Coolant Elbow(s?) on 98 GTP

hello, I apoligize for not taking the time to introduce myself, but I have a problem that's driving me up the wall and through the ceiling.

I'm doing the intake gaskets and lifters on my gtp, and I simply cannot remove the tensioner/alternator bracket. I've gotten the three bolts, and I bought new elbows, so I just cut the one going to the lim in half. however, it just pivots around on something i assume to the the second elbow, except where the elbow is supposed to be, it looks like it just disappears into the waterpump housing. I've done at least 4 hours of research and cant find anything related to my problem. I would just replace the elbow I cut out and not worry about taking the bracket completely off, but I'm not interested in having to tear it down again just because of something as stupid/simple as this. I should mention it is quite cold in the garage due to winter, which makes everything 100x more resistant/brittle than usual.

I cannot locate the camera, otherwise I'd have taken a picture of the problem area. I look forward to participating in the community more when I get through with this mess


EDIT: heres a stock photo with the problem area circled



EDIT2: I have the 97-style mount with the cast fitting instead of the elbow, any tips/tricks to getting it out? I've tried wiggling, gently tapping and pulling with no avail

Let me see if i can help a little bit. Once the old elbows are out make sure you did not leave anything behind. They tend to break,leaving some of the plastic inside the hole.


Have you done that? Do you just need help installing it? I did not really get what you were asking.


It's been a while but I belive on the 97 and up you had to have the tensioner bracket removed to be able to install either of the 2 elbows. You may have to take it off then re-install it making sure both of the elbows go where they need to be before you tighten the tensioner bracket down again.


Hope that helps.


If it didn't let me know.


Welcome to the forums!

sorry if that didnt make sense, it appears the previous owner has used an older style bracket with only one elbow, and the other being a cast fitting with an o-ring (instead of the lower elbow). I solved the problem of why the bracket didnt look like the ones everyone else has, now I was just looking for any tips to get that bugger out. I'll try applying some penetration oil and see if that wont help at least

Oh it's cool. Now what are you trying to get out? The elbow that has boken off in there or what?

nah, the cast fitting isn't budging, I'm betting its a combination of the o-ring being cold and some dirt. sprayed it up with some penetrating oil to help it slide and I'll use a heat gun to try and warm it up a bit. I just cut the plastic elbow out previously because I had a replacement set on hand

sure been a learning experience for me, if nothing else I now know my way around the engine bay for future mods better than before, and not to attempt anything gasket-related in the cold. Thanks for the help