Radiator hose brand

[joshwilson3]

What brand radiator hoses do you guys like? The lower hose is no longer available from the dealer, but they still have the upper hose I believe, but it is probably over priced.

I did get a Gates upper and lower hose for my 89, but the lower hose is bent different from the GM hose. And it comes with a crappy plastic sleeve in the middle. I was thinking of returning them and trying Dayco. Their lower hose has a nit mesh sleeve like the GM hose on my 89.

Or do any other recommendations? I had heard from someone that the Goodyear hoses had soft spots, so they returned them.

 

[gmjunkie]

The hose is still available from GM!
Used from 84-97
I use Genuine GM or Gates
Dayco in a pinch
Goodyear,Well as the name implies!!(Good for about a year!!)

gmpartsdirect.com: Alternate GM Catalog

 

[gmjunkie]

I'm sure the hose will have a spring in it!!Thats there to keep the hose from collapsing under acceleration!!

There site acts kinda flaky sometimes,it probly shows 2 because they have 2 in stock!!

I just checked them both and they came up fine!!I just emptied my shopping cart,Now check them!!:L

 

[joshwilson3]

I'm sure the hose will have a spring in it!!Thats there to keep the hose from collapsing under acceleration!!

There site acts kinda flaky sometimes,it probly shows 2 because they have 2 in stock!!

I just checked them both and they came up fine!!I just emptied my shopping cart,Now check them!!:L

Well, the aftermarket hoses don't have a spring in it.

It was showing up 2 different hoses for the upper and lower. They were both for a different year span. Like 88-89 and 85-97 for the lower hose.

Though it doesn't matter as you can only get one upper and one lower hose. If you add both of the upper or both of the lower hoses to your cart, you will end up with one when you check out.

 

[G Winter]

If memory serves me right Dayco is what GM used in late 70s early 80s . Don't know how long they used them.
I like using the factory spring clamps. Hoses have a habit of shrinking a short while after being installed new. This will cause them to leak at the clamps when you use the screw clamps. If you use screw clamps on new hoses be sure to tighten them a little periodically for the first while.

Glenn

 

[joshwilson3]

If memory serves me right Dayco is what GM used in late 70s early 80s . Don't know how long they used them.
I like using the factory spring clamps. Hoses have a habit of shrinking a short while after being installed new. This will cause them to leak at the clamps when you use the screw clamps. If you use screw clamps on new hoses be sure to tighten them a little periodically for the first while.

Glenn

Hmm. I think I may try and get the GM hoses. The hoses on my 89 are the original hoses. So, they've lasted 20 years. They do feel fine, but I'm gonna replace them anyways. Though, I did see a pic of a lower hose by Dayco, and it has the same looking sleeve on it as the GM hose. So, maybe they are the same? Though, I remember calling them a month back to see if their lower hose had a spring in it, and it does not.

Though, the hose clamps that are on the GM hoses I pulled are made by Tridon. Is that from the factory? I'm gonna replace them anyways as that is a good thing to do, and because the screw on them is rusted. Are the Ideal hose clamps from Autozone any good?

Actually, you can get the hoses through Ecklers for a total of $50 shipped. It was $60 shipped through GMparts. I do wonder if Ecklers hoses are GM hoses, and the prices for the hoses at Corvette Central are double that of Ecklers. Seems odd.

 

[G Winter]

Not sure where to get them but stainless steel screw clamps are available. I think the spring clamps are factory.
I don't like to run more than about 5 yrs on hoses. depending a little on miles.

Glenn

 

[joshwilson3]

Not sure where to get them but stainless steel screw clamps are available. I think the spring clamps are factory.
I don't like to run more than about 5 yrs on hoses. depending a little on miles.

Glenn

I do wonder why Ecklers prices on their hoses are so cheap. Upper hose: $17 Lower hose: $24

I'm gonna call them to see if their hoses have "GM" on them, and if the lower hose has a spring in it. They must either get them direct, or they are aftermarket.

 

[CorvetteArchives]

I guess you are looking to keep it as stock looking as possible?
If not, why not buy something like "coolflex"? Cool Flex is the Radiator Hose that flows
Very happy with mine. They look great, last practically forever, dissipate heat better.

 

[G Winter]

I would say just a little on the high end for cost... I can by 5 hoses for that price. 5 times 5yrs equals 25 yrs. I won't be driving that long.
They are ok for a show car but not for my driver.


Glenn

 

[joshwilson3]

I'm sticking with the rubber hoses. I'm gonna call Ecklers to see if their hoses have a spring in them. If so, I'll probably get them as it is $10 cheaper than GMparts. And I can get some other stuff while I'm ordering.

 

[gmjunkie]

I called Ecklers and their hoses don't have springs in them, and are aftermarket. They said the hoses they get are made in Florida.

Actually, cross referencing part numbers. The part number for my lower radiator hose is: 10135651

Gmpartsdirect doesn't have that number. When I search under 89 Corvette, and select on the lower coolant hose given, I get the following part number: 14078648. In my parts manual, that shows it is for an 85-86.

So, will a lower hose for an 85-86 work on an 89? I may just order from Ecklers as the pic on their page has the correct part number on the hose. The only thing is it doesn't have a spring in it.

Ecklers lower 88-89 hose:

Here's the 14078648 85-86 lower hose:

Just pull the spring out and put it in the new hose,twist it the direction it's coiled and it should pull right out!!Some company's have them some don't!!Factory Did!!

 

[92BlackVette]

I went to advance auto parts for mine, replaced it yesterday. Will have to wait to see.

 

[joshwilson3]

Just pull the spring out and put it in the new hose,twist it the direction it's coiled and it should pull right out!!Some company's have them some don't!!Factory Did!!

My lower hose doesn't have a spring in it. It is the original hose, so it must have rusted out, or it was pulled out as I think the hose clamps have been replaced as they are Tridon.

The upper hose does have a spring in it. From what I can see looking in, it looks okay, but I do see a few places where there is some rust. So, I don't think I'm gonna put that spring in the new hose as it is starting to rust.

I would just pay double and get OEM hoses with the springs in them, but I'm doing several other things at the same time, and will be spending $$ to get it painted. Plus, there hasn't been a spring in the lower hose for some time, and it has done fine. My 89 Firebird for the past 10 years at least has never had a spring in its hoses and it is running fine at 160,000 miles.

Though, it is a good thing I didn't order those hoses from GMpartsdirect as I would have had to return the lower hose if they would have let me and be out around $30 for shipping 2 times. Or I might could have sold it on the forum and maybe broke even. I would call them to double check the part number on the hose, but from what I remember in the past, they don't seem to be too helpful.

 

[joshwilson3]

I went to advance auto parts for mine, replaced it yesterday. Will have to wait to see.

What brand did you go with? And what hose clamps did you go with?

 

[92BlackVette]

Honestly it is a generic brand(Made in Mexico), I can see it now, people are saying WTF!

 

[joshwilson3]

Honestly it is a generic brand(Made in Mexico), I can see it now, people are saying WTF!

I think I'm gonna order them through Ecklers. That will let me order some other stuff too at the same time.

 

[joshwilson3]

Does anyone by any chance know who makes the hoses for GM?

I believe Gates makes the hoses for AC Delco. But GM sells a hose made by someone else.

 

[joshwilson3]

Well, I was going to order GM hoses from one of those discount GM parts places, but I guess they've sold off all the lower 88-89 GM hoses. But there are still a few upper GM hoses left. So, I think I'll get an upper GM hose.

And for the bottom hose, I called Ecklers on their lower 88-89 hose, and it is a reproduction made by Florida Automotive. So, I think I'll order that as I know the Gates hoses I returned, the lower one wasn't bent like OEM. And I've heard the same of Goodyear.

I just wish it came with a spring as my lower OEM hose doesn't have one.

 

[92BlackVette]

I have no spring in my lower, and mine came from a place called Advanced Auto Parts (Checkers I think is another name for it) and I has been holding up so far along with my new radiator.