Coupler for LT1 throttle Body
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
Coupler for LT1 throttle Body I have wound up with a new in box Spectre intake elbow. The silicone couplers that came in the box appear to be of reasonable quality but when stretched around the oval end that actually mates to the throttle body there are small gaps that would let in unfilter/unmetered air.
The clamps are pretty standard worm gear type. The gaps persist even with the clamp as tight as is reasonable.
The coupler does not appear to be over sized - more that the clamp needs to be different to accomodate the shape. At the round end that mates to the MAF the clamp applies equal pressure all the way around . So, it seals as you would expect.
Is there a fancy clamp out there or do I just need a more flexible coupler that requires that it really be stretched on in order to seal?
Thanks
Jon
The clamps are pretty standard worm gear type. The gaps persist even with the clamp as tight as is reasonable.
The coupler does not appear to be over sized - more that the clamp needs to be different to accomodate the shape. At the round end that mates to the MAF the clamp applies equal pressure all the way around . So, it seals as you would expect.
Is there a fancy clamp out there or do I just need a more flexible coupler that requires that it really be stretched on in order to seal?
Thanks
Jon
TECH Veteran
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 4,985
Likes: 112
IDK about the Spectra stuff...maybe harvest the "oval" shaped clamp from the stock intake elbow if you have it to use on the spectra coupler to get it to seal
or maybe try and "train" the large worm drive clamp you have buy forming it over the TB itself without the silicone coupler to see if it better holds that shape when used with coupler and it does seal it
Your car will dump fuel big time if you have a vacuum leak from that connection so it needs to be solid
or maybe try and "train" the large worm drive clamp you have buy forming it over the TB itself without the silicone coupler to see if it better holds that shape when used with coupler and it does seal it
Your car will dump fuel big time if you have a vacuum leak from that connection so it needs to be solid
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 68
Likes: 1
Thank you for taking the time to reply.
I don't see a way to upload pics while responding from my phone . But as per a number of posts from other members I went to the hardware store and purchased a rubber union from the plumbing section. 4" is too big and 3.5" doesn't exist but by putting a 3" union in hot water it was pliable enough to shoe horn union onto the intake elbow.
Sounds pretty "ghetto" but it actually looks perfectly reasonable and seals up nicely.
Chalk one up for the DIY crowd .
Thanks again,
Jon
I don't see a way to upload pics while responding from my phone . But as per a number of posts from other members I went to the hardware store and purchased a rubber union from the plumbing section. 4" is too big and 3.5" doesn't exist but by putting a 3" union in hot water it was pliable enough to shoe horn union onto the intake elbow.
Sounds pretty "ghetto" but it actually looks perfectly reasonable and seals up nicely.
Chalk one up for the DIY crowd .
Thanks again,
Jon
