IAT question

Fighting5thSVT

Active member
I have my upper intake off, getting it ready to have powdercoated. I CANNOT get the fitting for the power brake hose or the IAT sensor to move. They both appear to be threadlocked? I can see red threadlock around the threads for the IAT. Is there a trick to removing them? Or can I just leave them in and cover them during the powdercoat? I am thinking that at minimum, the IAT would have to come out so nothing gets into the working end inside the intake. Any tips would be great!

Thanks in advance:tup:
 

WyoSyclone

Active member
Re: IAT question

you might try heating the aluminum with a hair dryer or a heat shrink tubing gun...don't use a torch! It doesn't take much to get aluminum to expand. After heating, put an ice cube on the fitting and see if it will crack loose (it should actually make a small cracking noise when it lets loose). It's taken 5 or 6 of these cycles with stuff I've worked on to get it to finally come loose. While the aluminum is hot you can also try to spray PB blaster on the threads.... If you can find who used red loctite on the threads please slap him for me.... ;)

Good luck... you may end up pulling the threads out of the aluminum which would then require a heli-coil.
 

Fighting5thSVT

Active member
Re: IAT question

you might try heating the aluminum with a hair dryer or a heat shrink tubing gun...don't use a torch! It doesn't take much to get aluminum to expand. After heating, put an ice cube on the fitting and see if it will crack loose (it should actually make a small cracking noise when it lets loose). It's taken 5 or 6 of these cycles with stuff I've worked on to get it to finally come loose. While the aluminum is hot you can also try to spray PB blaster on the threads.... If you can find who used red loctite on the threads please slap him for me.... ;)

Good luck... you may end up pulling the threads out of the aluminum which would then require a heli-coil.

IT WORKED! Thank you very much:tup:

I took it one step further and let the upper intake sit in the oven @ 170* for about 2 hours. Melted a few ice cubes on both fittings and with the help of 2 guys at work (both of them almost laying on the intake to keep it from moving- along with me basically hanging on the wrench).

But its free and the intake will be out for powdercoating later next week...

...Thanks Wyo:)
 

WyoSyclone

Active member
Re: IAT question

Cool! It's always worked for me... just takes a little patience.. and sometimes some friends! :D
 

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: IAT question

IT WORKED! Thank you very much:tup:

I took it one step further and let the upper intake sit in the oven @ 170* for about 2 hours. Melted a few ice cubes on both fittings and with the help of 2 guys at work (both of them almost laying on the intake to keep it from moving- along with me basically hanging on the wrench).

But its free and the intake will be out for powdercoating later next week...

...Thanks Wyo:)

Yup, the problem with that system is it also warmed up the sensor (which I think is brass) so they expanded together and it stayed tight. The trick, as mentioned, is to heat the manifold quickly so the sensor stays relatively cool which will then make it easier to remove.

Next time you'll know... :tup:
 

Fighting5thSVT

Active member
Re: IAT question

Yup, the problem with that system is it also warmed up the sensor (which I think is brass) so they expanded together and it stayed tight. The trick, as mentioned, is to heat the manifold quickly so the sensor stays relatively cool which will then make it easier to remove.

Next time you'll know... :tup:

AHHHHH...makes sense. Hopefully there won't be a next time though:roll:

Thanks!
 
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