Rear Heater Hose and Shut Off

[landtoy80]

When measuring for heater hose, you measure the outside of the pipe the hose goes on, right?
Then its 1/2" hose as the rear heater hose pipe is 1/2" outside diameter.

Replacing the rusty rear heater pipe is very $$$ and looks like a PITA.
One could just run rubber hose inplace of the pipe BUT you would have problems with the hose rubbing and causing a leak.
Is there SS braded 1/2" heater hose?
Is there a bullet proof (condom) cover you can cover the hose with?

As for just addind a shut off valve, it would be hard to get one on where the rear heater hose starts at the heater valve. Its very tight there and the hose is very short. You would need a sharp angle molded hose to go on the pipe.

 

[tusk74]

I don't think you would have considerable wear by replacing the rear heater pipes with regular black heater hose. That stuff is pretty tough. Besides, if you replaced it every year when you do your annual coolant flush you would NEVER have a problem. It'd only cost you a couple of bucks. what about running your hose through a length of white PVC pipe? You could shape the pipe by heating it and bending it to match the contour of the underbody. Get some that is larger then the O.D. of the hose and just slip it through. Maybe even bevel the inside edge of the PVC pipe where the hose enters and exits to prevent the pipe from cutting into the rubber hose. Zip tie the PVC to the frame and forget about it. When I replaced my metal pipes with hose, I figured ANYTHING would be better than the ticking time bomb rotting under my floorboards!
Good Luck,
Tusk