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SILICONE HOSES: VERSION I (PRE 2006) & VERSION II (POST 2006)
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All, I mean ALL, of my vacuum lines, were replaced with the red silicone hoses.

*******************NOTE*********************
Now note I said VACUUM. You CAN NOT replace fuel, brake, coolant/heater, or AC lines with this stuff. It will not tolerate the chemicals or heat.

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The one thing I saw at the car shows when I first started out...

The engine compartments were all reloomed in colors, usually ones that either complimented the exterior of the vehicle or used a trim color that was carried throughout the vehicle. I looked at mine. It was amazingly clean for its age, but the vacuum lines were shot, the stock black looms were dry and brittle.

So I was faced with 2 options...
1: Replace the vaccuum lines in the whole car.
2: Replace and reroute all the vacuum lines so they were hidden

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Version I: Pre 2006
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Well the first go around I simply replaced everything. There were alot of emissions pieces and lines that I simply did not have the expertise or time on a daily driven car to move. It went from black to red.

Here are some pics of mine up close...

The vacuum lines for the brake booster, vent lines, and wiper fluid lines.

I know I said these silicone can't be used on coolant lines, unless it is designed for it...
well this is just the return tube to the reservoir

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RELOCATED CHARCOAL CANISTER
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One thing getting new silicone hoses allowed was for me to move some things around by lengthening the vacuum lines. Joe found a nice little spot under the car for my charcoal canister to sit. Its under the tray it used to sit atop!

Here are the lines running from the old EGR vacuum system to the relocated charcoal canister

Where the charcoal canister ended up!

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Eliminated vacuum sources
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I also removed the EGR and blow by line.

With the new Truleo intake, the vacuum lines that were once up at the front of the intake were now at the rear of the intake.

Now its time to unclutter things and simplify the looks of my bay!

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Version II: Post 2006
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Then the 2nd go around, as now I have a new daily driver, I went for the hide it all approach....

Completed pics coming soon...

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Hose purchasing...
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My goal was to replace all the vacuum lines. Mainly to be sure I had no leaks, but second to dress up the look. So before you go to purchase the new hoses...check around the engine bay to see where you will use what sizes to determine what length you need to buy of each hose.

AutoZone and PepBoys have what I think to be crappy hoses. APC I don't trust or like the look of and I don't know about the quality of Pilot's hoses.

For me, the Silicone hoses were only like $30 for the kit...then additional by the foot. Now back when I bought them there was a kit that NOPI sold. They no longer have it. The only kit they had was the Racing Sports Akimoto. I looked at this kit to save $, but the sizes are not right for F-bodys.

When I got mine, NOPI & Summit have the best silicone hoses though. NOPI has the good stuff behind the counter. If you have a NOPI store, go there. They did sell the stuff in whatever length you would like and have a good selection of colors & sizes. Since then NOPI has discontinued all their silicone hoses. So I guess Summit will be the place to check next...

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Hose Sizing...
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If you can snag some off your original hoses, you can compare to be sure you get the right diameter size. If you don't want to disturb your original set up, go to a junk yard to get some samples of each size. Measure how long of a piece you will need.

Now the key is to measure the inside diameter. Now most silicone dress up hoses are listed in the import sizes, they are measured in MM, domestics are in inches. So it�s best to bring the hose. The guy behind the counter may not know how to convert it. Give him something to compare, and something for you to also double check before you leave the store!

NOPI also has an online store... But I don't know if they still have them for sale there either.... Remember, online ordering each individual size and length is hard. Again dress up kits are usually for imports and import hoses are in mm, Domestics are in inches... You can get away with using what is close in size. It does not have to be dead exact! The inside diameter is what is important! That is why I say to go to the store and compare the inside diameter.

***Again make sure you only replace vacuum lines, no fuel or heater hoses, ok! Silicone hoses are not designed for fuel lines, AC, brake, or for heater/coolant lines!***

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INSTALLATION
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To replace...

Pick the worst looking stock hoses, or the ones in the most obvious locations to replace first... Start with the longer hoses. That way if you goofed in you measurements you might be short on a short one and not have to buy as much to finish the job.

I would take off one end of the stock hose and match the size to the one you have purchased. Again, INSIDE diameter...once found it, I traced the length to be sure I had enough, and then I cut the new hose to the stock length.

Now some hoses are hard to get off, especially if they are older. You may have to gently slit the old hose lengthwise where it mounts. Be careful not to damage the vacuum line mounting point. They are usually plastic and easy to snap off or cut into.

I then attached the new hose to one end. Put it in the same route as the factory one. I routed the new hose next to the old one following its route. Then detached the old and reattached the new at the other end.

Its easy to get the routing mixed up if you just pull the hose off and think you will remember. Also don't pull of more then one at a time. There are a lot the same diameter and its easy to confuse them.

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HOME PAGE

Follow this link to additional information on the car not found on this site!
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DIRECTORY FOR RAIF'S ENGINE DETAILING SITE
01 Site Overview
02 Wire Looms: Version I (Pre 2006) & Version II (Post 2006)
03 Silicone Hoses: Version I (Pre 2006) & Version II (Post 2006) <<<
04 Coolflex
05 Aftermarket Aluminum Pieces
06 Polishing Aluminum
07 Polished Stock Aluminum Pieces
08 Polished Accent Pieces
09 Fiero Valve Covers
10 Polishing Steel & Ceramic Coating It
11 Aftermarket Chrome Pieces
12 Professionally Chromed Stock Pieces
13 Miscellaneous Touches
14 Final Pics of the Engine W/ Stock 2.8 Plenum & runners
15 Truleo Custom Intake
16 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Overview
17 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Battery Relocation: Installing the Battery Box
18 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Battery Relocation: Running Wiring Under Chassis
19 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Hiding the wiring: MSD Box Mounting
20 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Hiding the wiring: Part I
21 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Hiding the wiring: Part II
22 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine & Tranny: Stripping & Prepping
23 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine & Trannny: Painting Candy Apple Red
24 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Accessories: Candy Apple Red: Prep, Prime, & Base
25 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Accessories: Candy Apple Red: Clear Coat
26 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Accessories: Black
27 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine Bay: Welding, Stripping, & Filling
28 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine Bay: Prepping & Priming
29 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Painting: Engine Bay: Clear Coat
30 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Engine Installation
31 2006: Engine Compartment Makeover: Engine Installation: Accessories

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