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My heater hose on my 77, is leaking at the intake manifold, the hose runs from there down to the water to the water shut off valve. The question that I have, can I go to the local parts house and pick up a couple of feet of hose. My concern is It too much of a bend, coming off the intake manifold over the valve cover and down to the shut off valve. Will the bend, at the valve cover, restrict flow of the coolant in the hose.. Or should I order hoses from a vendor, that come pre bent, its going to cost a few bucks.. Picking up a length of hose and local place will be much cheaper.
One more thing, is that 5/8 or 3/4 hose that I need..
If it was on my car I would change both hoses.
Slice the hose and peel the hose back and be careful not to move the heater box connections.
If you have A/C you will need molded hoses.
I get what you’re saying, I replace the hoses just like 3 or 4 years ago, when I did the heater core. The rest of them are fine, it’s this one particular hose that goes from the shut off, up to the intake. Will I need a molded hose from the Intake to the valve. ?
I tried using plain old 3/4 and 5/8 hose to do the heater runs from the intake and water pump. But, the bend the hoses take under the car near the heater core nipples is too severe and kinked the hoses no matter how I fiddled with them. I ended up buying formed OEM style heater hoses. Works great.
Only A/C cars had the intake molded end on the 5/8" hose.
$30.00 for the 5/8" molded hose that you will only use half of...
Get a length of 5/8" heater hose long enough to go over the valve cover and A/C brace if equipped.
The reason for the slightly molded end was so the hose would fit under the brace to intake on both the L48 & L82.
If you want the stock appearance on a A/C equipped car you must use the $30.00 hose or you will end up with a kink in it...
I tried using plain old 3/4 and 5/8 hose to do the heater runs from the intake and water pump. But, the bend the hoses take under the car near the heater core nipples is too severe and kinked the hoses no matter how I fiddled with them. I ended up buying formed OEM style heater hoses. Works great.
A/C equipped cars:
Rock Auto Prices...
Gates #28473 90* 5/8" hose $12.89
Gates #28481 90* 3/4" hose $13.66
Yes, rock Auto rocks, for most things, but not all (definitely stay away from C3 brake calipers).
I also echo that anything you buy from RA, do not sit on it for long before installing. Their returns are easy-peasy, but you only have, I think, 30 days to do it.