Radiator hose brand

[joshwilson3]

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.

Yeah, only GM has a spring in the hose. The price of Ecklers resto lower hose is the same as if I went to Autozone. I need to order some other stuff anyways, so I think I'll go ahead and order it. They said it was bent the same as the OEM GM hose. The problem with the aftermarket stuff like Gates and Goodyear, is that the hose looks similar, but isn't bent right. So, people have to cut it to get it to fit.

Was the hose you got a Goodyear?

And what brand radiator did you get? I think mine is original as you can see a little crud on the fins, but it doesn't leak, and cools fine. So I'm not gonna replace it till I need to.

 

[92BlackVette]

The brand of the hose is unknown, there are no clear markings. The radiator was required because it had a water gun like stream shooting out of the right tank! The radiator is not the Delco brand buts it's an alternate OEM brand.

 

[joshwilson3]

Well, I think those dudes at Ecklers had lied. Haha, no surprise. I had called them about the lower hose cause it had the OEM part number, and asked what it was. I was told it was a reproduction hose made in Florida and not an aftermarket hose. I told them I wanted to make sure it wasn't just a Gates hose with them stamping the part number on it. Ecklers said it wasn't.

I called back later and they said it was made by Florida Automotive. I got their number and called them. They said they don't make anything and just distribute Gates hoses. I laughed and told them what Ecklers had told me. Then I asked them who puts the OEM part number on it. And they didn't know what I was talking about.

I called Ecklers to find out what their problem is, but the tech team were gone for the day. I will call them tommorrow, but I'm betting their lower hose is just a Gates hose, and NOT a reproduction hose made to the OEM specs.

So, I'm back to square one. I know a few of the Corvette parts sellers have the GM lower hose for sale for $50 plus shipping, which is more than I want to spend. And they may not even have them anyways. So, I'll probably end up getting a lower Goodyear hose. It can't be any worse than the crappy thin Gates hoses I returned.

I had thought about looking into Dayco, but I don't think anyone sells them around town.

 

[joshwilson3]

I stopped by Autozone with plans to get a lower Goodyear radiator hose for my 89. They looked it up, and it showed a hose for the convertible, but not for the hatch back. Then the guy went in the back, and it turned out he called the dealer. And he gave me the GM part number for the lower hose, which I already had, and said it would be $40 for the lower hose from the dealer.

Haha, I called the dealer cause last I talked to them, they couldn't get it. But he said he could get it from vintage GM parts or something for $40. Which is better cause I think the dealer normally sold it for $55 when they were still making them for some reason. So, I may just skip going to the movies while I'm out of town this weekend, and order a GM lower radiator hose.

Though, I'm guessing that lower convertible Goodyear hose would have worked fine? I guess the guy didn't want to sell it to me. I know the lower hose they sell at Napa is listed for convertibles too. Maybe that is why people have been reporting the need to cut the aftermarket hoses to size, cause they are making the hose for convertibles and most have hatchbacks?

 

[G Winter]

I don't see how the convertible hose would be diff from the coupe. Only from the firewall back should be diff.

Glenn

 

[joshwilson3]

I don't see how the convertible hose would be diff from the coupe. Only from the firewall back should be diff.

Glenn

Yeah, I don't know. I was told there is extra bracing or something. I may just get the lower GM hose since it will have a spring in it. Then if I keep it long enough, I'd have to go aftermarket by then, and put the spring in the new hose. My original lower hose didn't have a spring in it when I pulled it. Either it disintegrated, or the PO had it removed.

 

[joshwilson3]

I'm thinking about just going with a Goodyear lower hose. Is anyone using a lower Goodyear hose?

I got my GM upper hose, and it too says Made in Mexico just like the GM throttle body hose I got. So, I got to thinking what is the point in paying double for a GM Made in Mexico lower hose?

And since my OEM lower hose didn't have a spring in it, I pulled the spring out of the upper OEM hose. It looks like both upper and lower hose would use the same spring. If I go with the Goodyear, does anyone know how to get the spring in the new hose?

I was doing a test run and tried pushing the spring in the used OEM lower hose, and that didn't work. So, I'm thinking I'll have to run a piece of string or something through the hose, tie that to the spring, then try pulling the spring through the hose?

Thanks

 

[joshwilson3]

That Goodyear lower hose had bulges in it, so I returned it. I guess Goodyear must make good belts and tires, but their hoses suck? haha.

I went ahead and ordered an OEM lower hose through the dealer. It is $40 and they have to get it through Vintage Parts or something. That is cheaper than what it was when the hose was still in production.

And it's a good thing I didn't order it through Superior Chevrolet. When I had called them a while back, they were selling the hose closer to $60 plus shipping.