Well, I figured since I'm posting today, I might as well adress my other issue.

 

What do you folks recommend for higher performance radiator hoses on my TurboWagon. Do they even make these for an '87 car...?

Silicone. You can find them in bulk and veriable sizes at truck repair shops. By truck I mean semis and dump trucks.... the big guns! It was about $15/foot last time I priced it out.

I see, but those are not preformed though, are they? So do you just get different parts, like elbows and other shaped joints and then put some sort of metal spacers in between...?

I must get an extra 20HP from my silicone radiator hoses!!!

 

 

 

 

Honestly, I don't see any reason to use other than normal hoses for the radiator. We are not talking higher temperatures or stresses here. Where high-temp hoses DO matter is the coolant hoses to/from the turbo, and for the "to" part (underneath the turbo towards the head) I haven't heard any better suggestion than a stock Subaru Dealer part. For the "from" hose which runs from top of turbo center section to t-stat housing (about 4.5 inches away) you might want to use a high-temp silicone hose; I have had 3 fail on me, and the first one literally crumbled when I tried to remove it. Several other minor hoses could benefit greatly from silicone hose, like the nasty little hose that runs from t-stat housing under the intake manifold.

Correct; it's not preformed. It comes off a huge spool in whatever length you specify. Copperpipe makes for good couplers and elbows. Large diameter hydrolic hose is another option for 'high performance' hoses.

 

Northwet makes a valid point. Use it where you need it.

Indeed, I'm not relly trying to get more "performance" with better hoses, but I've replaced the lower radiator hose twice in one year. So I figured I'd get something longer lasting is all .

Indeed, I'm not relly trying to get more "performance" with better hoses, but I've replaced the lower radiator hose twice in one year. So I figured I'd get something longer lasting is all .

Gee, I get several years out of mine, and just replace them because I feel that I should before they rot away!

Yeah, I was a bit surprised myself. I parked the car in front of my house and there was a huge coolant leak. The lower radiator hose had a 1.5 inch long break in it!!

Gee, I get several years out of mine, and just replace them because I feel that I should before they rot away!

 

I usually get a decade out of mine

 

...When did I change them last?

I usually get a decade out of mine

 

...When did I change them last?

(Actually, me, too. I just didn't want to sound like I was mechanically negligent... )

I only replace them when I break them changing something.

 

Haven't had one blow on a suby yet, but heater hoses are a different storry.

When I first got this sube a couple of years ago, I had to replace pretty much all the coolant hoses. Everytime I would replace one, another one would go a few days later. Eventually I got them all switched out .

What kind of anti-freeze are you using? Sounds like something is reacting with your hoses or you've got a chaffing problem.

When I first got the car it needed a lot of work. So that's why the hoses needed to be replaced. At this point it's been doing okay, it's just that one hose, though it does run close to the alternator.