Heater Union Socket Size

[Garic]

Can anyone enlighten me on the socket size needed for the heater union? (Pic attached) I've got the head off for a BHG repair and figured I should replace the crush washers on this bad-boy connection while I'm at it. I searched the old threads for a clue but only found one guy claiming it's a 1 1/4 inch socket (see link below). This doesn't make much sense seeing as everything under the hood is metric... The TSRM has a great pic but says nothing about socket size needed and the largest socket I have, 24mm, is a bit too small...

Thanks for the help!

(http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14683&highlight=heater+union

 

[jdub]

32mm deep well...be careful, you might twist the union bolt off in the head. These are usually rusted on the inside

 

[Garic]

Thanks for the info jdub. Don't like the thought of shredding the union bolt upon removal... I'll try to be as gentle as my 18" breaker bar can be...:icon_wink

 

[cuel]

You'll find that some of the domestic and metric sizes are interchangeable. For instance, 7/16 and 11mm are almost identical, as well as 5/8 and 16mm. The bigger they are, the easier it is to interchange them. 1 1/4" should work quite well.

 

[IJ.]

I broke one off

 

[jdub]

Thanks for the info jdub. Don't like the thought of shredding the union bolt upon removal... I'll try to be as gentle as my 18" breaker bar can be...:icon_wink

I guess what I'm really saying is you might want to leave well enough alone (it looks in pretty good shape) or replace the bolt w/ a new one

 

[GrimJack]

Get a new one, they don't cost much. They are officially size baby buffalo.

 

[Garic]

I appreciate all the feedback! I had the same thought jdub (leave it alone - not leaking before) The engine has 183,000+ miles on it, maybe better to not disturb the thing? Baby buffalos are nothing to play with...

Has anyone had one of these fail/leak at the washers with high milage?

 

[jdub]

Personally I would get a new one + washers...Grim is correct, they don't cost that much. Like I said, the inside of these are usually rusted.

 

[Garic]

Well, it's done. Ordered a new heater union from Toyota today and it only set me back $19.50 - that's replacing both the union bolt and the neck portion that curves toward the passenger side of the head.

Now I just have to find a 32mm deep socket (found out my local Sears only sells up to 27mm deep sockets). Snap-On website sells one for about $45 but there must be a cheaper option out there...

 

[supramacist]

You got off light bro. And you may even get the right part the first time wich is an unegotiable here in my neck of the woods.

 

[jdub]

Got a 32mm deep socket at AutoZone iirc.

 

[IJ.]

I ended up pulling the motor to remove the broken off stub using a special tool for the job.....

While it was out I decided to "Tidy it up a little" that was many years and many many $$.$$$ ago

 

[Justin]

just be really carefull when you pull it off. I broke two of those on different heads... once with an impact gun, and again with a breaker bar.

 

[BlackDynamite]

pb blast it first and let it sit...to see if you can lossen it up a little...thats what i had to do on my nova(1973) when i replaced the timing chain and had to remove the water pump....simply put....i broke the one bolt i DIDN"T pb blast off in the block.......

 

[Garic]

Yesterday morning I finally got the old heater union off and the new one installed (had to let the old one soak with penetrating lubricant for a day or so). Tell you what, this tough-@ss bolt was #2 in difficulty only to loosening the monster crankshaft pulley bolt. I ended up needing about a 3 foot cheater bar extending my 18" breaker bar to get it off the head... and I was a little nervous about shearing it off...

I tagged on a few pics so you all could see how things turned out along with a comparison of the old (180,000+ mile) heater union vs new.

Anyway, thanks to those of you who posted in this thread with advice/help. I'm sure the info here will help someone else out - supramania rocks! :icon_bigg

 

[jdub]

Wow! For 180,000 miles, that is the best union bolt I have ever seen come out of a head

Nice job!

 

[figgie]

Shiney

I wonder if a 3 way Metric to AN fitting will fit back there

 

[jdub]

I ended up brazing an AN-12 weld bug to both the union bolt. Ran the stainless line to the HCV and used one of those "AN look" clamp fittings to secure. Worked well...did have to bend the firewall lip up a bit to clear the AN 90 fitting at the back of the head though when I dropped the motor in

 

[IJ.]

<pssst don't look now Dub is a ricer>