98 Firebird Water bypass tube

[a4gb1]

Has anyone ever had to replace an upper or lower water bypass tube on a V6 3.8 Firebird? I was able to get the parts (upper and lower tubes with O'rings) at a local GM dealer but I really don't know what has to be removed to replace these plastic tubes? It looks like 1 end goes to the heater hose and the other towards the block but I canot see far enough back. I am really wondering if it requires alot and I should get the car towed to a shop and have them do the repairs.

[89IROC&RS]

cant say as ive ever done those hoses, the best way to check, is line the hose up over top the manifold. if you can see where one end is, laying the other one on top in roughly the same position will give you an idea of what youre getting into.

my advice, when in doubt, take it in. the dealership will charge alot more to come in halfway into the job, and will not warranty any of the work.

[a4gb1]

Well I replaced the Water bypass tubes myself. These parts are an accident waiting to happen. The water bypass tubes are hardened plastic tubes about 1/2 inch in diameter that only get held into the block by a flanged end with a rubber O'ring at the block end and the same at the other end which is part of the belt tension assembly. To replace you must disconnect the neg. battery, remove the alternator, tension assembly, tension pully and pull straight out towards the radiator. I would suggest replacing both at the same time since everything has to be removed and it will only be a matter of time before the other fails. I used a little vasoline on both ends and it snaps right into place. Once everything was back together added some water and had to purge air out from cooling system because no water was going to engine block. Engine warmed up nicely, heater worked and checked and had no leaks.

Amazing part of all of this parts only cost $16.00 from a dealer. For the life of me cannot figure out how GM came up with sucka$$ piece of Sh*# design to start with.

[89IROC&RS]

well played good sir. (or ma'am),

as for the design, well, that you can chalk up to penny pinchers. im sure engineers wanted to make it out of metal and just like in fight club, penny pinchers calculated that the benifit of the money saved outweighed the possible maintanence issues that might arise, and so, plastic tubes it is.