Silicone hoses for C3
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Silicone hoses for C3
Hi!
I have intention to replace some heater hoses on my 71 and was wondering if some of you used silicone hoses in the past?
Do the hoses have to be pre-bent like they come from the factory or that doesn't matter?
I'm from Europe and have found a good supplier of quality auto silicone hoses in the UK and would love to use those instead of originals.
At lease I would save some money on customs and shipping.
Here is the link to the manufacturer:
http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/
Thanks for the feedback!
I have intention to replace some heater hoses on my 71 and was wondering if some of you used silicone hoses in the past?
Do the hoses have to be pre-bent like they come from the factory or that doesn't matter?
I'm from Europe and have found a good supplier of quality auto silicone hoses in the UK and would love to use those instead of originals.
At lease I would save some money on customs and shipping.
Here is the link to the manufacturer:
http://www.autosiliconehoses.com/
Thanks for the feedback!
Last edited by Primoz; Feb 7, 2016 at 04:27 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,623
Likes: 29
From: The Netherlands
Also Europe here 
I looked into getting these too, but I worried I wouldn't be able to make the bend required for the lower connection with my after market radiator.
Also I wasn't sure if a spring would have to be added to the silicone hose to prevent collapse. So I'd check those aspects as well.
In the end I just purchased the original hoses from one of the reputable vendors in The Netherlands. Here's the website, they are very knowledgeable on the early generations.
http://www.corvetteparts.nl/frames.phtml?lang=eng
I looked into getting these too, but I worried I wouldn't be able to make the bend required for the lower connection with my after market radiator.
Also I wasn't sure if a spring would have to be added to the silicone hose to prevent collapse. So I'd check those aspects as well.
In the end I just purchased the original hoses from one of the reputable vendors in The Netherlands. Here's the website, they are very knowledgeable on the early generations.
http://www.corvetteparts.nl/frames.phtml?lang=eng
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
Thank you very much for the info on the vendor! Will look into it!
Also Europe here
I looked into getting these too, but I worried I wouldn't be able to make the bend required for the lower connection with my after market radiator.
Also I wasn't sure if a spring would have to be added to the silicone hose to prevent collapse. So I'd check those aspects as well.
In the end I just purchased the original hoses from one of the reputable vendors in The Netherlands. Here's the website, they are very knowledgeable on the early generations.
http://www.corvetteparts.nl/frames.phtml?lang=eng
I looked into getting these too, but I worried I wouldn't be able to make the bend required for the lower connection with my after market radiator.
Also I wasn't sure if a spring would have to be added to the silicone hose to prevent collapse. So I'd check those aspects as well.
In the end I just purchased the original hoses from one of the reputable vendors in The Netherlands. Here's the website, they are very knowledgeable on the early generations.
http://www.corvetteparts.nl/frames.phtml?lang=eng
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,427
Likes: 1,560
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
If your Corvette has air conditioning you must use the molded (pre-bent) hoses, the straight hoses can kink or worse yet may put a strain on the heater core tubes and cause a heater core leak.
I have no experience with silicone hoses.
I have no experience with silicone hoses.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 297
From: Slovenia, EU
2017 C3 of Year Finalist
These and the radiator hoses were the ones that I had in mind when I asked about the silicone ones. The vacuum lines shouldn't be a problem though.
I'm planning to make an order on Willcox and just wanted to make sure so that I don't make unnecessary extra costs on shipping.
I'm planning to make an order on Willcox and just wanted to make sure so that I don't make unnecessary extra costs on shipping.
