Replacing Heater / Radiator Hoses

If your going to order the window motor and are just looking to add to the order for shipping purposes then order the hoses, but i would get the pump locally if you have decided to replace the pump.
Also, don't forget to look out for Rock Auto shipping from different warehouses causing outrageous shipping cost's.
If the hoses have to ship from a different warehouse then the shipping cost's may make it unreasonable and your better off buying them locally.
At least that's been my experience with Rock Auto. They are good for the parts you can't get locally.

How many miles on your water pump.?
Mine is still stock and I wouldn't consider changing it until i hear some noise or feel the pulley wobbling a little.
I removed and replaced all my belts and pulleys this summer with about 103K miles and noticed no play from the water pump pulley so I left it alone.
When is the last time you un-tensioned your belts and checked play of those components.?
I would do that first before considering whether the pump needs changing.

Ken.
I looked at all 190 pic's.
In the beginning it was awesome, looking back when you were all young and towing with it.
But then when it was put into storage and parts were robbed from it and the mice had their way with it, I thought the story was going to end on a bad note.
Boy was I wrong, what a great restoration team. Everything is perfect. From the brake lines to fastener restoration. Very impressive.
Being a perfectionist, I can appreciate what you all have accomplished to date.
I'm sure it's costing a bundle of dough but well worth it in my opinion.
Can't wait to see it done.
What a great all original car with excellent documentation. Really enjoyed following it along it's journey.
Best of luck with it, and don't stop posting progress.
Would love to see it, in person, when it's done.

Hey Rick, thanks for taking the time to look at the pictures. It must have taken you a while! I've been collecting parts for years for the GSX and yes, the amount of resto $$$ will have me recovering for a few years! It's being done at Ivyland Collision in Pa. Nick, the owner, loves late 60's/early 70's Buick A-bodies and he's got so much knowledge about these cars it's staggering. He's also a perfectionist, which makes for a good combination.

I'm in Milford, Ct, between New Haven and Bridgeport. I'd love to meet you and some of the other guys on this board. One of the guys on this board (also a Rick, but not sure of his user name), has my old '97 and he's done a ton to it. Are there any planned get togethers when spring rolls around?

Also, are you guys aware of the Buick Performance Group? Great national club with a nats each August in Ohio. Get enough SC cars together and attend the event with your own class! Drag racing, car shows, bench racing, etc. It's a great time!

Now off to find those pliers......

71gsx455-4spd wrote:

I'm tempted to return them and just refill with coolant

Thanks!

Me personally I would skip the heater hoses.

Were the upper/lower hoses in terrible condition?


Bert

Hi Bert-

No the hoses were not in bad condition at all. It was more of a "while I'm in there" deal as it started as pulleys/belts and then moved to the water pump, which led to hoses, thermostat, etc.

The car only has around 50k on it, but the hoses are 14 years old. I found one pair of those pliers at a Sears about an hour from my house. The Sears 5 minutes from my house is out of stock, unfortunately. Bummer.

Nice GS, btw!

As far as I know the water pump is original, so nearly 90k.

I haven't checked the play in anything. I don't think I've got more than a couple thousand miles on the new belts and pulleys.

JR,
After more thought, If your at all concerned about the water pump and it will provide you piece of mind then i would go ahead and change it.
You certainly don't want to get stuck on the road somewhere in Podunk with a bad pump.
I need to remember not to offer advise on those sorts of things based on my driving habits.
i.e. I normally do not drive far enough away from home that I couldn't call AAA and have it towed home or to a shop of my choosing for free.
With the type of driving I do, mostly local, I would pick up on a noise or a coolant seep in time to replace it without a bunch of drama involved.
So, if they are priced reasonable enough and you can get an A-1 Cardone with a decent warranty then go for it and you'll sleep better at night for doing so.

I replaced my heater hoses this summer. There was nothing wrong with them besides being a little soft, and I had the motor out at the time. I bought OEM molded hoses from monsterpartsonline.com, they were not very expensive. I think the pair was around $25. They weren't that hard to replace, but the firewall side is tough to get at with the engine in place. It helps if you get the 'spring-clamp' tool.

JR, for what it's worth, I bought all 4 hoses, the radiator and heater hoses from monsterpartsonline.com, and the prices were very reasonable.

The Heater Hoses are no longer available from Monsterpartsonline or GM for that matter.
They are obsolete now.
Need to get them from your local parts store or Rock Auto, etc.

The Heater Hoses are no longer available from Monsterpartsonline or GM for that matter.
They are obsolete now.
Need to get them from your local parts store or Rock Auto, etc.

Too bad Monster wants $130 for their window motor.

I got the tool from Sears and was able to get the clamps and hoses off. Slightly difficult with the tool, impossible without it, so thanks for the heads-up! My hoses were also on the soft side and stuck pretty solidly to the heater core. I laid across the engine and cut them and finally got them off. Put on some hoses from Napa and I'm good to go. Did plugs and wires too- except #6, that sucker is stuck! Soaking in PB Blaster now and we'll see what happens tomorrow. I also have SC lube and I'll change that out too. That should round out the maintenance items for a while.

Thanks for all the help!

nice stuff 71-4speed,for short.
i have the most admiration for individuals who put up so much of their time and $ to restore beautiful cars. bravo!

Rickw wrote:

How many miles on your water pump.?
Mine is still stock and I wouldn't consider changing it until i hear some noise or feel the pulley wobbling a little.
I removed and replaced all my belts and pulleys this summer with about 103K miles and noticed no play from the water pump pulley so I left it alone.
When is the last time you un-tensioned your belts and checked play of those components.? I would do that first before considering whether the pump needs changing.

I definitely think this qualifies as "If it ain't broke, don't fix it..."
I bought my car at 69,000 miles, and went through 2 pumps by 79,000!

Eldo wrote:

I definitely think this qualifies as "If it ain't broke, don't fix it..."
I bought my car at 69,000 miles, and went through 2 pumps by 79,000!

More food for thought.
If you do decide to change your water pump for "Preventive Maintenance" then I highly recommend getting a replacement with a lifetime warranty.
If they are available from your auto parts store. I know the Advanced Auto Parts in my neck of the woods offers lifetime warranties on all the A-1 Cardone re-built parts they sell. Or buy a 'New" pump as opposed to re-built.
In case you get defective pumps as Eldo did.

I'm strongly leaning towards "leave it alone" at this point.

robotennis61 wrote:

nice stuff 71-4speed,for short.
i have the most admiration for individuals who put up so much of their time and $ to restore beautiful cars. bravo!

Thanks, man. That car has been in the family since 1971. I bought it off my dad in 1978, stuffed it in a garage in '81/'82 and there she sat until '03. So now with a full frame off I'll have a very special piece of family history in my garage, not to mention it being 1 of 124 built.

71gsx455-4spd wrote:

Thanks, man. That car has been in the family since 1971. I bought it off my dad in 1978, stuffed it in a garage in '81/'82 and there she sat until '03. So now with a full frame off I'll have a very special piece of family history in my garage, not to mention it being 1 of 124 built.

I didn't realize it was that rare. 1 of 124. An amazing survivor. Can't wait for the reveal.!!!!

Rickw wrote:

71gsx455-4spd wrote:

Thanks, man. That car has been in the family since 1971. I bought it off my dad in 1978, stuffed it in a garage in '81/'82 and there she sat until '03. So now with a full frame off I'll have a very special piece of family history in my garage, not to mention it being 1 of 124 built.

I didn't realize it was that rare. 1 of 124. An amazing survivor. Can't wait for the reveal.!!!!

It's the 4-speed that makes it so rare... After all, this is a Buick hot rod!

Gee-Zuz Krist!

I just looked under the hood and in the manual, and you guys are sooooo right about those fookin' heater hoses... First they decide to run the coolant through the damned alternator bracket, and combine it with a tensioner as well, then they practically require "Remove Engine" as the first step.

This is almost as bad as the steps required to replace the headlight housing... That used to require a screwdriver, 10 minutes and an $8 sealed beam. Now it takes a $120 assembly and removing the wheels, the wheelhouses, the bumper cover and the cornering lights!




By the way, has anyone tried reaching the hose clamps from beneath the car?

Eldo wrote:

Gee-Zuz Krist!
By the way, has anyone tried reaching the hose clamps from beneath the car?

The only one I did from underneath was the lower radiator hose at the radiator and that was using the proper cable type clamp pliers.
All the others could be had from over the fender, again with those pliers.
It's almost impossible without them. Or I will say the heater hoses are impossible to do without the correct tool.
At least the tool can be had for $40.00 now and not the $100.00 when I bought them.

Rickw wrote:

The Heater Hoses are no longer available from Monsterpartsonline or GM for that matter.
They are obsolete now.
Need to get them from your local parts store or Rock Auto, etc.

wow! I just did them 3 or 4 months ago!?! Must have hit the 10 year de-stock rule, when they sell all surplus to someone who will charge outrageous prices for "NOS parts".

NOS Rubber is not worth anything as far as I'm concerned.
Hose (rubber products) has a shelf life and it's just not worth buying something like that if it is old.
I would much rather buy New hoses from Gates or whoever is making them.