Plugging heater lines?

[mike_starling]

Guys,

The short Ford Racing water pump is finally in. Appears to be aluminum. Came with heater hose nipples.

What is the best approach for removing the nipples so that the holes can be treaded for plugs?

Thanks!

 

[Gary Gibbs]

Never removed one before, but should be a press fit. Probably could use pipe wrench to rotate the nipple out. Another option is to use a short hose and plug with two clamps.

 

[Howard Jones]

Never done it either, but I would try the following. Put the waterpump into hot water and get it nice and warm. Now pack pipe nipple with cracked ice from your blender. Give it a min or so to cool steel nipple and carefully turn pipewrench. Let us know how it worked. I take all kinds of things apart this way.

 

[Ron Earp]

They don't come out easily. I tried using a wrench but it would not budge and I crushed it. Eventually, the dang thing was sawed off right at the pump and tapped. Worked great. Gary's method will also work great.

They need to start selling these damn things with two threaded holes so you can either put a pipe in there or a threaded plug.

 

[Hershal Byrd]

I have done several and it seems to work best by caving in the side of the nipples as far as you can then squeeze the nipple shut with vise grips. Heat the base of the nipple with a propane torch and twist the vise grips back and forth while heating. So far all of mine have come loose easily. I then tap and plug the holes.

Hersh /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Lynn Larsen]

Mike,

Take one of them to your header tank (return line). The other one can be capped with these cool little rubber condoms that slip down over them and hose clamp on. Seriously, they look like a rubber tip off of a chair leg or a cane. If you got a BOM from John, I think the NAPA part number for them is on there. If not, let me know if you want to check them out and I'll look it up for you.

Regards,
Lynn