I have a coolant leak right here on a 4.0L. The steel nipple on the intake manifold seems to have been rusted through. My question is whether or not it's possible to unscrew it with a pipe wrench and screw in a replacement. My guess is that it must be a pipe thread connection since the intake manifold is aluminum. That thing cannot be welded on, not between steel and aluminum anyway, can it?

Thanks

 

WOA, Re-size the pic to 740x560.

It's a little hard to tell, but it could be welded on. Here is an instance where JB Weld would work perfectly for you.

Another option is going to the parts store/Ford and see if you can physically look at the replacement part, if it is threaded, then you know it can come out. If not, um, did I mention JB Weld?

 

How do I resize the pictures?

OK thanks for resizing it for me Nighthawk.

 

Here I did it for you (faster than telling), just edit your post and delete the pic.







Coppers original Pic:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y42...oolantLeak.jpg

 

Copper,
So what did you find out?
TIA,
Fordboy49

 

Hi Fordboy49:

I went through a search on Ford Intake Manifolds and it seems that the thingy there is indeed screwed in. Some guys also replaced them with brass barbed fittings and I think that would have been a fine thing to do. However, I also read that the thread there is usually rusted together solid due to the galvanic reaction between aluminum and steel. If you twist it too hard, the intake manifold can be broken right there. If that happens, the intake manifold can be repaired by welding on a flat piece of aluminum and that can be tapped for the fitting.

To be honest, I don't mind that if I was rebuilding the engine, and the intake manifold is out there in the open. But on the vehicle, I don't want to take chances, so I just polish up that nipple nicely. It turned out it's not the nipple that's leaking. I just have a pinhole on the heater hose, which shows up when I pressurize the cooling system with a tester. Neeless to say, I said my prayer to the Lord for sparing me, spliced in a short section of hose with a 5/8" copper tubing and then I was done.

If you intend to do that to your van, wait until you have an excuse to remove the intake manifold, heat up that area with a torch before twisting that thing off.

Regards

 

(cough)or use JB Weld(cough)

 

Nighthawk: I had my tube of JB Weld ready, but it didn't leak from the fitting. Maybe next time