Brass water fittings

[Mark Maulden]

i have to replace the heat exchanger on my old Volvo MD 17C engine. Instead of paying $1600.00 for the OEM, i had one made for $350.00. I now have to mount it remotely and use heater hose instead the the preformed Volvo copper tube. I should have done this years ago for various reasons. The brass ports on the new heat exchanger are yellow brass 1/2" FNPT ports. I need 1/2" MNPT to 5/8 barb. I priced these at the local independent auto parts store for about $9.xx/fitting. Also need some 45s etc same price. I notice online, i can get them for $2.39/fitting. All "brass". Are there different qualities of brass? I cannot get the meterallugical breakdown of either...anybody else run into a similar dilemma? Should I pony up?

 

[Bob J.]

Try a local Plumbing Supply House for pricing & be sure to ask for "American" made fittings.
Personally I wouldn't buy brass fittings on line, there's some real junk out there.

 

[waterpirate]

Local plumbing house is going to give you lead free brass. Not needed in your application. The lead free brass is not even close to the quality of the leaded stuff. In order of preference:
1. Canadian
2. Taiwan
3. never never ever from china. That crap has odd threads as well as a proclivity to splitting when torqued, and the shit loves to leak.

 

[Mark Maulden]

I called the heat exchanger mfgr and asked him what he recommends and uses as a source. He referred me to Industrial Supply and has a local outlet. $2.xx/fitting. Made in Kansas!

 

[Bob J.]

Local plumbing house is going to give you lead free brass.

Normally one would specifically ask for "lead free" brass based upon the intended application but that does bring up a good point. Good catch!