hot positive & stripped threads (aluminum vs. steel)

[foxxinabox at wideopenwest.com (Foxx (in a box))]

   finally got around to replacing a leaky water pump last night, 
housing and all. also threw on a different compressor (due to the p.o. 
apparently not believing cross-threading is possible) and a different 
alternator (pivot hole slightly loose). i was able to put most 
everything back together but have some problems still.
   when i was putting anit-freeze back into the car i touched the 
positive terminal on the battery and it was very hot. i don't recall it 
ever being hot before, though i've never went to specifically touch it, 
and everything electrical seems fine. no battery light on the cluster, 
no dimming of lights or slowing of fan. is something wrong or have i 
simply missed something for all these years?
   also, i'm not able to hook up my a/c lines. due to the cross 
threading, one of the fittings has aluminum crushed into the teeth. i 
haven't really gotten into it, but is there an easy way to extract the 
aluminum so that my fitting will work? any helpful hints would be 
appreciated. thanx.

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