VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1961-1964 1964 Chevy Impala SS 327/300 HP Radiator Hoses

Did Chevy "Really" have a GM part number written on the original radiator hoses or are the replacements just trying to be "overly" authentic…bought mine new but 50 years is a long time ago and I don't really remember…thx..Billu38

Seems to me that the reproduction hoses that are made now have much bolder markings than the originals had when they came off the production line.

The reproduction radiator hoses are pretty much dead on, with two exceptions the radiator hoses had the clamps going toward the radiator stapled to the hose, this was for ease of assembly at the factory. I also found on the very few cars that still had the original hoses that the part number was branded into the hose. I suspect the painted part number was for service replacement and the part number had to visable for ease of identification, regardless the hose was not stamped "gates." Options might be limited.

I found that the heater hoses offered are the big mistake with "over restoration" with markings. The original factory installed heater hoses however DID NOT HAVE the GM logo that has become the accepted norm seen on many restored cars. Even the GM logo is not the correct style for that era, it has a 70's look. The correct heater hoses were just a plain black hose with no markings but have a rib pattern about a 1/2" wide running the lenght of the hose. Show Cars offers the correct ribbed heater hoses, as well as the GM logo hoses

As far as the radiator hoses go it depends who Cheverolet purchased them from. Not all were marked the same.

Can't wait for my catalogue John…you seem to be extremely "high" on Show Cars supplier as far as authenticity and quality...…thx..Billu38

Gene
I am aware of different vendors, but have yet to a see an orignal factory photo with the GM logo hoses. Considering the "logo" heater hoses offered for the 58-64 year cars use a much later style GM lettering, so they would be incorrect. No more correct then a Gates hose bought in a parts house. The general opinion is that those repro hoses were offered to the Corvette crowd and it looked "cute" on the 5-7's so it became the accepted norm. The ribbed hoses are the only correct heater hoses offered that I know of. Considering that the hoses are 5/8 and 3/4 and both 45" It's hard to justify why they would waste any production cost to manufacter hoses with a logos on them.

Please let me know where I can document that the logo heater hoses are correct, I would love to find it, always learning something new

I have owned several 60s Chevys and all had ribbed heater hoses. The typically didn't get changed as soon as the radiator hoses. Had a few Chevys that still had radiator hoses that had the number molded in. One was a '65 Biscayne that I owned at least 4 times. Bought it from the original owner and sold it back to him all but the last time. I replaced the original hoses, exhaust system and brakes on it.

Anyone have a photo of the ribbed hose? Not sure I can picture it…or any other photos related to the other hoses in this topic..thx…Billu38

Bill,
I will get a picture later today and email it to you. This frigid weather is bad! Heading your way in about a week. It is so cold that the "wet" part of my cigar when I put it down froze solid to the bumper of my van in about 3 sec's! So when I step out for my afternoon smoke I will get a photo for you.

Thanks…69 here….(just rubbing it in!!…but they had snow flurries in Jacksonville today!!!)…thx…Bill U

Bill,
TOO COLD TO GO OUT TO THE SHOP, I will photograph it tomorrow for you

This photo was taken in late '62. IF you look closely at the front of the top radiator hose you can see the white GM logo printed there. The original heater hoses are also visible but there's not enough sharpness to see the fine raised ribs on them.
Verne

Verne,
The converstaion sort of morphed and I was taking about how the GM logo was not on the heater hoses, and how those goofy looking reproduction one's with the GM logo every 3" are not correct.

i have the original heater hoses off the 1966 425HP corvette that was sold to Grady Davis, head of gulf oil scca racing in the 60's . i also have the window sticker , sold new out of don yenko's cannonsburg pa dealership . these hoses were removed from the 66 vet roadster with about 10 miles on its clock. the 3/4" hose has no stampings on its surface but its got 4 ribs running its length. the 5/8" hose has GM and a square box stamped at 1.85" intervals. the color of the stampings on the 5/8" hose were probably white in '66 but they have been laying in my shop since the mid 70's and they look a little tan to my old eyes. i am 100% certain that midyear, and probably c-1 corvettes heater hoses were ink stamped. i had a 74 sbc vette with its original houses and the 5/8 appeared dirty white while the 3/4" hose was stamped with red ink. mike

Any chance you can post some photos Mike?…thx…Verne, can't really see the markings on your photo but thanks for the photo….my old eyes are probably worse than Mike's!….Billu38

IT is hard to see but it's there. It's a photo of a photo (35mm print). Easier to see with a magnifying glass on the original print.

Verne

Verne,
Your talking about the upper radiator hose correct? I can see the marking on the upper hose, it favors the drivers side of the car so it is a little hard to see, about 2" before the radiator neck.

Interesting if you notice on the battery holddown showing a wing nut, and the drawings in the assembly manual show a hex nut (Section 12 sheet 300).

Bill, I emailed you photos of the ribbed heater hose. I don't have the capacity to put photos on this site

This photo might show it a little bit better. You can see the GM logo and part number printed on the top of the hose.
As for the wingnut, look at sect 345, sheet 1.00 (heavy duty battery)

Verne

Interesting,,,, Nice pick-up! I see there is a different part number for both the bolt and the retainer. The only thing I can think of is that maybe it was used for identification on assembly? I am pretty sure looking at it now I think the the bolt was on the retainer prior to assembly and it was just hooked in and pulled down over the battery with the bolt to the radiator support. Just a guess but it would make sense that way.
I never really questioned the radiator hose markings, just the heater hoses on these years, they are very hard to see in any factory photos.

These photos are great, very rare to come buy any color photos. I did notice some other neat stuff like the painted master cylinder, valve cover is ID'd only on the passenger side, odd. One of my 62's is the same silver blue color

Yep, there are a few interesting things to be found in those photos. BY the way, it's Nassau Blue.

Verne

Sorry,with the age of the photo it appeared to be silver blue, you don't see to many silver blue or nassau blue cars