Hey guys,

I am seconds away from ordering a red Samco hose kit but the only thing holding me back is install. I ran a search came up on older threads...one w/ a pic w/ the air release valve...but mostly of people who had changed their hoses only to have the car overheat, or have no heat/AC....

I mean the samco hose kit is real nice...but as cold as it is now...and as hot as it'll get in the summer...i dont think i could handle no AC/heat in a brand new car!! thought i might ask some local guys if they ever done the install to see if they had any pointers or maybe a DIY?? i know the proper way is to drain the cooling system then remove hoses, replace and refill. but its easier said than done....trying to do it myself to save some $$$....any help would be appreciated fellas!!!

 

very easy install, dont worry about your AC i installed my hoses and i didnt bleed the line so i had alot i mean alot of air in the lines, you need to allow the thermostat to open up so u can get the coolant flowing through the engine. i would recommend a nismo low temp thermostat ;-) i got one, car stays nice and cool. the bleeder line is located in the back left behind the plenum next to the battery simply poor water into the bleeder thing with a thing funnel....ummm...if you have any other questions let me know....oh also make sure you put the hose's on correctly...if you put them the wrong way the car will now allow the coolant to flow i beleive i dunno may be mistaken, very easy install though, my ac and heat work great.

Ben Yavari
AAM

 

Ben,

Thanks for the reply. I also saw THIS post regarding install. About halfway down is a diagram from the service manual. Is this the valve/bleeder line your referring to?? When you did your install did you drain all the coolant out of your system and the install/refill coolant?? I do consider myself mechanically inclined for the most part...but maybe im makin this harder than it is?? damn!! I swapped out a radiator on my 86 cutlass once...that involved draining out the entire cooling system...but that was soooo long ago!! I dont remember much!!

 

yeah thats the plug you need, i drained the entire system once, and then realized i had a hose on backwards and then drained it again and turned the hose around and then bled the entire system an fixed all the leaks. make sure not to lose the cap, it can be a ***** getting the damn thing back once u drop it in that engine bay...

Ben Yavari
AAM

 

Ben,

I feel bad to bother you bro....

So basically I first drain the radiator via the valve at the bottom into a big jug. Starting from the bottom, drain the lower hoses then work towards the upper hoses. Replace the 4 hoses then refill the radiator and then use that valve to get the air out?? thats the last step id assume. i also recall on my old beater....i reused the coolant that i drained earlier...is it best to replace it all w/ new coolant?? or is it ok to reuse what i have already?? i only got 6k miles on my car!!! Thanks or all your help bro!! If worst comes to worse do you know of a shop/place I can take it to get it done?? and how much $$ it would cost?? u think if i somehow messup it will void my warranty??

thanks again buddy!!

 

Fill the resevoir to full after all hoses in place. Run car about 30 min. looking at resevoir level. Fill resevoir to full again. Check coolant level after each stop. Any air caught in the lines will be free as you run the car due to the pump pumping it out. Its a closed system with the exception of the vented resevoir as an expansion volume.

 

according to service manual:
open the relief hole plug mentioned in the above posts.
fill the radiator until it overflows from that hole.
if coolant does not overflow from relief hole, grasp upper radiator hose so that it occurs with closing radiator cap. After installing air relief plug, open radiator cap and fill radiator.
warm up engine, rev to 3000 rpm for 10 seconds.
let cool and refill resorvoir tank.
repeat the warmup, cooldown and top up until the tank stops losing fluid.

 

Thanks alot guys!! I appreciate all your help!!