3.8l camaro coolant elbow replacement help

[Z34Phoenix]

Hey my mother 2000 3800 Camaro is using coolant. I am pretty sure it's the coolant elbows. That being said. How is the easiest way to fix it? The upper intake manifold is under the fire wall. Can I pull the water pump or the heater core idle bracket thing and install the elbow that way?

Here are a few pics:

The first pic is the elbow that goest from the LIM to the alt idler bracket.
The second pic is the lower side of the idler bracket just above another idle pulley infront of the head.

 

[matt5112]

That should be on the front of the end, shouldn't be that bad to get to.

Same as a 3800.

Remove tensioner bracket and anything needed to get at it.

Maybe the alternator.

 

[Z34Phoenix]

Yes it is toward the front. I'll pull the alt. when I pull the tensioner bracket are there an gaskets I will need? Anything besides the alt and tensioner that needs to come out? So I can leave the LIM in place the right?

 

[matt5112]

gaskets come with the new elbows.

Just the belt.

Yup.

 

[Z34Phoenix]

well was a very easy fix. 3 bolts for alt, two for the bracket. and done. that sunday i replaced:
-Rear Diff oil
-Fuel Filter
-PCV
-Plugs
-Wires
-Air filter
-the elbows
-New belt
-it just had an oil change less then a month ago

after all that the problem we were having turned out to be the MAF dropping signal at around 3400hz. so a $50 MAF from ebay and the car runs better then it ever did. that entire list was less then what Chevy quoted for just labor for the elbows.... they quoted 3hours at a total of $380! not including anything else they would find. the swap of the elbows was less then 1 hour. i am in the wrong business!

 

[matt5112]

The book quotes high sometimes and low others.

Good to hear you made out alright.