Pre-heater hose connection

[flamingchariots]

While looking at the pre-heater hose from underneath, I see a hole in what it attaches to.
What part is that?  (Sorry for the ignorant question).
Can it be patched or does it need to be replaced?

[carnuck]

It just allows warm air into the air cleaner to keep the carb from freezing.

[profeagle]

That part is called - heat stove or in my day we called it a choke stove. Provides warm air to carb during warm up, so nice to have in working condition if car is used in cold weather and you want to drive away right after starting without hesitation/stalling, at least that's the theory.

replacement is best as when badly rusted out it's impractical to try repair, not that it's been done by some. 

[flamingchariots]

So, is a replacement part available for this?
The car is driven mostly in cold weather.

Does anyone have a picture of one off the car?

[carnuck]

Choke stove is actually around the choke and rod style early chokes (last used by AMC on 232s in '79) electric chokes don't need them. The assembly used to be available new. They changed twice during Eagle production (for the 4.2L) When they went to the separate intake exhaust mid '81 (same time as the plastic valve cover from what I have seen) it changed slightly and early may not fit late and vice versa. I'll have one if I ever have time to swap my manifold out.

[BenM]

It's held on by blind rivets and should be the same for any 82+ AMC/Jeep 258.

It's not a precision part, so if your interested then fabricating your own is possible, or even repairing it with some steel and sheetmetal screws.