I recently replaced my heater core...what a job. They built the car around the heater core. Anyway, I was able to carefully remove both hoses without cutting them and the heater core was factory. I noticed that the short hose that runs down behind the back of the engine head is clamped onto a steel pipe which makes its way back to the radiator. I don't need to replace that hose yet, but it got me thinking...how do you get to that hose clamp way down behind the engine? I sort of tried to "get at it" just for kicks and didn't see an easy way to do so. I was just curious if there was a trick or if I had to pull the head off? Just wanted to get a jump on this for future reference if that hose ever goes because it looks factory. '89 Firebird 305 TBI

 

It's a really tricky one. I used a combination of different swivels and extensions on a 1/4" nut driver handle to get at it.

 

Cool, thanks. Just wanted to know that it can be done without pulling the head. Hopefully, I won't have to mess with it for awhile.

 

That pipe is held on with a screw,if you remove that it's a lot easier to connect that heater hose.