What’s with all these washers?

Troub said

Another question.....the hose connection at the base of the thermostat housing area is threaded. Is that actually removable or would it have done the old metal meld thing after all these years? Anyone ever thread one out?
My top connection looks like hell as well.

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Have you tried to heat the head where it screws in with propane torch??? Heat is good for loosening stuck threads... If the propane torch can't heat it enough, try acetylene torch, just be careful not to get it too hot and melt anything... Heat the metal around the base of the nipple to be orange, then put some vise grips on it and crank it out... Keep in mind that you want to heat the hole, not the nipple... If you heat the nipple, it will expand and be tighter, focus the heat around the hole when heating it up to loosen it... The theory is to make the threaded part smaller and the hole bigger to loosen it... If you can hit the inside of the nipple with some penetrating oil to cool the nipple down after heating the hole, that will also help loosen it up... Open the hole and shrink the plug is the theory for success here...

As far as a replacement nipple, I like the ones with a hex drive... You can order them from Grainger.... This one has the correct 3/8" pipe thread with a 3/4" hex to drive it in with a 3/4" deep well socket or open end wrench... I like this nipple as you will not have to use any bushings to adapt it...

GRAINGER APPROVED Brass Beaded Hose Barb with Straight Fitting Style, 3/8" Thread Size - 6AFH7|6AFH7 - Grainger


The original ones had slots at the top of the nipple to drive it in... PIA for us home mechanics... Hex drive is much easier...