Turbocharger coolant line recommendation?

[MustangsMilden]

Hi:

Looking for any recommendations on a replacement for the turbo coolant line tube that connects on the side nearest to the exhaust manifold. While previously pulling the engine to do some work on it, I removed the turbocharger and the metal coolant tube that extends out past the manifold toward the front was destroyed in the process. I've been trying to find an aftermarket replacement part but haven't been successful. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated so I can get this damn project over with.

[gbeaird]

Heh, I had to cut mine off so I could get a socket and half-inch pull handle on the assembly at the turbo. I feel your pain, but had a replacement stainless set from Forced4D.

AFAIK, you're going to have to fab something up yourself, unless you get extremely lucky and find a NOS part or someone selling their replacement set that Forced4d did a few years ago. The fitting end on the turbo is a flare nut fitting on a pipe-to-flare adapter that screws into the turbo. You could replace that with something else to help your fabrication work. I think if I had to replace that now, I might attempt to get some stainless tubing and bending something close, or just may go to AN fittings and some hose. Probably a -8 AN flare to 1/2" barb on the turbo end, and a 1/2" barb to -8 AN 90-degree elbow at the cooling line end and some 1/2" braided line between.

It's not going to be cheap, but if you don't have a tubing bender that can do 1/2" tubing, you won't have to get the bender/flaring tool and stainless tubing.

[svono50]

Another option that I have seen would be to make up a fitting arrangement to enter the turbo from the strut tower side vs engine side, barb fitting would work. Then run some high-temp hose around the compressor outlet/housing toward the front of the car and then over to the outlet next to the valve cover. The hose would be kept away from the manifold and any other 'hot' surfaces and should work nicely, even it it is exposed a bit. Would be a bit simpler than Gene's 'fancy fitting' solution...

[gbeaird]

When you have a big box of AN fittings and hoses, and the tools to build the hoses, every solution is AN!

But yeah, going that route would ease the tight corner restrictions. I'd never thought of that.

[MustangsMilden]

Thanks for the replies provided. I'm currently pursuing a potential 'aftermarket' option I just found and will post an update if it in-fact works out.

[MustangsMilden]

Found this aftermarket Turbo coolant line (Kinugawa) that fits perfectly into the T3 turbo coolant inlet port . Thread size (M16 X 1.5mm) is the exact size required. Coolant tube fits perfectly with the close clearances (picture will follow). Tube appears to be well made and for the price, you can't beat it. You receive two coolant tubes at this price, no option to buy just one but that's perfectly fine. http://shopping.kinugawaturbo.com/di...0gt35-2-1.aspx

[MustangsMilden]

Coolant tube clearance

Photo of Kinugawa coolant tube connected to the turbocharger.

[roberto2000]

That is a sweet find!

[SVOeric]

yeah, no reason that shouldnt work just fine, as long as it can handle the heat coming off the turbo...
which I think it should

[svono50]

And it uses AN fitting/hose, so Gene will be happy...

[gbeaird]

And it uses AN fitting/hose, so Gene will be happy...

Mmmmmmm, AN!

[GAboySVO]

Just an FYI, my brother has worked with a tube company in FL to make duplicates of the Forced Ford Stainless Steel replacements. He will be posting info and part numbers soon.

[ciscokid]

water port size

Found this aftermarket Turbo coolant line (Kinugawa) that fits perfectly into the T3 turbo coolant inlet port . Thread size (M16 X 1.5mm) is the exact size required. http://shopping.kinugawaturbo.com/di...0gt35-2-1.aspx

Humm, I thought the water ports on the T3 were NPT threads. The picture of the water line in the link shows copper washers which would be used to seal a non-tapered port, which a M16x1.5 straight thread would be, but I don't see that you used them in the picture of your installation. If it all fits and works OK in your setup that's great, but it seems odd. No leaks?

[MustangsMilden]

Turboharger coolant line recommendation

Humm, I thought the water ports on the T3 were NPT threads. The picture of the water line in the link shows copper washers which would be used to seal a non-tapered port, which a M16x1.5 straight thread would be, but I don't see that you used them in the picture of your installation. If it all fits and works OK in your setup that's great, but it seems odd. No leaks?

Good question.

Package came with a copper washer but the photo I took to illustrate 'clearances' was with just the tube connected (no washer). I'm going to actually finish the installation this coming weekend but will still have to finish up re-installing all the other engine components since I previously pulled the engine to do work on it. Hoping to "start it up" sometime in January.

[ciscokid]

I checked a spare turbo that I have off of an 85.5 and the water ports fit a 3/8 NPT fitting perfectly. 3/8 NPT diameter at the top of the threads is 16.6mm and the pitch is 18 threads per inch which is a pitch of 1.41 mm. So those dimensions are not a long way from M16x1.5. One might work on the other, and the way a pipe thread is tapered the M16x1.5 would likely thread into it. it will be interesting to see how it works on your setup.