Hello everyone,
Well I am in need of some experienced advice. One of the small coolant hoses (from the back of the engine through the firewall to the heater core) sprung a leak. There is so little room to work back there are there any trick for the replacement of this part? The only thing I came up with was removing the front motor mounts and lowering the motor until it touched the cross member???? How should I tackle this??


Oh yea: 1972 142E
Thanks a bunch
Wayne

Hey Wayne,
Raise tranny a bit - two reasons: replace the mount, more space to r/r hoses. Additionally, unscrewing the control valve from underside of dash will allow more flexibility. Silicone: Wish I hadda thought of that!
D

I replaced these hoses on my 1970 164.

Were I you I'd also replace the valve. It has a "keep the
temperature constant" sort of feature but I only ever used
it in the open or closed position. There is a totally self
contained valve on 80's VWs that could probably do the same
thing with fewer moving parts. The constant temperature
valve thingy on my 164 was broken and always open. Living
in a desert, this was not a good feature.

I don't recall these hoses as being super hard to replace.
I actually used generic wire reenforced hose instead of a
volvo specific part. I had taken some of the heater box
and dashboard guts out and did much of the manipulation of
these hoses from inside the car, not from above the motor
in the engine bay. I also used something (oil? soap? I
don't remember) to help sliding the hoses onto the different
things the hoses were suppose to attach to. It was tight
but I was able to do it without too much fighting, but I
seem to remember that I did have to do it blind.

Hmm, I'm rambling.
chris

Jack up the rear of the tranny.
This should tip the motor away from the firewall and give you room to get at them.
However, it sounds like some of the tranny mount may be shot to allow it to be that close to the firewall. Unless something is interfering (you'd hear the engine rumble through the body), it's probably okay for a bit.
--
MPergiel, Elmhurst, IL '74 145e T-5 'Orange Alert'

It sure can be a pain to change those hoses. I some times take sharp knife and slit the old hose length wise to get the old one off . Spray some silicone inside the new hose will make it easier to install.
Joel the Locksmith

I agree, I too was able to cut off the old hoses, and prelubricate with silicone and place the hoses, without moving the motor.

Joel
--
Antique Swedish Steel (Never Rusty) Silver 71 142E

I don't remember having to disconnect any motor or transmission mountings to replace the heater hoses.
It is tight back there but there should be enough room to slide the hoses off parallel to the firewall.
You may have an easier time loosening the clamps using a socket with extensions / offsets etc. instead of a screwdriver.
I have also "pushed" the hose off the fitting sometimes with the help of a flat bladed screwdriver turned sideways against the end face of the hose instead of pulling the hose.
--
'86 745T, '72 144E, '70 145S, '68 220S, '60 544

My hoses were stuck so much that I had to use a knife to cut them off and my engine mounts were in much need of replacement.

After 2 or 3 years mine is still blocked off because it's so hard to replace. Replacing the engine mounts made a major accessibility improvement. Your plan will improve it further. Maybe also undo transmission mount and maybe disconnect drive shaft to pull the engine forward? But just swinging the engine to one side after all the mounts are removed might also do it. I'm interested in what you come up with, please keep us posted.