94 512TR 66,000 mile major

It might be easier to install a separate ground if the solenoid is still good. That way just one wire to a remote switch. Just thinking out loud. I had a problem with a ground where the AC fan would stop (among other things) and the cabin would flood with hot air. Very uncomfortable in Florida in the summer.

 

The little 90 degree hose is available but not in stock. I removed the cut part of my original hose and there was still enough room to insert the reducer. The hose was in good shape. It looks like the new hose should be able to make the turn without the 90 degree hose in place. We shall see. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Pulling these hoses through the chassis tunnel is scary - the hoses have been in there for 26 years. First I connected the new blue silicone hose to the red hose with the barbed plastic connector from Lowes. I then applied some duct tape for extra measure and put some CV grease on as much of the old hose and several feet of new hose. Then it was hope and pull. Remarkably it pulled through the tunnel smoothly. The old hose ends up being just about 8 feet in length, and is the longer hose by about 1 foot. The black hose is bundled with the two AC hoses and has a rough outer texture. I have some worries.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hose #2 was a royal pain in the rear. First I removed the 10 mm nut holding on the large hose clamp that suspended the black (upper) coolant hose as well as an electrical cable and both AC hoses. There are two tie wraps that also need to be cut. In photo two, from left to right are the electrical cable, black coolant hose and the two AC hoses. The new blue silicone coolant hose is partly visible.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

The first problem with the black hose is that the inner surface had swollen so much that the barbed plastic splice could not be pushed in. I tried stretching it with pliers and a battery terminal spreader, but no go. I finally had to get a large drill bit and scrape away the inner surface by hand. Note the difference in internal diameter of the red and black coolant hoses - they are supposed to be the same.
I have to agree with Ago Car Nut - the red hose is probably aftermarket. It appears to be a much better quality hose. And I had to ream out the black hose in place under the dash with next to no room. Fun.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Next I connected the black hose to my new blue silicone hose with the barbed plastic splice and lots of duct tape. Thank god for duct tape.. The connection got hung up at the mouth of the tunnel, and it took some persistent prying with a large screwdriver to move the other hoses around. After that, the old/new hose connection pulled through easily. Not fun, but it's done.
Photo 1 shows the mouth of the tunnel, photo 2 shows the back of the tunnel, and photo 3 shows all the extra tools I had to use to complete this job. Also some grease for the hoses and some WD-40 sprayed into the back of the tunnel.
Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

With the solenoid closed (grounded), there will be no flow through the heater core inside the AC unit. The coolant will still be under pressure, but will not be moving and will not be hot.

 

By the way, I bought 16 feet of 3/4" silicone heavy wall heater hose (at $5.78/foot or $92.48 total) from the local Goodyear hose store. All they do is hoses. They know hoses. The 16 feet length was a guess but turned out to be perfect.

 

I'm going to use Evans Coolant (WWW.evanscoolant.com), a waterless zero pressure, high performance coolant. There will only be hot coolant flowing, but under no pressure. You can remove the radiator cap on a hot engine.

 

I found this brass 3/4" 90 degree barbed elbow fitting at Lowes for a couple of bucks. If I decide not to reuse the original "hose, this can be an alternative to the $20 Ferrari part. I hope the more flexible silicone hose will make the turn to the solenoid by itself. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Worst case scenario is it does not work and I drain and refill with traditional coolant. My friend Paul has Evans in his 348 and it works fine. LIfe is an adventure. Nothing risked, nothing gained.

 

I have no clue. If I put it in and it does not cool, I'll take it out. It's designed for racing applications and reportedly Jay Leno uses Evans coolant in all of his vehicles.
Does it work in a 1994 512TR? We'll all find out.