'74 GTS - overheat - water misting situation and repair question

hello friends

after moving my car to avoid fires here in so-cal

I went to retrieve it and driving home I noticed the temp gauge spiking

I pulled over and mist was spewing up from mid engine

I figured - a hose is cracked - leaking ?

so I towed it to a Mechanic

He called me today to say "small heater hose blew - it will be a couple maybe 3 hours, plus new hose and some coolant"

I texted back great - do the job

later in the day

"sorry for the delayed update, unfortunately before we can go any further you need to come in so we can show you and explain this particular hose - it runs through the center of the car and if it comes apart

in the center of the car it's changed the difficulty of the job - can you find a few moments to come by tomorrow before we proceed "

can an informed person comment on this situation

I may even post the video I took on the roadside of the where the mist was misting from

BUT

my ******** meter is going off and I am sensing a shake down for hours of labor to replace a hose

I just pulled my escalade from the dealer who was trying to charge me 1150 for a 300 dollar repair - they were at least nice about it when I said I'm sending my flatbed guy to pick up my truck - they immediately try to requote me - and I politely said - no worries and we partied friends

AM I GETTING HOSED ?!

 

here is the video

https://youtube.com/shorts/AoILhYljzYY?feature=share

 

Sergio - I am the bad owner who did do the coolant flush so this issue is kinda on me

this is an E series - 74 GTS

I spoke to a mechanic I trust last night who thinks it's the hose that runs through the rocker panel and that I should have them cut of the bad part and pull the hose forward but reading Sergio's post makes me fear that the hose could be split in a more unfortunate place and that the gas tank may need to come out to replace

and great advice about keeping the clamps - I am gonna keep the broken hose too - just to see it

I also got confirmation from the mechanic I know and trust that the guy doing this repair is knowledgeable and good

so my deferred maintenance is the issue here

and the car say too much in this last year

I am going to see him and the car in an hour and will report back

this is gonna cost me 2k is my guess

THANKS for the insight SERGIO!

 

update - I saw the car on a lift and got to take cool undercarriage shots and the car looks very clean and rust free (I know rust lives deep in these cars lol)

this hose was replaced before because it's not the original hose - which makes some sense as the car is 51 years old? is that math right ?

and the clamps were not original either - tho they looked Italian - with Italian writing on them

he is gonna try to pull the hose that runs along - inside the rocker forward and see if it's good and holds water etc

if that doesn't help - we will move the fuel tank and replace the hose entirely

I feel good about the guy doing the repair - he has a thick Italian accent - so that's enough, right ? lol

no, he actually used to work for the mechanic who has serviced and repaired this Dino for me in the past and he said he is excellent

the shop was very clean and they had a low key vibe and some nice old Ferraris laying around

so - note to all of us - the coolant flush routine is something to stay on top of

I stick to my 2k estimate for this repair

 

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Thanks Sergio

No offense taken at all

I keep saying 2k because I have to assume that their hourly has to be 200+ an hour

I have to think that I am gonna be tagged with 6 hours of labor plus parts - plus tax ....2k?

 

yeah the bill was

$1981.31

so I knew nothing expect

I was gonna get hosed for 2k