Aluminum coolant elbow

**brandonl2000** · 06-18-2013

must be why you were slap OUT of gas today

**BillBoost37** · 06-19-2013

You know it

**100GRAND** · 07-21-2014

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

**brandonl2000** · 07-21-2014

that's horse ****. replace your elbows for $10 and be done with it.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-21-2014

x2 on the horse sh it lol guys f ing you over, genuine asshole mechanic.

heres the how to. 30 minutes of your time a simple socket set and its done for 12 bucks or less. http://www.grandprixforums.net/threa...coolant+elbows

i will say that alt bracket/tensioner is a 100 bucks new easy. chances are yours is just fine.

**100GRAND** · 07-21-2014

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

**Scottydoggs** · 07-21-2014

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.

**brandonl2000** · 07-21-2014

10mm, 13mm, 15mm, and an 8mm wrench for your battery cables. you can take the whole car down to the ground just about.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-21-2014

dont forget the almighty 18 mm.

**100GRAND** · 07-21-2014

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?

**Scottydoggs** · 07-21-2014

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

**100GRAND** · 07-21-2014

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.

**dsmuts** · 07-21-2014

Coolant elbows can be done with just a 15mm

**100GRAND** · 07-21-2014

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?

**100GRAND** · 07-21-2014

Originally Posted by dsmuts

Coolant elbows can be done with just a 15mm

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.

**Scottydoggs** · 07-21-2014

just buy a set. its a investment in your car. and many other uses.

the al elbows are at most local parts stores now.

**Z34Phoenix** · 07-22-2014

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

**dsmuts** · 07-22-2014

A set is a great investment. I still have my set I bought when I was 15

**Slick2500** · 07-22-2014

Originally Posted by Z34Phoenix

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

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........