Getting Hosed

[jrd1990zr1]

Got the top end of my 1990 pulled apart and got to thinking about the 20 year old radiator hoses. They are not cracked or dry-rot, actually look pretty good.

First question should I replace 20 year old hoses before a 1400 mile trip one way to BG??

Second, if I decide to replace them what is a good replacement and source?

Comments please! Thanks :cheers:

[ZZZZZR1]

John,

Do the hoses look good? If so I wouldn't change them....

Also if you do decide to change them, I would go with OEM hoses rather the Samco ones.


:thumbsup:

David

[cuisinartvette]

20 is old, they can look good from the outside but be ready to fail from within.
Have used the samcos they are Ok. If I had to do it over Id use rubber, opinions will vary. Youll want to buy the stainless smooth clamp kit if you get the samcos.

[PhillipsLT5]

I have the samco's with correct clamps and they smell, antifreeze, but no leaks, smellco, go with rubber

[tf95ZR1]

Hey, but the Samcos look good in whatever color you want!
And only for about $190, an hour or two work, and bloody knuckles!
:cheers:

[tomtom72]

John, your call on the hoses, but age is age.....your call..:neutral:

However, if you do any replacing.......Do Not Throw Out the OEM clamps!!!

I know they are a royal PIA to work with, but any hose will "leak" under the thermal changes of the aluminum if the sprung steel OE clamps are not used. The reason for our PIA clamps is so that they react with the metal under heat load cycles, that is something that an ideal clamp can not do! I do believe that those sprung steel clamps were an answer in a TSB as I think they started with ideal type clamps and had coolant odor complaints.

Been there & done that and the smell drives me nuts...along with checking all the hose clamps every now & again. Some day I will try to find all the OE clamps to replace the ideal clamps.

:cheers:
Tom

[Aurora40]

If I had it to do over again, I'd get GM rubber hoses vs Samco. I'd also probably change them even if they look good. The age would just worry me. Though it may be unfounded.

[lbszr]

Sounds like maybe the clamps are the issue. I've had the opposite experience. My old oem hoses seaped at the connections with oem clamps. The Sampco hoses haven't leaked at all for 4 years with oem clamps and no smells either, just a rubber smell, but that's coming from the rear of the car somewhere around the lugnuts:-D

[GOLDCYLON]

Age is the factor, Yes I would replace them. Samcos are a good choice but make sure you buy the clamps as well. Love mine

[VetteVet]

This might be the solution to the clamp dilemna. We use these clamps in the marine industry. They are spring loaded and compensate well for size variations due to wide temperature ranges in fluid systems.


http://www.breezeclamps.com/ct.htm

Has anyone tried using these yet on their cooling hoses? I'm willing to give them a shot, but it wouldn't be until I get my engine back together and in the car.

Jep

[jrd1990zr1]

Anyone know where I can find a set of rubber hoses for a 1990 Z?

Other than the Samco I don't see much out there.

Thanks, John

[guinnessdood]

Never knew there was a smell issue with the Samco's. Never had an issue with mine smelling. The recommended clamps for the Samco hoses are excellent quality and I never had a leak with mine. I would contact Brits, Inc. http://www.sporthoses.com/ Call and ask for Jamie. He knows exactly what you'll need. We ordered more than 150 sets of Samco hoses from them.

The GM OEM hoses I believe are no longer being produced as a set (not sure about onesey twoseys...but that would mean you're likely buying OEM NOS hoses...so the hoses will be old(er)...maybe not the best idea. Of course the other possibility is to buy some aftermarket rubber ones, but I am not aware of anyone making ALL of the coolant hoses other than Samco.

[limey]

If i'm right, i'm certain Haibeck has hoses available in complete sets.

[xlr8nflorida]

Do you need a full set or just a few hoses? I may have some.

[GOLDCYLON]

Anyone know where I can find a set of rubber hoses for a 1990 Z?

Other than the Samco I don't see much out there.

Thanks, John


John that is correct thay are No longer available. Expect to pay NCRS prices for a set of OEM orginals. WHich is why I still suggest the SAMCOs

[ScottZ95ZR1]

I would contact Brits, Inc. http://www.sporthoses.com/ Call and ask for Jamie.

I was told they only have one set available and they are red.
Jamie said lead-time is 4-6 weeks but I was told recently by another member that he's been waiting for a black set for well over 2 months. :dontknow:

[jrd1990zr1]

Do you need a full set or just a few hoses? I may have some.

I was thinking if I have this much of the car pulled apart, now is the time to change them all.

Blue or Red Samco's on a charcoal car wouldn't look right and I don't want to wait 2+ months for black Samco's.

[GOLDCYLON]

I was thinking if I have this much of the car pulled apart, now is the time to change them all.

Blue or Red Samco's on a charcoal car wouldn't look right and I don't want to wait 2+ months for black Samco's.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAMCO-SILICONE-RADIATOR-HOSE-90-95-CHEVY-CORVETTE-ZR1_W0QQitemZ110502784829QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item19ba7aaf3d

Ask them if they have black in stock


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAMCO-SILICONE-RADIATOR-HOSE-90-95-CHEVY-CORVETTE-ZR1_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c52031049QQitemZ19 0354493513QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcce ssories

Ask them if they have black in stock


http://cgi.ebay.com/SAMCO-SILICONE-COOLANT-HOSE-KIT-CORVETTE-ZR1-LT5-5-7-V8_W0QQitemZ270515711399QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars Parts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item3efbfe2da7

Ask them if they have black in stock

[jrd1990zr1]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAMCO-SILICONE-RADIATOR-HOSE-90-95-CHEVY-CORVETTE-ZR1_W0QQitemZ110502784829QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors _Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item19ba7aaf3d

Ask them if they have black in stock


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SAMCO-SILICONE-RADIATOR-HOSE-90-95-CHEVY-CORVETTE-ZR1_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2c52031049QQitemZ19 0354493513QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAcce ssories

Ask them if they have black in stock


http://cgi.ebay.com/SAMCO-SILICONE-COOLANT-HOSE-KIT-CORVETTE-ZR1-LT5-5-7-V8_W0QQitemZ270515711399QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Cars Parts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item3efbfe2da7

Ask them if they have black in stock

GC,

First two only have Blue in stock. 6-8 weeks for Black. I didn't check with link #3, Looks like I may have found a set of rubber hoses.

Thanks for all the information. I appreciate it. :cheers:

John

[PhillipsLT5]

Uly, good to see you back
I got the hoses from you at the Gathering in vegas a few years ago
You cant smell them because you are smelling your rear tires, just kidding
I got the clamps from brits, but SMELL

[QB93Z]

This might be the solution to the clamp dilemna. We use these clamps in the marine industry. They are spring loaded and compensate well for size variations due to wide temperature ranges in fluid systems.


http://www.breezeclamps.com/ct.htm

Has anyone tried using these yet on their cooling hoses? I'm willing to give them a shot, but it wouldn't be until I get my engine back together and in the car.

Jep

Here is another solution to the need for a hose clamp that compensates for thermal expansion. I was looking at NOS LT5 coolant hose clamp set and I noticed one clamp is different from the rest:

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/Misc/DSC03070.jpg

Here is a close-up of the clamp in the lower right corner:

http://i407.photobucket.com/albums/pp152/QB93Z/Misc/DSC03073.jpg

The set comes packaged with a GM drawing that shows how the clamps are to be installed, but it does not show the "special" clamp.

Has anyone seen one of these before?

Jim

[tomtom72]

My car didn't have that different clamp.....and I'm fairly sure no one changed any clamps on my motor before I bought the car. The OO wasn't inclined to do much more than oil & filter changes.

Jim, may I ask how did you get that set? :notworthy

I'm not trying to be improper, but I would love to have my old OE clamps back....the smell is driving me nuts!:mad:

:cheers:
Tom

[QB93Z]

I have never seen a clamp like that before either. It wasn't on any of the cars I have worked on.

I will send you a PM about the clamps.

Jim

[xlr8nflorida]

[QUOTE=tomtom72;84893]My car didn't have that different clamp.....and I'm fairly sure no one changed any clamps on my motor before I bought the car. The OO wasn't inclined to do much more than oil & filter changes.

Jim, may I ask how did you get that set? :notworthy

I'm not trying to be improper, but I would love to have my old OE clamps back....the smell is driving me nuts!:mad:

Tom, I'll shoot you a message, I don't want them all purchased up by a single vendor.

[limey]

The worm style clamp is used on the Radiator inlet Hose for the early 1990 cars & i believe was later updated to use the large silver clamp

On the brown clamp, there is a 2 digit #, can anyone tell me what that number is, it may be 44 - 46 etc

http://www.whiteracingproducts.com/images/11516233

[flyin ryan]

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee142/flyinryan_ZR1/IMG_1592.jpg