Thanks Gary, there may be a way to lube up a section of hose to slide over the metal elbow and clean up the look. The new radiator hose is fairly stiff and it takes a fair amount of leverage to slide it on the metal elbow over the raised extrusion on the ends. My intent in putting together this solution was just to prove out an idea and see that it functions along the original factory design. I would think we could be take this approach "to another level" by more trial and error but at least we are part way there. I painted the elbow semi gloss as that's all I had on the shelf, LOL... might have tried a flat or satin for better match. The gates power clamps are a semi gloss finish and will stand out unless they are coated or roughed up to more resemble actual rubber but I'm sure creative minds will help this along.
I found a Gates 20689 Upper Hose this week. Old parts store stock. eBay seller had it listed . When it shows up I will put it on with photos.
Not yet, this weekend I will get to it. Bypass hose will get replaced with an NOS part at the same time.
I heard back from Gates and they said the 20689 has been discontinued since 1981 so the tooling is long gone, however, and hopefully here's the good news, they would entertain making new forms and the correct 20689 hose for what I've at least initially been led to believe seems like it will be a reasonable price/minimum order quantity. I should have some more solid information/#'s in the next few days. Let's make sure Scott's (@1970 STAGE 1) fits correctly, but the correspondence with Gates thus far looks promising and I seem to have found someone there who is very willing to help facilitate this.
I have had several of those 20689 hoses and they fit perfectly with the ram air cleaner on '70 & '71.
Matt, would be interested ; please let me know if you find your spare and how much you would want. Thanks for offering!.. John
That would be awesome to get some made. I have the original to spec off as well if need be and wish I could find one of those 20689 hoses! Nice score!
I got delayed until this weekend, putting on an NOS Fan clutch also for a big BOP car show next weekend. Photos will be posted as soon as I take them..
I say it fits perfectly. Goes around the distributor cap too. This is an NOS hose that got the Gates ink stamp after it was made.
Looks like it is close and low enough to the shroud to remain clear of the Ram air cleaner; did you have a chance to check that clearance? Hope it works so we have a reference for reman. Thanks for posting your findings!
Scott, do you know if Gates make these for GM and then this was stamped 20869 by Gates? My local Gates rep is on vacation this week - He said I could get with him, but this isn't a national emergency. I did buy a 1975 Gates catalog this week that I should have in a couple days to look @ their applications & part #'s as Gates surprisingly didn't have any old application data & when I supplied them with the original GM part numbers they couldn't cross reference them. I'm hoping that the '70 455 hose is just shorter on the ends to accommodate for the engine sitting farther forward and higher which would make meeting the MOQ easier if the 350 hose could just be trimmed. I'm hoping they can supply me drawings once I can supply them w/ their correct part numbers.
The hose is embossed with lines and characters It looks NOS and then ink stamped with the Gates stuff. It does fit perfectly.
