1975 coolant leak / heater hose questions

[valkyrcustoms]

So I rebuilt the 32 ADFA weber and got it installed, removed all of the emissions parts (no emissions requirement here in Texas) replaced the rubber fuel lines and inline filter and was able to get her running. She sounds great and i checked out how the bottom end sounds with my mechanics stethoscope. All is good there but I do have a coolant leak at the "water neck" where it connects to the "T" where the radiator hoses that go to the top of the radiator (driver side) and to the thermostat (passenger side) go. It turns out that the threads on the water neck to bolt down the water T are stripped on the lower bolt. My question is: can i simply repair the threads with a heli coil or similar thread repair implement or would it e better to replace the water neck entirely. If replacment is the only option, where can I find one or what is it really called?

Also, in keeping with the cooling system, my spider came eqquiped with a dealer installed underdash AC unit in the passenger footwell but it seems that the heater core has been disconnected as there are a few heater tubes peeking out of the firewall in the engine bay. I"m not sure if this was done by the dealer or a previous owner but a heater would be nice to use when the temps drop (yes it can get cold in Texas). Ca anyone point me in the direction of a picture or diagram of how and where the heater core is connected? I read about a metal tube that runs along the passenger side of the engine that is for the heater core but this is missing as well so I"m not sure what t looks like or where it goes. I love that she has the dealer AC but it"s also missing the compressor and bracket. The compreso I"m not too worried about but i"ve not been able to find a bracket. Is there a parts dealer that carries them or should i just make a custom one? Where would it be best to mount the compressor? Driver or passenger side, u top, or down low? My alternator is on the passenger side down low, I think, or maybe on the driver side. Can"t rember right this second.

Any help or advice from the Spider pro{s would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[So Cal Mark]

you can use a helicoil but there isn't much material there. Water tees are available, so that's the easiest way to go.

[valkyrcustoms]

Thank you Mark. Correct me if I'm wrong though, the threads are not on the water T itself but on the water neck that attaches to the head. Perhaps I'm just remembering it incorrectly. What parts dealers have the water T available?