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Aluminum coolant elbow



Quick Question Guys,

When replacing these elbows, how important is it to check/inspect/change this tensioner part. Long story short, my upper elbow burst as I was passing a car (going about 60-65mph). Now I took my car to a mechanic and he gave me the run down on the cost etc. The thing i'm unsure about is when he mentioned the tensioner (which he's estimating the part alone to be 163.00) may have to be replace, depending on the condition of it. But they won't be able to tell until they take everything out.

Now was being genuine and caring or was he just tryna scare me and get more money out of me? Plz HELP! Need advice from the veterans!!!!

Here's his cost list:
Elbow : 16.07
Tensior aka TEWT : 163.23 (depends on condition)

Labor: 220.00
Coolant: 20.00
HW (some BS fee) : 3.00
Total w/ out Tensioner = 275.00
Total w/ Tensioner= 435.00

Let me know guys
 
Appreciate the confirmation. I had a feeling he was blowing smoke up my rear. Now all I need to find the tools to do it myself! Hmmm
 


home depot or lowes, buy a 30 piece 6 sided socket set. 30 bucks tops. they come metric and standard in the kit. its pretty much all you need to do most maintenance on a w body.
 
Thanks scotty. So just to confirm walk in to lowes/home depot ask for a 30piece 6 sided set only? And/Or do I also ask for the 8mm,10mm,13mm,15mm & 18mm? Will they be included? Or do I purchase those separately?
 
just buy a 6 point set. this way you have a whole set, comes in a nice box so they all stay in place. ive had a husky set from lowes for like 4 years now, the ratchet is almost indestructible. i use a 2 foot pipe on it all the f ing time. aint broke yet.

the set also comes with a spark plug socket, a extension, and a few deep sockets. all nice to just have. hell 30 for tools, 10 for elbows, your how many hundred ahead of the game already? lol
 


Yea ahead I will be! $4to500 bucks on something I know I can do is ridiculous. Tryna come up with money I don't have was gonna be hard enough.. So every tool i'll need will be included in that 6 piece set, correct? Im excited and a little bit nervous to do it on my own, but guys like you on this form gives me that extra confidence I need. Really appreciate your helpful words mane! This forum always will be TOO USEFUL for ppl like me.
 
Also, these aluminum fittings.. Are they in stores yet? Like autozone,oreileys,etc. And does anyone recommend GM O-rings or are the O-rings that come with the aluminum elbows good enough?
 
dsmuts said:
Coolant elbows can be done with just a 15mm
Click to expand...

Don't yu think the whole set will be a better investment for the future? I absolutely have NO tools.. I'm very much a rookie when it comes to maintenance. But very much smart enough to figure things out.
 


My local autozone has the metal ones. What year car do you have? The 97/98 had a tensioner that has the lower elbow cast into it. These can break... That is prob why they mentioned it. There is always markup on parts when you go to a shop. Which is also why if you don't like the price tell them and they will most likely work with you to get the price down. But if you can do the work yourself, it is always cheaper. Keep in mind the plastic elbows do break inside the lower manifold and need pryed out... Good luck
 
Z34Phoenix said:
My local autozone has the metal ones. What year car do you have? The 97/98 had a tensioner that has the lower elbow cast into it. These can break... That is prob why they mentioned it. There is always markup on parts when you go to a shop. Which is also why if you don't like the price tell them and they will most likely work with you to get the price down. But if you can do the work yourself, it is always cheaper. Keep in mind the plastic elbows do break inside the lower manifold and need pryed out... Good luck
Click to expand...
The lower elbows dont break the front cover does if you aren't careful in removal. Mechanics kept breaking front covers that's why they changed it in 99.

Sent from A Galaxy Far Far Away........
 
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