- Moderator
- #1
KANE
Moderator
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2002
- Messages
- 3,244
- Location
- KY
- Corvette
- Dark Blue 1982 Trans Am(s): Polo Green 1995 MN6
Many of us with TPI have bypassed the throttle body's coolant passage. I'd say that is "TB coolant bypass 1.0".
Unfortunately, it leaves most folks with unsightly fittings where hoses once connected on the front and side, that is, unless you remove the coolant passage entirely....
Look closely- NO COOLANT PASSAGE!
Although the picture above is from around April and I've been happily driving my Vette since June, you can plainly see there are no fittings on the side and front of the throttle body. I have custom Aeroquip fuel lines that run in the place once occupied by the side fitting. I removed the entire passage in order to clean up the appearance of the throttle body.
This isn't for the faint of heart- you'll be cutting into the throttle body coolant passage. Once you start- there is no turning back.
However, this is a very easy mod to do. After unbolting the IAC / coolant passage from the throttle body, you will need to remove the coolant passage portion completely, taking extra care to ensure the IAC passage remains intact. You'll need to retain the three Allen screws and fittings that surround the IAC's portion of the housing. This is best accomplished with a cutting wheel and a Dremel.
Afterwards, you can clean up the edges of the IAC housing with a grinding wheel to give it an almost OEM appearance. As for sealing the IAC passage, you can also use the IAC portion of an OEM gasket or make your own.
Simple. Clean. Effective. Your throttle body will look as if it never needed a coolant passage when you are done.
Unfortunately, it leaves most folks with unsightly fittings where hoses once connected on the front and side, that is, unless you remove the coolant passage entirely....
Look closely- NO COOLANT PASSAGE!
Although the picture above is from around April and I've been happily driving my Vette since June, you can plainly see there are no fittings on the side and front of the throttle body. I have custom Aeroquip fuel lines that run in the place once occupied by the side fitting. I removed the entire passage in order to clean up the appearance of the throttle body.
This isn't for the faint of heart- you'll be cutting into the throttle body coolant passage. Once you start- there is no turning back.
However, this is a very easy mod to do. After unbolting the IAC / coolant passage from the throttle body, you will need to remove the coolant passage portion completely, taking extra care to ensure the IAC passage remains intact. You'll need to retain the three Allen screws and fittings that surround the IAC's portion of the housing. This is best accomplished with a cutting wheel and a Dremel.
Afterwards, you can clean up the edges of the IAC housing with a grinding wheel to give it an almost OEM appearance. As for sealing the IAC passage, you can also use the IAC portion of an OEM gasket or make your own.
Simple. Clean. Effective. Your throttle body will look as if it never needed a coolant passage when you are done.