Top heater hose clearance

Post Wed Feb 27, 2013 7:59 pm

Just wondering what other people have done with the top heater hose to inlet manifold clearance? There is less than none on mine.
Looks like you might be able to rotate the top stub 180 degrees for a bit more room, anyone tried this?

Post Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:00 pm

Yes, it doesnt work. I even bought an aircon stub to see if that could fit but it doesn't.

Most cut the stub down but I don't like that with no lip/barb on the pipe, no idea what the pressure on the coolant system is at full chat but I don't fancy it popping off.

When mine is transplanted I will be looking at it again.

Post Wed Feb 27, 2013 9:54 pm

Ah cheers, that saves me a an hour and a load of swearing!

Yeah I didn't fancy that much either. Pressure is usually something like 1.1bar max I think, says on the coolant cap, I'll check tomorrow.

Another option is trimming the inlet so it clears it and then making good any holes after. That is a bit dodgy though.

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 12:27 am

I think I might have to raise my engine a touch to clear it. That or get a custom pipe made up.

I looked at trimming the inlet but didn't like it for reasons I can't remember. I'm on an M50 manifold though.

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 1:19 am

I know its not the route your after but , my engine is raised aprox 15mm for sump clearance and this didnt help me .
In the end i did cut the top hose down and after a year of abuse its been fine ,ive had it into the red on the temp gauge while drifting with no leaks . Hope this helps

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:00 am

I think mine cleared fine with AKG mounts, but I have since removed my heater box.

If it helps I can go look and tell you if there is clearance?

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:42 pm

I was thinking about a custom pipe today, bit of a faff. Might still look into it though.

I've not got much room for going upwards because of the wiring but that could move if it had to.

I'm got an m50 lump and so m50 mani too. I think the trouble is to get enough room for it not to touch you would end up with a hole that would be tricky to patch up properly.

The relieving pressure is written on the cap in the middle, and for my m50 its 200kpa or 2 bar which is a fair bit! Nice to know that you've had no problems with the trimmed pipe though Batts.

Ross_jsy - thanks but no need, I think I'll stick with the e28 M5 mounts for now. Are the AKG mounts solid?

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:51 pm

I've got a rotated pipe on mine. Needs a little locating tab on the flange removed to enable it to fit either way.

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:59 pm

No AKG mounts are Group N hardness polyurethane

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:03 pm

I have AKG mounts on mine. Pretty sure I tried rotating the pipe but it fouled the lower one or something.

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:09 pm

Thanks Brianmoooore, I thought I had read that somewhere.

Ah right, don't know why I thought they were solid!

Thanks for your help lads, I'll update when it's done.

Post Thu Feb 28, 2013 10:22 pm

Different engine I know, but I cut the stub down for my S50 conversion and as Batts said, over a year of abuse and never an issue. Infact when I removed the engine, getting the heater hose off the stub was a real pain, even without the flare holding the hose on.

Post Mon Mar 04, 2013 9:23 pm

Sorted it. Tried rotating the pipe and it hit the lower pipe on mine so that was no good.

Custom pipe would take some doing because of the shape of the end inside the car so not really on.

Ended up cutting approx 15mm off and its fine, loads of meat to attach the hose to, don't know what I was worried about!

Thanks for all your help chaps