Coolant hose R & R - carb 308

I've got the carbs off, and I'm staring at a 6" or so coolant hose that connects the upper part of the thermostat housing to the head-to-head coolant crossover pipe. Can this be replaced w/o removing either the crossover pipe or the thermo housing? Obviously I can cut the old one off, but I'm not sure if 1 1/2" Gates Green Stripe has enough flexibility to go back on w/o some unwanted disassembly. Anyone done this?

(BTW, the lower hose - the one just under that connects the alum pipe to the lower part of the thermo housing - already has a length of Green Stripe on it.)

 

Thanks. I looked at FoUK's parts diagrams, and I *think* that the crossover pipe for the FI cars is in a slightly different place. The carb cars have a thermostatic coil to work the fast idle, resulting in a bend in the crossover pipe, and thus the hose section is *probably* shorter. At least it looks that way. If so, it may be more difficult for me to do this. I will probably try to find 1 5/8 hose. It can't possibly move or slip off, so worst case scenario is leak potential. Unlikely with tight clamps.

I didn't want to remove anything, as I don't have gaskets. But I think I might remove the crossover pipe and make some gaskets. Together with a bit of sealer, I should be OK. I hope.