90* Barb coupler

[lak2004]

Does anyone think that a plastic 90* coupler will melt or warp and leak if I use it with my heater hose lines?
Something like this-

Or should I use something made of brass? I cannot find anything from Summit like this that is a barb on both sides. Thanks

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Nope, you'll ruin the motor long before you would be anywhere near melting those. Put a hose clamp at each connection, don't overtighten them and you'll be fine

 

[dhcomp]

Will be fine, but the question is why do you need it?

Are you bypassing the heater core? If so, the 2 hoses are different sizes, and they sell a special adapter that allows you to bypass it easily.

 

[lak2004]

Nope finally got my mojave heater hooked up tonight but the hoses coming into the cab are at a quick angle so right now i have a lot of extra hose running on my floor so they are not kinked. Im going to put the 90s in to clean it up a bit Heat works good, but I think I may have a head gasket leak and my t-stat is not opening So looks like I will be doing head gaskets, t-stat and a rear main in the near future.

 

[K85 Octane]

FYI:
just picked up some of those at OSH the other day. Grey in color and thick

 

[lak2004]

whats OSH? edit: googled it! Nevermind

 

[K85 Octane]

I just say OSH (Orchard supply hardware) cause I've been though home depot and unless the guy didn't know where else they might have been....I didn't see any of those there.

 

[5280k5]

Luke,
We use universal heater hoses from Napa all the time that have a pre bent 90* at the end. They come in the standard 5/8 & 3/4 heater hose sizes.

You can just barely see the hose in this pic where it attaches to the water pump. And no that's not my engine(I wish), it's a ZZ383 I put in a CJ5 at work. It's also got a Mojave heater in it, works really well.

 

[lak2004]

Luke,
We use universal heater hoses from Napa all the time that have a pre bent 90* at the end. They come in the standard 5/8 & 3/4 heater hose sizes.

You can just barely see the hose in this pic where it attaches to the water pump. And no that's not my engine(I wish), it's a ZZ383 I put in a CJ5 at work. It's also got a Mojave heater in it, works really well.

Damn that thing is clean! That would work pretty damn well actually. Might have to swing by Napa tomorrow. Luckily for me they are across the parking lot

 

[MTChevy]

This might just be my experience but I've seen a bunch of plastic elbows get warped and start leaking when used in the cooling system. I have always replaced em with brass

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

Possible those are cheap ones, OEM's use them all the time.

 

[5280k5]

Damn that thing is clean! That would work pretty damn well actually. Might have to swing by Napa tomorrow. Luckily for me they are across the parking lot

Yeah, they'll probably have to get in a book and look them up but they work great and look much cleaner than tees/elbows & clamps. I've used plastic before on heater hoses and it works ok, think about the common coolant flush tee- plastic right?
Even at GM, some of the cars/trucks had a plastic reduction coupler going into the heater core to slow the coolant flow down to prevent gurgling noises inside the car.

 

[lak2004]

Makes sense. I even have one of those flushing kits that has been sitting around for years. Maybe Ill throw that in while I am at it. Thanks Brigham!

 

[diesel4me]

I'd go to a parts store,they sell the correct type fittings that are made of a nylon type plastic--ones from home centers designed for house plumbing might withstand heat OK,but I've had them get brittle and snap in extreme cold on my 72 K5 when I used them to plumb up a rear heater I got from a school bus.."Four Seasons" brand lists the nylon fittings and also brass ones in various "Y" and "T" and straight couplings as well as elbows..I have seen an extensive selection of barbed brass hose fittings at Lowes nearby also,I'd buy brass before anything plastic...I've used EMT electrical conduit & elbows to replace rotted metal heater pipes on cars & trucks,having np "barb" concerned me at first,but I have never had a heater hose come loose from one,once clamped securely..

 

[magik235]

I have used them in my Jeep plow vehicle for years with no problems.