Re: heater hoses

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Jay,

I just ran across this problem in my wagon. The problem you're going to run 
into is that there's no magical hose to fit this application. The problem 
is that your water pump has been replaced and it has the wrong size water 
outlet nipple on it. I checked a bunch of places during the wagon's engine 
rebuild and the only place I found with the correct pump is Kanter Auto 
Products (http://www.kanter.com). You'll need to call them to order it. 
Make sure you specify that you need a water pump with a 5/8" nipple on it. 
The pump is $60 and there's a $25 core charge.

If you don't want to buy a new water pump, you can use a copper pipe 
reducer to make the transition. I don't remember the size but when this 
cobble was done on my wagon (it was before I got it but I had a hand in 
it), we took a couple of pieces of hose with us to Home Depot and found a 
copper fitting that worked. The only problem that I ever had with this 
setup is that it looks bad. There's not really any way to hide the hose 
clamps but you could get a couple of black spring type hose clamps like the 
newer cars have that would blend in better. You can pick those up from a 
dealer for a couple bucks each.

Also, if you're burly enough, it is possible to force a 5/8" hose on the 
3/4" nipple. My wagon had this done to it when my friend bought it.

FWIW, in 1968, AMC switched to a 3/4" inlet on the heater core and a 3/4" 
nipple on the water pump which means that this pump would have only been 
around for a few years (maybe only 2, don't know if AMC had multiple six 
cylinder water pumps for 1964/5 since 1965 American needed a shorter pump) 
as opposed to the later style which was used for a long time.

Matt

PS. The "naughty" filter on my email client is freaking out that I've used 
the word nipple a bunch of times.

At 10:43 AM 10/31/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> Is there a source for the heater hoses for the 60s Ramblers?  I need  both 
> hoses. One end is 5/8 in. I.D. and the other end is 3/4 in. I.D.
>
> Jay in FL
>
> PS: I checked the Gates website and there show a 4 inch hose for both 
> inlet and outlet on the heater.  ??????

mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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