Need Advice with Leaky Rad Connector

[Already Gone]

I don't know what you call the chrome piece in the pic but it the connector from the upper rad hose to the intake manifold. The chrome connector was on the truck when I bought it and has been seeping for a few years but got real bad the last little while so I drained the antifreeze cleaned everything up put on a new gasket and even put in a new thermostat because it was open. My first question is did I do it right. I put black RV silicone on the intake flange (and let it all dry for 24 hours ) and on the chrome housing and also put a new gasket in as well. I even Loc Tited the bolt and somehow they don't seem right to me for this application. Now my second question is this chrome piece had Taiwan stamped inside it and we all know the quality of some 0f the off shore stuff isn't the best. Would I be better to get an original cast/steel connector to seal this up or diid I do something wrong when fixing. The two wet marks are the leaks after the truck was running for 2 minutes.