BBK TB Install. Flex hose not fitting?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
BBK TB Install. Flex hose not fitting?
Just installed my new BBK TB on L98.
Can not stretch mouth of flex hose from MAF to fit opening of new TB.Heated in hot water , tried spare I have , unable to fit.
At least 1/4 short when one side fitted.
Used duct tape to make connection and runs great but don't think tape will endure under hood temps.
Going racing tomorrow
Any tips?
Can not stretch mouth of flex hose from MAF to fit opening of new TB.Heated in hot water , tried spare I have , unable to fit.
At least 1/4 short when one side fitted.
Used duct tape to make connection and runs great but don't think tape will endure under hood temps.
Going racing tomorrow
Any tips?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
have you tried leaving the MAF sensor off and sticking your fingers through the hole and pushing it around the TB? I have done this with both my BBK 52mm TB and my holley 58mm TB and the boot slid on with little effort in both cases.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Originally Posted by FD2BLK
have you tried leaving the MAF sensor off and sticking your fingers through the hole and pushing it around the TB? I have done this with both my BBK 52mm TB and my holley 58mm TB and the boot slid on with little effort in both cases.
Thanks for the advice.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 17,367
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
Mine was a tight fit also, but found that heating it with a hair dryer losened it enought to squeeze on the BBK 52mm. I heated it and then put one side on and kinda twisted back and forth until it went on. After I got it on the 1st time it would squeeze back on without heat anytime after that.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: Scranton Pa
TB Power Coupler...
I had same difficulties. No one tells you that it's not a direct replacement. I called several parts places and Ekler's said they had a part that would solve the problem. $100 later (almost) and I had a COMPLETELY WORTHLESS part. I recently sold to someone else for less of a loss than I would have taken to return it. With all of the Vettes out there having their TBs replaced, you think that one of the mfgs would create an adapter for the stock coupler?!? NO!!!
I tried a hair dryer, boiling water, etc. It will not stretch enough w/o an incredible amount of force. I ended up borrowing a Porta-Power from a neighbor to get it to stretch enough (had to heat it w/a hair dryer while stretching it). Before you put the coupler back on the TB, you need to use a little Heat Sink lube ($3 at Pep Boys) one the inside of the coupler surface that slides onto the TB. Once attached, after the engine has temp cycled a few times, the coupler "mouth" will retain its new "sizing" indefinitely.
Shame on Ekler's for giving "dubious" information just so they could sell another worthless part!
I tried a hair dryer, boiling water, etc. It will not stretch enough w/o an incredible amount of force. I ended up borrowing a Porta-Power from a neighbor to get it to stretch enough (had to heat it w/a hair dryer while stretching it). Before you put the coupler back on the TB, you need to use a little Heat Sink lube ($3 at Pep Boys) one the inside of the coupler surface that slides onto the TB. Once attached, after the engine has temp cycled a few times, the coupler "mouth" will retain its new "sizing" indefinitely.
Shame on Ekler's for giving "dubious" information just so they could sell another worthless part!
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,655
Likes: 24
From: Charleston SC
Originally Posted by rodj
Ended up doing it your way but had to slit flex in order to get enough stretch.Sealed wiyh a bit of silicone.
Thanks for the advice.
Thanks for the advice.
.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 65,811
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From: Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I had a bitch of a time getting the hose on a BBK I had on my LT1 for awhile, although it sounds as if your fit was even worse than mine. It is the first and last BBK I'll ever have. No real excuse for such things with what the pieces of s**t cost new.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 322
Likes: 1
From: Los Gatos, CA
found another way
I had the same problem. I used a propane torch, got it hot enough to just get soft and stretched it about 5 or 6 times. If you are careful not to overheat you can make it work in about 10 minutes or less (that was after several hours of trying other methods).
Good luck
Good luck
