Getting Hosed - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

jrd1990zr1 · 03-15-2010

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

ZZZZZR1 · 03-15-2010

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.

David

cuisinartvette · 03-15-2010

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 · 03-15-2010

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

tf95ZR1 · 03-16-2010

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

tomtom72 · 03-16-2010

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

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.

Tom

Aurora40 · 03-16-2010

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 · 03-16-2010

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

GOLDCYLON · 03-16-2010

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 · 03-16-2010

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

03-15-2010	#1
jrd1990zr1 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Delanson, NY Posts: 910	Getting Hosed 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

03-15-2010	#2
ZZZZZR1 Banned BANNED Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MD Posts: 3,690	Re: Getting Hosed 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. David

03-15-2010	#3
cuisinartvette Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Fernando Valley, CA. Posts: 896	Re: Getting Hosed 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. __________________ 1990 ZR1, 142,000 miles-Black on black 4.09's Haibeck chip, 3"exh, K&N, meth inj.

03-15-2010	#4
PhillipsLT5 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 2,450	Re: Getting Hosed I have the samco's with correct clamps and they smell, antifreeze, but no leaks, smellco, go with rubber

03-16-2010	#5
tf95ZR1 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Northridge, CA Posts: 1,448	Re: Getting Hosed Hey, but the Samcos look good in whatever color you want! And only for about $190, an hour or two work, and bloody knuckles!

03-16-2010	#6
tomtom72 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Jacksonville, FL USA Posts: 4,645	Re: Getting Hosed John, your call on the hoses, but age is age.....your call.. 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. Tom __________________ 1990 ZR-1, Black/grey, #2233, stock. ZR-1 Net Reg Founding Member #316 & NCM member

03-16-2010	#7
Aurora40 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 2,713	Re: Getting Hosed 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. __________________ Bob Saveland Former owner of #2517 [IMG]http://a.random-image.net/aurora40/vette.jpg[/img]

03-16-2010	#8
lbszr Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: dayton,ohio Posts: 425	Re: Getting Hosed 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 __________________ [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=red]"I wanna go fast!!"[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Comic Sans MS][COLOR=#ff0000]-- Ricky Bobby[/COLOR][/FONT]

03-16-2010	#9
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,153	Re: Getting Hosed 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 __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

03-16-2010	#10
VetteVet Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 340	Re: Getting Hosed 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 Last edited by VetteVet; 03-16-2010 at 04:46 PM. Reason: Punctuation