Aluminum replacement for plastic rear coolant bypass joint

@Jowett I am very much wanting to get an aluminum version of this. The parts seem to be back ordered at many Lexus parts suppliers. Staying tuned…

 

What would the torque spec for this be? Same as with the rubber gaskets?

 

Did you try making it in metal yet? Check out PolyCast printer filament- it’s designed to burn out without any ash residues for casting the same way you do with wax. You’d be able to cast the part with Aluminum this way! I’m going to try it also, thanks for your STL files!

 

I just used the metal one from Jowett’s post. The shop was able to install it. We put a silicone hose elbow and capped off the smaller port. It works fine. No leaks.

 

Looking at his photo- there are 5 ports on the aluminum one(not counting the three at the bottom) and two on top are stuck together. Does the Tacoma plastic one have only 2 on top (not counting the three on the bottom)? If so, what 3 ports did you seal, or am I missing some?

 

On the aluminum one…There are the three on the engine side, one that comes out opposite toward the firewall (5/8) and a small one (5/16) that comes upward out of the top.
The original part has the three engine side ports and the one (5/8) that comes up to the heater hose. I plugged the smaller port (5/16)

 

Thanks for the details, appreciate it!

 

On the aluminum it looks like there are two small ports side by side but those are mounting points for something else. They are threaded holes. The last hole you see that are in the same spot on both parts is the installation point for the coolant temp sensor. I recommend changing that if you’re gonna do this job. It’s like a $20 part.

 

can you give the part# you used? I can’t find it. Maybe I’m blind.

 

If you go in from the top you’ll need the set of three DI seals per injector and the upper and lower intake manifold gaskets.

I used a cap from the auto parts store to cap off the smaller port and a “LS Swap” silicone elbow cut to shape with an aluminum union to make it all fit.

The torque spec is 13lbs for the joint.

 

@Kidneypunch any pics of the parts used to modify the joint?

And good looking out about the injector seals. I'm planning to pick up the lexus crossover pipe and seals, and install them when I pull the intake to install a manifold spacer. Figure make it all one job, might do my plugs at the same time.

 

I should tell you this is not a part that is easily installed as a “might as well while I’m in there”.

I believe the manifold spacer is installed on top of the lower manifold. To access this part the lower manifold and lower fuel rails and many other little support brackets need to come off. Plus you may need to remove the passenger side down pipes to reach the bolts on the bottom because that outlet sits right above the lower bolt to install the bypass joint.

Also get the MLS gaskets