Heater Hose
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 6
From: Denver Colorado
Heater Hose
I have a '72 LT1 coupe w/air conditioning. This is an original 19,000 mile survivor car. A few months ago the heater core decided to fail. Unfortunately I was several hours away from my house so I decided to have a service station re-route the heater hoses so I could replace the heater core at home. I told the mechanic to just remove the hoses at the heater core nipples and splice them together. When I got home and started the repair, to my horror I found that he didn't remove the hose clamps and slide the hoses off the nipples. He cut the hoses at the 90 deg. bends! I'm devastated. Here's my question. Who makes the correct reproduction hoses for this car? They are ribbed with the 5/8" hose having 1 solid white stripe the length of the hose and the 3/4" hose having 2 solid white stripes the length of the hose. These are the only markings. Thanks
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Most likely the hoses would not have come away cleanly from the heater core and if they truly are original, are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay past their intended life span.
Most of the reproduction hoses have some markings on the them, like the GM logo, which were not necessarily on the originals.
Most of the reproduction hoses have some markings on the them, like the GM logo, which were not necessarily on the originals.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
Most likely the hoses would not have come away cleanly from the heater core and if they truly are original, are waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay past their intended life span.
Most of the reproduction hoses have some markings on the them, like the GM logo, which were not necessarily on the originals.
Most of the reproduction hoses have some markings on the them, like the GM logo, which were not necessarily on the originals.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 98
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,159
Likes: 4,237
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 65,
I don't think I've seen original heater hoses with a stripe of any color on them.
Also, I believe the original hoses had various numbers of grooves cut in them to indicate the supplier, not raised ribs. If you look VERY carefully at the hose surface you can see the grooves, and not ribs that are raised above the surface of the rest of the hose.
Regards,
Alan
I don't think I've seen original heater hoses with a stripe of any color on them.
Also, I believe the original hoses had various numbers of grooves cut in them to indicate the supplier, not raised ribs. If you look VERY carefully at the hose surface you can see the grooves, and not ribs that are raised above the surface of the rest of the hose.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 179
Likes: 6
From: Denver Colorado
Thanks for the responses. This is what I have found. All original heater hose, whether it was a C-2 or C-3 had a set of ribs (or grooves or ridges, how ever you want to call them). Depending on year and engine application they had various markings. No one at this time reproduces the ribbed hoses for an A/C car. Dr.Rebuild sells hoses that are the closest in appearance, but with no ribs, so they are incorrect also. The original hoses are still soft and supple and the stub ends that were left on came right off. (The joys of living in Colorado and being in storage it's whole life). I will keep the old hoses for any reference and documentation if anyone is interested. Hopefully someone will reproduce them someday.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
