The Pipe of Agony

[DeLorean03]

So tomorrow, I am re-assembling the engine, and I know I will be getting to the "pipe of agony" - the idle speed motor pipe.

I'm all about learning lil' tricks to make stuff like this easier, so my question: is there any "easier way" of installing this pipe back into the side of the intake? My idea was to shine a flashlight through the hole and leave it there. That way, when I get the pipe aligned right with the hole in the side of the intake, the beam of light would be blocked, giving me a good indication that the pipe is indeed installed.

Any other ideas like that? Just figured I'd ask!

[ccurzio]

In all honesty I wish I had an answer for this, but in the one time I've had to yank out all of this stuff and put it back together, replacing the so-called "pipe of agony" actually didn't present any issues for me whatsoever. I didn't even know about its nickname until AFTER I did the procedure, and my reaction was "that's what it's called? THAT thing? WHY?"

Maybe I was just lucky, but it was dead easy for me to get that thing back to where it was supposed to be. I never understood the nickname.

[DMCMW Dave]

Push the air flap wide open so you can see the target hole from the inside with a small flashlight. This give you an idea of where you are aiming the pipe. You can also see the light coming out of the hole underneath so you can tell where it is. You will still be kind of working by feel. You also want to see the pipe come through the hole from the inside, when you can see the whole tapered end you can tell it's all the way in. A common mistake is to only get it partway in, and the taper causes the leak.

[jawn101]

I agree with Dave and Chris, this really isn't anywhere near as hard as people make it out to be. I always do it with the idle speed motor, CSV and LH plug wires out of the way. Press down the air flap like Dave recommended and it will just slot right in. You'll be impressed how easy it will end up being after all the buildup around how hard it is.

Edit: Oops I misread who posted above :) Sorry Chris.

[Kenny_Z]

It didn't give me any trouble the first time I did it. But then I had to do it again because I flipped the distributor cap 180. The second time I realized why they called it that. I wonder if it is possible to use a coat hanger as a sort of guide to help line everything up? You'd need to rubber coat the end and maybe the entire thing to make sure it didn't scratch anything.

[Bitsyncmaster]

Putting the pipe in is not that hard. It's called the pipe of agony if you don't lock-tight the o-ring retaining ring in (brass cup). Then you will be pulling that pipe in and out many times.

[vwdmc16]

That pipe has always lived up to its name on my car, all the hoses and wires just want to be in the way in that back corner on my car. its just too busy over there and makes installing the tube a PITA. Soon my EFI will be done and all will be forgotten.:thumbup2:

[Dangermouse]

I think the amount if agony is proportional to the size of your hands. ;)

That and not following Dave M's suggestion above.

[David T]

If you are having a lot of trouble trying to get the pipe in another trick is to feed a stiff piece of wire into the mixture unit and out the hole. Once you get the wire through you use it as a guide (a guide wire) and thread the wire into the pipe and then insert the pipe into the mixture unit. Once in you remove the wire. All the while looking in past the air sensor watching the pipe enter. Use a twisting motion as the pipe enters the "O" ring. A little lubrication will make it go in easier too.
David Teitelbaum

[SS Spoiler]

When I blew my head gasket ten years or so ago, the NOS motor I got from Don Steger had a rubber hose and fitting that led from the air chamber to the cold start valve. The brass pipe was eliminated. When did this happen?

[DeLorean03]

Just wanted to come and say thank you to everyone who responded to this. Some good ideas and great instructions - hopefully I should get the engine re-assembled today. If not, oh well, there's always next week! Thanks again everyone!

[Morpheus]

Jeremiah, In addition to Dave S.' method, another good idea is to lube the pipe a bit with some dielectric grease on the outside. Just a thin film will do, enough to help get past the o-ring without displacing it. I learned this trick on my first VOD teardown, and have used it on every one since with no problem.

[Farrar]

When I blew my head gasket ten years or so ago, the NOS motor I got from Don Steger had a rubber hose and fitting that led from the air chamber to the cold start valve. The brass pipe was eliminated. When did this happen?

I've heard of this mod but never seen it... replace the pipe with a brass nipple and bit of hose. I guess someone thought it was worth the trouble.

[DeLorean03]

Hey guys,

So my friend Jason was working with me tonight, and I told him about where the hole in the mixture unit was and guided him as I looked in the air sensor plate. He nailed the hole in the mixture unit first try. It was simply amazing. I couldn't believe we got it so easily the first try.

Thank you everyone for your help, thoughts, and procedures! It'll make a good thread for whoever does this next and needs some great ideas!

[DMCMW Dave]

I've heard of this mod but never seen it... replace the pipe with a brass nipple and bit of hose. I guess someone thought it was worth the trouble.

That's not a mod. I've seen that configuration on the crate engines but never on a production car. I don't know the history but it was probably a late-arrival production improvement.

[Farrar]

That's not a mod. I've seen that configuration on the crate engines but never on a production car. I don't know the history but it was probably a late-arrival production improvement.

Thanks for clearing that up, Dave! I've never seen it in person.

[painterdave72]

I have seen that on one car.. it was a 20thousand series vin that is in kansas city..makes it much easier to deal with!

[Chris4099]

Thank you everyone for your help, thoughts, and procedures! It'll make a good thread for whoever does this next and needs some great ideas!

Good to hear! You can now call it the "pipe of minor inconvenience" like I do now. :)

[John Rogers]

I've heard of this mod but never seen it... replace the pipe with a brass nipple and bit of hose. I guess someone thought it was worth the trouble.

71210 This photo shows the pipe in question from engine number 10092 (VIN unknown) that we are fitting into our car VIN 16259 with engine number 9026. To install the trick is to attach the rubber hose to the pipe (that goes to the idle motor) and, after removing one of the spark plug leads from the distributor, slide the fuel distributor etc into place from the firewall end of the engine bay.