Heater hose "quick connect" tips sought

[billschroeder5842]

I have an annoying coolant seeping from around the "Quick connect" on the heater hose connected to the thermost housing. The seeping is really that-- seeping. It will occasionally turn into a drop or two that collects on the bottom of the thermostat housing and only twice has there ever been a drip that reached the garage floor.

Yes, it bugs me. Yes, I should leave it alone, but my OCD won't let it go.

Although I try to do as much as I can on the car, I'm taking this one to a local corvette shop. I bought a new heater hose connection from Jerry's and the owner of the shop said that once cool, he will be able to swap the piece in 60-90 minutes. He said that he will probably remove the entire housing as that would make it easier.

So, I'm asking if there is anything else that I need to do or information to pass along to the tech? I've read scary things about thermostat housing breaking- Yikes! I'll probably put in a new thermostat for good measure as I installed a new radiator in January.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

I have an annoying coolant seeping from around the "Quick connect" on the heater hose connected to the thermost housing. The seeping is really that-- seeping. It will occasionally turn into a drop or two that collects on the bottom of the thermostat housing and only twice has there ever been a drip that reached the garage floor.

Yes, it bugs me. Yes, I should leave it alone, but my OCD won't let it go.

Although I try to do as much as I can on the car, I'm taking this one to a local corvette shop. I bought a new heater hose connection from Jerry's and the owner of the shop said that once cool, he will be able to swap the piece in 60-90 minutes. He said that he will probably remove the entire housing as that would make it easier.

So, I'm asking if there is anything else that I need to do or information to pass along to the tech? I've read scary things about thermostat housing breaking- Yikes! I'll probably put in a new thermostat for good measure as I installed a new radiator in January.

You will have the Thermostat Housing loose from Frame when you replace the thermostat (use 180 deg Thermostat from Jerry or Marc).

You have to completely clean the Heater Hose nipple that fits into that Quick Connect Connector from Jerry. I recall you can tip the hose up once disconnected from the Thermostat Housing. Yes it will be easier to remove that leaking Heater Hose Connector once the quick connect is removed with the thermostat housing in hand. but there are several coolant hoses that have to be disconnected in that case. My Heater Hose leak was cured with Jerry's new quick connect connector

See Item #3 Replacing the Heater Core and Heater Hose Connection

See Item #6 Blocking TB Coolant, Fluidyne Radiator and Thermostats

[billschroeder5842]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

My Heater Hose leak was cured with Jerry's new quick connect connector

Thanks- this is perfect!

[Jitse]

Just finished the leaking quick connectors problem on a Z from a friend and going to modify my own too. Sooner or later they all start to leak because of the original materials getter tired and worn.

My approach to fix is different, removed the thermostat housing, the heater hose connector broke off when just turning it with little force.
Cut both parts off flat and tig- welded two new 10an and 12an weld-fittings on it.
On top off those fittings added Jiffy tite male connectors and made all new braided hose lines from there to the heater with Jiffy tite female quickconnectors ( non-valved). Modified in one go the other coolant lines from and too expansion tank/ radiator and recovery tank. Because those rubber parts, plastic parts from old quickconnectors are old and brittle too, 27 years old.
Only the upper heater hose the one with the U turn under expansion tank I replaced with an original new rubber hose, it did not look nice and had clearance problems with fittings to change that one with braided hose material.

All hoses and connectors are fresh now and hopefully they survive another decade before start leaking.

It looks in my opinion nice, and don't care that much about original looks, for me is the most important thing that I can rely on the Z.
At the moment sorting out the items needed to make new custom power steering hoses and custom AC hoses to replace the original pieces with the rubber parts on them which go's to the filter/dryer.

Adding pictures... I need to read through the posts how to upload them to the forum.

Jitse

[Jitse]

Some pictures from the heaterhose and oil cooler line modifcation.

Made a new style oil cooler adapter, easier to tighten the swivel fittings because with this setup the 10AN nipple is a bit more outside the radiator housing.
And I had a leakage problem with the -8SAE threaded oring connection, there was a 45 degree cut on the end of the tread so o-ring did not function proper.

[billschroeder5842]

Originally Posted by Jitse

Sooner or later they all start to leak because of the original materials getter tired and worn.

My approach to fix is different, removed the thermostat housing, the heater hose connector broke off when just turning it with little force.

I whimped out and took my car to Jim at Midcities (http://midcitiesclassics.com/) because I too was worried that the fittings would break off.

I'm glad I did as the shop had the fitting literally disintegrate on them when making the swap. They ended up drilling, scraping and retapping the housing. It went together without a hitch (using Jerry's fittings) and tested perfect.

Jim said that could do this repair in your garage "but you would spend the whole time being pissed off" if you did not have a lift or proper tools as it is a PITA.

I pick her up today at 4:30 and I won't even feel bad paying for it.

[RussMcB]

Originally Posted by Jitse

Some pictures from the heaterhose and oil cooler line modifcation.

I'm sure I'm not the only one impressed with this. Nice work.

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

I pick her up today at 4:30 and I won't even feel bad paying for it.

Sounds like a good decision, great outcome.

[Dynomite]

Originally Posted by billschroeder5842

I whimped out and took my car to Jim at Midcities (http://midcitiesclassics.com/) because I too was worried that the fittings would break off.

I'm glad I did as the shop had the fitting literally disintegrate on them when making the swap. They ended up drilling, scraping and retapping the housing. It went together without a hitch (using Jerry's fittings) and tested perfect.

Jim said that could do this repair in your garage "but you would spend the whole time being pissed off" if you did not have a lift or proper tools as it is a PITA.

I pick her up today at 4:30 and I won't even feel bad paying for it.

Yes.....that is how it goes.....drilling, scraping, cutting, retapping

Thermostat and Thermostat Housing TIPS