How to Replace 57 Chevy Heater Hoses
- 1). Raise the hood on the '57 Chevy. Once raised, the hood springs should support the weight of the hood. If the springs appear to be weak, use a static rod to prop up the hood.
- 2). Locate the radiator drain plug on the lower driver's side of the radiator.
- 3). Place a splash pan under the car directly beneath the drain plug to capture drained coolant. If the pan is clean, you can recover the coolant and re-use it. If not, new coolant must be added when the work is completed.
- 4). Remove the radiator cap. Turn it counter-clockwise by hand as you depress it. Ensure the engine has completely cooled prior to removing the cap.
- 5). Remove the radiator drain plug by turning the plug counter-clockwise with an adjustable wrench. Align the splash pan as needed. Once drained, re-install the drain plug and tighten clockwise with the adjustable wrench.
- 6). Locate the two heater hose connections on the passenger side at the firewall. Each of the hoses are connected to the heater core tubes with compression clamps.
- 7). Place a fender guard in position to protect the paint from becoming scratched by tools or belt buckles.
- 8). Grip the clamp tongues of one of the hose clamps in the grooved jaws of the clamp pliers. Squeeze the pliers until the clamp spreads open enough to slide it back over the hose for several inches. Do the same with the other clamp.
- 9). Twist and pull the hoses off the heater core tubes. If older hoses resist, use a utility knife to cut a slit along the length of the hose over the core tubes before removing the heater hoses.
- 10
Follow the lower hose at the firewall to its end at the lower tube on the circulating valve. The valve controls the flow of warm coolant to the heater core. Slide the hose clamp back with the pliers and remove the heater hose from the valve. - 11
Slide the clamp back with the pliers on the lower hose that leads from the circulating valve to its end at the lower intake manifold. Remove the hose from the lower intake manifold as well. - 12
Follow the upper hose from the firewall to its end at the upper intake manifold. Slide the clamp back using the pliers and remove the heater hose. - 13
Clean all the heater hose connection tubes with #400 emery paper. Wipe all residual material with a clean shop cloth. - 14
Remove all the clamps from the old heater hoses using the clamp pliers. - 15
Place a clamp over each end of the new length of heater hose routed from the upper core tube to the upper intake manifold using the clamp pliers. Insert the clamp tongues into the pliers jaws and squeeze each clamp open enough to slide it back from their respective end of the hose several inches. - 16
Twist and push the hose end onto the core tube until it is fully seated up to the shoulder of the tube. Slide the clamp into position over the tube using the pliers. Connect the other end of the hose to the upper manifold tube and place the clamp over the tube. - 17
Place a clamp over each end of the new length of heater hose routed from the lower intake manifold tube to the lower tube on the circulating valve using the clamp pliers. - 18
Connect each end onto its respective tubes by twisting and pushing the end of the hose up to the shoulder of each tube. Slide the clamps forward over the tubes with the clamp pliers. - 19
Place a clamp over each end of the new length of heater hose routed from the lower heater core tube to the lower tube on the circulating valve using the clamp pliers. - 20
Connect each end onto its respective tube by twisting and pushing the end of the hose up to the shoulder of each tube. Slide the clamps forward over the tubes using the clamp pliers. - 21
Refill the radiator with coolant from the splash pan and install the radiator cap. If new coolant was added, remove the splash pan from under the car. - 22
Check and account for all tools and materials used under the hood. Remove the fender guard. - 23
Start the '57 Chevy and leak check all the connections. - 24
Close the hood.
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