vjaneczko »
I just tried to install the Intercooler Silicone Hoses from FCP and have a few questions regarding these hoses.
First, should I be worried about the excess material in this hose? This is the hose that has the ‘arm’ running off to the idle control valve:
Second; the hose diameters (all of them) seems to be way too small – almost as if the inner diameter needs to be what the outer diameter is. The blue replacement hose that connects to the intercooler has an inner diameter of 58 mm. I didn’t measure the hose that is installed, but there’s no way its inner diameter is that small. The hose clamp has the following marking:
75
58-75
I’m going to guess that is the “usable” mm range of the clamp. There’s not much metal hanging out from under the screw, so that tells me that the hose has an I.D. of 70 mm or so – correct?
I’ve heard that it’s difficult to install silicone hoses because they’re quite tight and don’t stretch at all, but this seems impossible! Has anyone installed this hose kit? Did you have any of these issues?
Third; What’s the best way to clean the inside of these new hoses? There’s a bit of dust and it doesn’t just wipe out easily. Seems to be a static charge kind of bond.
I’m calling FCP tomorrow to discuss this, but I wanted to reach out and see if I’m the only one with this challenge.
mblackwell »
I don’t have an explanation for this, but I installed the Samco Hoses and they didn’t seem to want to go on at first but after a bit of wiggling they all popped right on and I don’t remember much of a problem. I do remember thinking (while trying to push them on) “this thing is really tight it doesn’t want to fit. how am I gonna strecth it… oh wait it just popped on”. I did use some silicon spray and maybe rotated a bit while wiggling/pushing.
Sommerfeldt »
I bought the Samco kit a while ago, and then spent about a day in the sun trying to get the hoses to fit.
These hoses all seem to have the correct measurments, but they are a PITA to get on, since they’re way more sturdy than OEM, and won’t expand in the same way – that’s why we buy these in first place, right?
After a lot of cursing and sweating, these hoses all “popped” on, as a previous poster said, but two of the hoses had to be “encouraged” with a thin blade, inserted between the pipe and the hose and moved around the edge in the direction away from the sharp edge of the blade. It solved my trouble with getting the hoses on, and it seemed to me that the hoses were much more cooperative the second time around, after I had to remove one since I forgot to put the clamp on first… 
The hoses fit, people – at least the Samco ones do. They behave the way they do because they’re actually just the way we want them to be, i.e. they’re tough and won’t expand unless you really force them to.
czar »
I bought a set of the regular hoses from FCP 2 years ago. It was quite a task to get them on. I used silicone spray and LOTS of elbow grease! and I bashed my knuckles more than once! The hose to the bottom of the inter cooler (fixed to the hard pipe) seems to have a bit of a “crimp” in it but overall was pretty happy with them.. more than likely a supplier making silicone hoses already has made the regular hoses and has just made a batch using colored silicone instead.
As mentioned I used silicone spray and had to wedge them on at an angle to get them on…but they worked. and they were a huge improvement over the factory squishy ones which which should have been replaced long ago. Good luck!
I put these on this weekend. I honestly thought everybody having a problem getting them on was either some sort of sissy or not trying hard enough…they were right, they’re hard to get on.
I don’t see it happening if you are doing it by yourself without taking all of the IC piping out of the car. I took it all out and used my trusty vise as a second set of hands. I used a small screwdriver instead of a tire lever and silicone spray. where the IC hoses meet the TB and IC I used a hook type of tool I made myself.
I think it took about 90 minutes, maybe even a little longer. I wouldn’t want to do it again, at least by myself. 2 people would be ideal.
BUT, they’re on and they are tight. The overall fit is good…no complaints in that area. For a hundred and change, you can’t beat them.
Anyone Buy Intercooler Silicone Hoses?
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Last Updated on July 23, 2024
