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Can I remove heater hose without draining coolant?

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Old Mar 1, 2022 | 04:11 PM
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Default Can I remove heater hose without draining coolant?

So this hose (I think its a heater hose) that connects to my intake manifold... I think if I remove it I can get more give when putting on the stainless fuel pump to the carb line.. I loosened the clamp and it started slowly seeping out what looked like really nasty almost oil mixed coolant (brownish-green coolant)...retightened the clamp and came here to ask if I can just remove the top part out of the way for a bit or is it vital I drain the coolant.


Going to drain the coolant anyway at some point since the dash is off and PO unplugged everything related to the heater core so I'm assuming it's probably bad and leaking....went out and bought new heater hoses, new heater core, and a new water pump... but just wondering If I can quickly remove this hose and get the fuel pump line aligned so I can put the carb back on, start car, see if everything is working well with new fuel pump or do I have to drain the coolant to remove the top end of this hose.


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Old Mar 1, 2022 | 05:52 PM
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I removed that hose when I changed my valve covers gaskets last year. I lost some coolant but not a lot. You certainly won’t lose it all.
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Old Mar 1, 2022 | 06:21 PM
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Should lose very little from there.
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Old Mar 1, 2022 | 06:43 PM
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If you aren't ready to tackle the whole project now, you can put a plug in that hole and block the inlet to the water pump, too. If the car is cold, suck some coolant from the radiator first. You'll still spill some, but not a lot.

Even easier, if you are replacing hoses anyway, cut the hose at the top of the loop, and cut the other heater hose, and join them into a loop. You'll need a 5/8" to 3/4" converter, which you can get at a box Auto store.

These hoses are plugged in my 80 (one is a temp sender), and looped in my 79 (I replaced the upper nipple with a 3/4" to avoid a hose transition).


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Old Mar 1, 2022 | 07:00 PM
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If you take a level from the top of your radiator and get i plumb to the engine you will be able to tell how much fluid you would loose. THat hose is lower than your return hose to the radiator......BUT you did say the fluid is brown and gross. THats a good hint to drain it and your block adn have it flushed so you can get rid of the rust and garbage before it clogs your radiator. You can do it yourself with a good prestone flush but it takes some driving to keep circulating it and getting it up to temp.
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 06:04 AM
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Yup that's a heater hose. Yup, drain at least some of the coolant.
Big question is. How is this going to help install a fuel line on the carb. And why would you purchase a stainless fuel line? do you know how hard these things are to fit and seal?
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 10:23 AM
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Bingo! Hope the OP knows his will fit but there is NO give with stainless. Larger dia you go its worse.
Point is unless fit ia absolutely perfect you may have issues. Polished stainless is pretty but not worth it most times.
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 02:38 PM
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If your replacing the hoses just cut it back far enough and hold it higher then the rad. Then just bend and clamp the hose and you wont lose anything.
ditto on the ss fuel line
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Old Mar 2, 2022 | 04:11 PM
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It's a heater hose. It has coolant in it. Water finds its own level. Stainless steel isn't soft enough to make a good seal in an inverted flare fitting. Now, go forth and do great things!

Scotty
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Old Mar 11, 2022 | 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by 4-vettes
Yup that's a heater hose. Yup, drain at least some of the coolant.
Big question is. How is this going to help install a fuel line on the carb. And why would you purchase a stainless fuel line? do you know how hard these things are to fit and seal?
yeah idk man..Bought the SS line because steel was out of stock but after I argued with it for about two hours and then gave up and ordered a steel line.... May have also destroyed the stainless steel line out of rage
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