So I have a 1995 Firebird Formula 6 speed, Have owned car since 2004 with 80K and know the previous owner too, car was all original never monkeyed with car and basically still is, engine was 100% untouched until 110K miles when the ignition stuff started to give problems (original plugs for the first 110K!) so changed the plugs and wires, plugs not too bad to change except one and wires sucked... Anyway after a few more thousand miles after the plug and wire replacement either the distributor cap or the optispark was giving issues(occasional skip and issues when wet out), had the replacement cap but then figured the amount of work to replace the optispark might as well change the whole thing with a new GM unit, and throw a new waterpump on there too. While I was in there I noticed future heater hose problems

Anyway that's the background, now at 120k miles on the car, like I said nothing was ever touched on the car so running all the original heater and radiator hoses and when I changed the waterpump one hose on the heater hose assembly near the connection was swelled and was actually ready to blow. I was able to just cut the section shorter and reuse for now. I have the Goodyear Hi- miler kit but notice most of the hoses are crimped to the metal - what a stupid Idea...

So here is my question for anyone who has experience with this, I have the Goodyear kit (bought year ago when did plugs, never got around to install) so I figure anything I can use out of it that is not originally crimped I will use up, should I just spend the $115 (www.gmpartsdirect.com with shipping) and buy the entire part number 31869850 rather than attempting to hack hoses onto the old assembly, I really hate hack jobs, they will always bite you later and look like crap

If you cut open the crimps to get the old hoses off is there a lip on the pipe or a barb to help keep the old hose from sliding off? Yes, can attach a hose to straight pipe but never the best idea... Yes, put 2 clamps and never had an issue but there is a reason why OEM always uses a lip too!


There is also another hose with a crimp additonal to the heater assembly, It is on the otherside of the engine compartment under the car and I never followed it all the way back, I think it is the "steam hose?" does anyone have the part number for that?