Hello "F"-Chatters, I'll be working on the o'l 1979 308GTB this weekend. Got a question: I'd like to replace the worn hoses that lead form the driverside part of the engine, one appears to be a coolant hose/heater hose(hard rubber hose) of sort, and the other some type of fuel/vacuum/smog(cloth braided hose)???? line that is actually "zip tied" to the coolant/heater hose. They start at the driverside of the engine and run behind the driverside fuel cell. They're not very thick, I'd say 1" to a 1-1/2" at the very most. My question is: Where do they finally end (they look as if they parallel the length of the car-left/dirverside), and is there a better way of replacing them, rather than R&R'in the entire driverside fuel cell?? Any advise is greatly appreciated. Chris.
i think the owners manaul has a fairly decent pictorial of the cooling and/or lubrication systems which might show you where things end etc. I know the hoses running back and forth from the rad are a PIA to change
One is the heater hose and the other goes to the vacuum booster for the brakes (vacuum hose). Some people have replaced them without removing the gas tank. I, personally, think that is worth the effort to remove the gas tank as those hoses are not the easiest to replace. For the vaccum hose I used Gates vacuum hose that is quite a bit stiffer than the original and thus made the job a tad harder but my gas tank was removed.
One hose is the vacuum assist brake booster and the other is for the heater connecting to one of the cylinder heads(closest to the rear bumper). Those two hoses are held together by a metal clip that is hidden behind the aluminum plate AFTER you remove the DS fuel tank. The plate must be removed then you will see the metal slip that folds over the two hoses, you simply by hand fold the clip away from the hoses allowing you snake in the two new hoses by taping the new hose onto the existing hoses, starting first from the engine bay side moving towards the front and NOT vice versa. You will also need to remove the DS front tire to allow better access to the little 4" X 4" plate held by two screws inside the wheel well located near the bottom of the well. This plate allows you to better snake in the new hose. I did mine by myself, but it would be easier to have one person pushing the line from the engine compartment and you being on the front wheel well pulling. After about a foot or so has been pulled, you then revert to the open front trunk side and do more pulling there until the 1 foot slack has been removed. Then repeat the process back and forth until done. New hoses brings peace of mind.
I replaced the ones on my '79 without pulling the fuel tank. I found it necessary to remove the front and rear fender well, and the tire well equipment cover. Then I removed the hose clamps from the brake booster and heater and pulled the hoses from the front to the rear. You'll find a capture clip under the front wheel well where the hoses turn to enter the front compartment. Bend it out of the way, then pull the ends of the hoses into the front well and you'll have a straight shot at it. To simplify the job, I attached the new hoses to the old using double-ended brass hose barbs, and heavily lubricated the new hoses with baby powder. Then a helper "pushed" the new hoses through, while I pulled. Nice and easy and the new hoses came through without a hitch!
