So after going through the whole optispark/water pump plugs and wires debacle, I sprung a leak on the lower heater hose near the water pump and hosed down the engine compartment and pulleys *ugh* Glad I learned early on that duct tape is a requierment with these things.....

Looking at the upper/lower hose assembly and trying to justify why it's nearly two hundred bucks from a dealer, I'm wondering if anyone has installed the molded hoses you can get at the auto parts stores. Do these work ok? Being that they eliminate all the aluminum, bleeder valve and the flow check valve, do just the plain jane hoses do the trick without screwing everything up? I'm assuming they route the same, but do you do anything special where the original bracket held them away from the exhaust manifolds?
I could just hack out the leak and reclamp it, but seeing as it was ripe there, I'm sure it will only be a matter of time before it blows out somewhere else and I do not enjoy covering myself in antifreeze more than I need to. The upper/lower radiator hoses have been already replaced.

 

The hose assy is $102.10 wholesale at the dealer. That's the best bet in the long run IMHO.

 

+1 Do it right the first time otherwise you'll be chasing problems down the road.