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View Full Version : C5 Aftermarket Coolant Hose Options

FRC Joe
01-04-2010, 10:22am
I've seen the Pfadt silicone hoses, the LGMotorsports silicone option, and the CCA braided option. I'm leaning towards the Pfadt hoses in black. Are there any cool choices out there that I'm overlooking?
Sneaks
01-04-2010, 11:56am
If you're going with black silicone hoses, why not just keep the stock rubber ones on and shine them up?
My thinking is that if you're going to go through the job of changing hoses, why not jazz it up? But that's just me......:leaving:
Cobra4B
01-04-2010, 12:10pm
My opinion is that the hoses detract from the engine... I think of opening the hood like opening a nice watch case or jewelry case... you want the item in the box to be the focal point. In the case of the car it's the engine. The hoses are just ancillary items that the egine needs. When you make them all a color or braided stainless you make them very visible and they detract from the engine itself by making the area more busy.

The OEM ones are good qualiy, but if you want to replace due to age I'd get the Pfadt or LG in black... whichever are cheaper. I'm sure they're all made by the same suppiler and then re-labeled.

LG and Pfadt obviously don't mfg the items and I doubt they contract to have them mfg'd. The mfg probably goes to the major Corvette shops and offers them labeled... I mean you can get the same stuff in the Corvette catalogs like Zip's and Eckler's etc.
WKMCD
01-04-2010, 12:20pm
The braided stainless from Chip look great - specially if you have other braided lines going on.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g93/WKMCD/Engine2000420Large.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g93/WKMCD/Engine2000320Large.jpg
FRC Joe
01-04-2010, 1:23pm
If you're going with black silicone hoses, why not just keep the stock rubber ones on and shine them up?
My thinking is that if you're going to go through the job of changing hoses, why not jazz it up? But that's just me......:leaving:


The stocker hoses look really beat, and attempts to clean them up have been futile. In this pic you can really see the brown discoloration on top rad. hose.
http://members.cox.net/joe.creecy/tapping%20bar.jpg
I cant get that stuff off. The rationale behind replacing it with black is, much like Brian posted, to keep the hoses low key and let the more mechanical bits carry the visual load.

Love your engine bay WKMCD! I'm in the process of a similarly "less is more" approach myself.
Sneaks
01-05-2010, 7:31am
The braided stainless from Chip look great - specially if you have other braided lines going on.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g93/WKMCD/Engine2000420Large.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g93/WKMCD/Engine2000320Large.jpg
Will they fit a 427? :D
WKMCD
01-06-2010, 7:45am
Will they fit a 427? :D

They'd better or I'm in trouble. :)
Sneaks
01-06-2010, 3:11pm
They'd better or I'm in trouble. :)

A little duct tape, and they'll fit fine. :roll:
FRC Joe
01-06-2010, 3:15pm
I ended up ordering the Pfadts, I'll post pics once they're on. :D
Garb55
02-26-2010, 6:51pm
I ended up ordering the Pfadts, I'll post pics once they're on. :D

Any Pics Yet??
FRC Joe
03-01-2010, 2:08pm
No pics of the hoses specifically yet, but this top view shows them.
http://members.cox.net/joe.creecy/topshot.jpg

Overall I'm pleased with the kit. It was pricey, but the look is exactly what I was after.
71corv
03-01-2010, 8:18pm
Engine bay looks A-one.

Gene :drivingskid:
Munch
03-01-2010, 8:58pm
Looks really good! What did you use to black the throttle body?
FRC Joe
03-02-2010, 9:49am
Looks really good! What did you use to black the throttle body?

At the moment it's been smoothed and painted with Rust-oleum Appliance Epoxy Enamel. I'm not all that happy with it though, and am seeking out another solution. What I'd like to eventually do is have TPIS or Accufab make me a TB that has one half of a wiggins clamp on the bellmouth. Add a wiggins clamp at the IC to charge pipe connection and call it done.

Re: the Appliance Epoxy, it's pretty cool paint with a sheen that's not quite glossy and not quite satin. It's fairly easy to apply too. It does have some quirks though. It's best to put it down on bare metal and a single coat looks much better than multiple coats.
Tulsa Vette Guy
03-17-2010, 2:30pm
I would like to see some pic's if you make the change,, But, why black ?
FRC Joe
03-17-2010, 2:53pm
I would like to see some pic's if you make the change,, But, why black ?

I dunno, seemed like the right thing to do at the time :D The stock casting was just a little too complex for me to want to try polishing it, and most everything under the hood is now either painted or polished.
J.Belknap
03-17-2010, 5:00pm
Looks awesome Joe.

Bringing yourself and the Vette out to Jenro's soon?
FRC Joe
03-19-2010, 9:05am
Looks awesome Joe.

Bringing yourself and the Vette out to Jenro's soon?

Welcome to the board Jay!

If I EVER finish it I will. I suffered a setback when I snapped off the boss for the bleeder screw on the slave cylinder during driveline re-installation. The slave cyl. was apparently hard for GMPartsHouse to get, and it wont be here until next tuesday. So maybe weekend after next, if I can get an inspection etc.
J.Belknap
03-22-2010, 5:47pm
Gotcha, well... Jackie and I will catch up with you at some point soon then!