Changing coolant Hoses

[raidoman]

Am replacing all hoses on my 87 since age is getting to be a factor. Is there a way to get at the water pump heater hose without taking half of the car apart? Maybe I have overlooked smmething obvious.
thanks for any suggestions.

 

[boomdriver]

Am replacing all hoses on my 87 since age is getting to be a factor. Is there a way to get at the water pump heater hose without taking half of the car apart? Maybe I have overlooked smmething obvious.
thanks for any suggestions.

If you mean the little T fitting and its hoses under the a/c compressor...nope. Its a PITA and requires something major coming off for access. I believe if you;re living right, you can remove the belt and tensioner and gain good 'nuff access to change those. If the hose clamps are not turned just right then you might have to remove the compressor...which is'nt really a horrible deal just so unnecessary IMO for a 3" hose.
I'd do the water cooler likes at the oil filter, and the little ones under the compressor. Those Throttle body lines can be eliminated with a simple bypass. After that, just be sure to route the replacement heater hoses so the a/c bracket does not rub a hole thru them. Be careful about how the hose clamps are turned so brackets do not hit the screw or block its access.

I have never tried from below, but I do not think the access is any better.

 

[raidoman]

Boomdriver

Pulled the tensioner and looks like the planets may line up to get at those w/o pulling compressor etc. thanks for the tip. Hoses are getting old (12 yrs) so might as well change them all. What started all this was the low coolant sensor blew out and I nearly cooked everything before I could get it off the road. So anything having coolant flowing through it is getting updated except the heater core. Don't use that much in Memphis.

 

[boomdriver]

Pulled the tensioner and looks like the planets may line up to get at those w/o pulling compressor etc. thanks for the tip. Hoses are getting old (12 yrs) so might as well change them all. What started all this was the low coolant sensor blew out and I nearly cooked everything before I could get it off the road. So anything having coolant flowing through it is getting updated except the heater core. Don't use that much in Memphis.

I hear that....Thats the same reason I upgraded mine. Running at 220+ did'nt leave any room for error. I blew a big hose once and had seconds to get it stopped and shut down....

Just double check your hose clamps before bolting the tensioner back down...it can hit one and cause the a/c bracket to crack. Ask me how I know this... :eyerole The tensioner bolts to the corner of the bracket and that particular bracket is hard to find...

I gotta tell you,
if getting the engine temps stable and under control is the goal,. the absolute BEST money I ever spent was on a new double row all aluminum radiator. My temps dropped 20+ degrees, are stable in traffic with a/c running and even at 100degrees ambient on the freeway with the a/c in Houston, Mine will cruise at under 200...if its steady freeway it drops to 189 and stays. I hit traffic and it will go up to maybe 210, but never 230+ like it used to.

That radiator only cost me a little over $200 and I compared it side by side to a $600 name brand and could not tell the difference.

heres the link if interested...

Aluminum Radiator Corvette 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 | eBay

 

[raidoman]

boomdriver Coolant Hoses

Last summer I converted to R134 when the 23 year old AC finally lost its charge. Temps went through hte roof and I put in one of those rads and it did the trick. Thsi time it was a $10 part that just gave out. Hope to get it buttoned up in the next couple of days - pushing 100 degrees in Memphis these days so I am taking it slow.

 

[boomdriver]

Last summer I converted to R134 when the 23 year old AC finally lost its charge. Temps went through hte roof and I put in one of those rads and it did the trick. Thsi time it was a $10 part that just gave out. Hope to get it buttoned up in the next couple of days - pushing 100 degrees in Memphis these days so I am taking it slow.

Understood...the heat has been unbelievable this yr...we've been flirting with record highs every week since early May, with no rain. Our area has actually been hotter than Vegas or Phx...add the deliteful humidity and you can;t tell if the steam is coming off the car of the people on the sidewalk...

Good luck with the fix.