I'm stealing an image from another thread somewhere else on Pennocks...




It's a Sunbird 1.8T engine, which is cool... but what I'd like for you guys to focus on is the radiator hose that' attached to the coolant neck down in the lower-left of the engine bay. This is one of those "any size fits all" kind of radiator hoses, and I've always detested them, but I've never used one.

The radiator hose on the 4 cyl Fieros, specifically, the one that goes from the lower coolant pipe under the passenger side and connects into the waterpump is basically no longer being made for the Fiero. There are hoses that are similarly designed, and say "will fit Fiero" but you have to cut to fit, and the angle is so dramatic that it tends to kink the coolant hose somewhat.


Is the hose in the picture above... are those ribs actually metal reinforced, meanning, can I do nearly a 180 degrees (or something like that) like an almost perfect U-shaped bend with these hoses and not have it kink? Just curious.


Thanks!

For reference, this is the hose I'm talking about:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/404896510635




It's listed as working for the Pathfinder, the 280 ZX, and the Pontiac Fiero, and a whole host of other cars... and it most certainly does NOT fit the Fiero well, at all... like, it sucks.

So just curious if that hose there (shown in the Sunbird) would be a good replacement?

[This message has been edited by 82-T/A [At Work] (edited 11-29-2024).]

The Dayco brand as well as Gates brand have a steel coil almost like a spring that sits in those grooves so yes, they are reinforced. There's no reason to not use a universal, flexible hose if it's what you need. It's just finding the right size.

Gates brand:


Dayco brand:

[This message has been edited by IMSA GT (edited 11-29-2024).]

The Rhino hoses are wire reinforced. I have a similar one on my 86 V6 between the crossover pipe and the left coolant rail. It has a pretty sharp bend in it because it's longer than the OEM hose. It also is no longer available so the rhino hose it had to be.

Thanks guys, I appreciate it... ok. I am going to try an original hose from a 1987 Fiero 2.5 that I found... if that doesn't fit well, I'll switch to one of those. So good to know they are reinforced... I just assumed they were cheap hoses.


Thank you!!!