Yummybud924

I want to replace mine as I've replaced all other coolant hoses.

but how do you diconnect the coolant hoses where they attach to the heater core on teh firewall?

KuHL 951

If you have an early car those hoses connect 'behind' the firewall under the dash. It's not fun at all but you are up for it.

Yummybud924

I have an 85.5. I can see the clamps oustide but it looks like an impossible spot to reach with a screwdriver.

Spidey944

Yeah, they are WAY easier to do with the head removed. I would never want to tackle them with the head on.

ekeeton

It all depends on how badly you want to change them. It can be done. You may need a screwdriver with an adjustable angle on the handle, and you may need to eliminate a few of your fingers, but like they said, you can do it.

SamGrant951

Not sure what years are the same/different. I just replaced them on the turbo and I got them off easy enough...extensions with a 6mm socket, installing the new hoses required me sitting on the intake manifold and one hand from the left side and one down the back...retighten the same way as loosening with extensions/socket. This is of course you have the factory type clamps.

F18Rep

Yea, all turbo guys have this merit badge, Doug must have got in through the side-door...;]

StoogeMoe

I replaced them on my 86 a few years ago. Don't remember any difficulty. Of course, I was younger then.

The 83 I haven't done yet because of the dash removal requirement. Maybe when I get around to the AC delete, I'll do them then.

Yummybud924

hmm this may be one of those things that I may have to leave until it breaks.

I was just thinking that it's a matter of time before they blow up.

KuHL 951

Since you have an 85.5 you can do it with nothing more than patience, a long screwdriver, and a good pair of hose grip pliers. My bad, I thought you had an early car. I did them on my 86 951, it wasn't fun but either is a root canal...you still need to address the problem. Every coolant hose that has ever blown on any car I've owned has been a heater hose that I passed over trying to save time and effort.

ekeeton

Since you saw the need to replace all the other coolant hoses, you need to replace the heater hoses as well. It's a lot more fun to do it now than to figure out how to do it on the side of the road with steam pouring out of it.