Correct upper and lower radiator hoses

[cwmcobra]

I need a pair of each.  I see that Russ Martin sells them.  Anyone else that you guys recommend?  My Steve Shuman car has a flex hoses in both positions, so I want to change them and get a set for my 4-speed restoration as well.

Thanks,

Chuck

[cwmcobra]

I see that Cars sells molded radiator hoses also.  Any recommendations for Cars, Russ Martin or others? 

Thanks,

Chuck

[Loren At 65GS]

Looks like the deciding factor is $$$.

Done a fair amount of business with Cars in the past for NOS and engine paint.
Have also done business with Russ a long time ago.

I've been satisfied with both.

  Loren

[cwmcobra]

Thanks Loren.  One thing for sure, I'm going to call whichever one I choose to be sure I get the right ones.  Their application descriptions are a bit cryptic!

Chuck

[WkillGS]

A Gates #20704 is a molded upper hose that fits perfectly. It's original application is for a mid 70's Ford and it looks a bit different than the Buick one.

[cwmcobra]

Thanks Walt.  That might be a good solution for my restoration that will not be 100% correct.  For the Steve Shuman car, I'd like to keep it as original as possible.

Any alternative parts for the lower hose?

Chuck

[Brian]

Keep in mind the top hose is different for a car with factory AC, so if your car has factory AC, the Ford hose recommened in this thread will not work.   Somewhere on this site someone posted several years ago a hose they got and cut a section out of that was perfect for the lower hose.  I just searched and it referenced this thread on V8Buick:
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?69059-Need-lower-radiator-hose-for-66-Skylark-GS&highlight=65%20gs%20Radiator%20hose

[cwmcobra]

Thanks Brian and Walt!  Here's what I've found as alternatives for these hoses.  Both my cars have no A/C, so these solutions are only for the non-A/C cars.

OEM repops (my best guess based on online descriptions):

Russ Martin: Upper: RHU7; $17.00 + shipping | Lower: RHL6; $25.00 + shipping

CARS: Upper: RH439-3; $18.75 + shipping | Lower: N/A?

DIY with current aftermarket parts:

Gates Upper: 20704; $11.99 at O'Reilly's | Gates Lower: 20577; $12.99 at O'Reilly's

20704 is not exactly the same, but fits perfectly.  20577 has to be cut about 12" from the engine end and then is an almost exact replica of the OEM part.

I think I'll order a couple of sets from O'Reilly's and if they don't look right, I'll return them and order from Russ Martin.

I'll let you know how this works out......

Chuck

[Mark Ascher]

I will add this info to the parts directory - thanks Chuck!
(after BCA...)

Mark

[cwmcobra]

PS:  This is just a summary of the info that Walt and Brian contributed.  I didn't do the research; I'm just going to be the "Guinea pig".   

Thanks again for the info, guys!

Chuck

[bobbybuick]

I did he gates numbers and got them at Rock auto look and fit good think i had to trim one though

[cwmcobra]

Just to close the loop on this thread, I bought a set of hoses for my non-A/C GS from O'Reilly's.  Gates 20704 upper and 20577 lower.  Finally got around to installing them.  Both hoses had to be trimmed; upper about 2" on the radiator end, lower a lot on the water pump end.  Pictures are attached.  The first is of what I believe to be a correct molded top hose that I pulled from my 4-speed restoration engine.  It is a Gates part that is no longer available and fits perfectly.  The long part of the hose seems to run directly in parallel with the alternator belt.  The second pictures is of the 20704 hose with about 2" trimmed from the radiator end.  The molded part on top is not quite a 90 degree angle, so the hose is "pushed" a bit to the right to fit on the radiator.  But once installed, it looks almost identical to the original and the bend that is "pushed" is not starting to kink.  For added support, I installed a coil spring into that bend that I pulled from the lower hose that was on this car.  I trimmed the hose so that the long part was parallel to the alternator belt, as with the original.  The third photo is of the lower hose.  I don't have an original to compare, but this one seems to have at least compatible bends that line up well with the radiator and water pump after cutting the hose about in half.

Even though these are not absolutely correct, I'm happy with their look and the costs of the hoses.  FYI, I spoke with Russ Martin and he claims to be the only supplier of the correct lower hoses.  He might be right; and I haven't found the correct upper hoses anywhere else either.

Cheers!

Chuck

[gs spoken here]

Chuck, thanks for posting and reposting, I found the upper 70 hose swap for the lower back about 2005, and posted it. Walt found the upper Ford hose. Know we need someone who has done the research on the heater hose's for non AC cars. I see in one picture it looks like you have correct hose's. What I have seen they both need a S bend at the heater core. Not sure about the other end. Been going to start a new thread, but not to that point on either of my cars to need them. Thanks Bill.

[cwmcobra]

Bill,  yes one of the hoses especially needs an S bend at the heater core and the molded heater hoses are no longer available.  I just used straight hose, routed it around the back side of the valve cover and laid it into the valley next to the valve cover coming forward.  Then onto the water pump nipple.  It's pretty tight in the back, but the bends haven't put any kinks in the hose.  Now, I just discovered that without the molded bends, I cut it too short on the front.  It looked good until I reinstalled the fuel filter and found that the bottom nipple on the filter points directly down at the heater hose.  I'll have to take that one off and recut a new one with a more generous bend at the water pump end to clear the fuel line hose.  Good thing I bought extra heater hose!  I'll just have to buy more when it comes time to install it on my restoration..... 

Chuck