.

I don't have a replacable bottom elbow, its molded into the exchange unit so I just replaced the seal, I put the metal one on top though and that did the trick, no more leak.

Originally Posted by stealthee

Coolant elbows and intake gaskets are two seperate issues.

Agreed. I know that intake gaskets are a common issue pre 05 it seems. I was just wondering if the coolant elbows were a common problem as well.

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Yes.. they are.

Thanks

damnit...

so I got the new mounts in and went and did a WOT run with wife, and she said HOLY **** this car goes pretty good... then I thought my dash lights went dim, and i couldnt figure it out. I was about a mile from the house. I headed home and the temp went up to 75% (no numbers on the buick). CRAP!!! limped home. didnt go any higher. pulled in and a cloud of "smoke/steam" passed. DAMN.

I knew right where to look. SURE ENOUGH. it split.

Ill be rushing to do this tomorrow after work as we are supposed to take it for a up north trip saturday morning... I guess better a mile from home than half way to da UP eh?!

What y'all thought on metal elbows

Mines been on for almost 2 years, there both aluminum

Funny, I still have my original plastic elbows on my 99 GP GT with 98k miles!
I am going to finally do my LIM gasket and elbows this spring including a full maintenance
service including all heater/radiator hose, thermostate/gasket, valve cover gaskets/grommets
and antifreeze.

I'd run a colder thermostat, and use the aluminum coolant elbows if you are using the plastic ones

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Tools required:
Rachet
8mm wrench
10mm deep socket
13mm deep socket
15mm shallow socket
15mm Deep socket
Piece of steel wool
Small amount of lubricant (oil/vasoline/grease)
Catch basin for coolant

Dorman 47065/Napa 660-1736/GM Dealer (Coolant Elbows)

This is written for a 99+ W body or 00+ C/H/G body, if your car is a Series II motor and before these years, please see the note at bottom of writeup.

Unhook the negative terminal of the battery 8mm
Untension the accessory belt shallow 15mm
Move the coolant overflow and lay it on the front of the motor.
Remove the alternator from the tensioner bracket 13mm/15mm
Remove three bolts holding the tensioner bracket to the cylinder head (see picture)


Wiggle the bracket and it will come off. (See note if you have an earlier year, this is important)
Remove any pieces of elbow stuck in the LIM, timing cover or the tensioner bracket.
Use the steel wool to clean the old elbow's ridge out of those areas.
Lubricate all o-rings on the new elbows
Install the elbow with equal sized ends in the top hole of the tensioner and the other into the bottom hole.
Line up the elbows and wiggle the tensioner into place
Start all three bolts to hold the tensioner to the head
Tighten the bolts a little at a time and gently wiggle the upper elbow as you do this until the bolts are tight and the upper elbow still wiggle slightly.
Reinstall the alternator
Reinstall the belt
Reinstall coolant overflow
Hook up battery
Fill with coolant and bleed system.

Note: If your car is 96-99 for the bodies listed in the important note, then your alternator bracket has a metal lower coolant elbow cast as part of the assembly. This is important because you can break the timing cover if you pull it from driver side to passenger side. To remove the alt bracket you want to wiggle it front to back in the engine bay only. This will feel like it takes forever. Do not give up and if your upper coolant elbow (plastic) breaks, that is fine. Wiggle and remove as gently as possible. This will keep you from breaking a timing cover.

Easy

okay so I have a 98 GP and I read your special note about the Alternator bracket having a metal casted assembly. But the way you describe how to pull it out is a bit confusing. Also, I thought it was the tensioner bracket that has the metal casted elbow? Are you saying the alternator has a metal cast plus the tensioner bracket?

Other than that, everything else sounds good.