Did only V-6 cars have pre-molded hoses going from the heater core to metal tubes on the frame rail?...

 

V8 cars have them too. Don't know if it is exactly the same but most likely it is. I took my old one out and went to the parts store and matched it up. Seems like I cut the middle out of a larger molded hose to get the bends I needed.

 

So what determined whether or not cars got them?...

 

Hmm not sure. Judging for the V8 it appears GM decided to convert from rubber to steel tubing to route the flow past the exhaust manifold near the frame rail rather than a rubber hose ran over the intake manifold as older generations did. My 89 has a heater control valve also connected to this system so that the heater core does not have hot water flowing through it when the heater is not in use. I presume the same would apply to V6's.

 

My cousin had a V6 Camaro back in the day and I think I still have those hoses kicking around.
They were unused. But I might have chucked them just because they were 20 years old.
I will look tonight.

 

I still have them. And they are still like new & flexible.
I cannot guarantee they fit a V6 Camaro, but that is what I was told.
The part numbers on them are:

• looks like 80M475
• 040692
• 10135303
• 14045870

Anyone that wants them for FREE, just pay shipping. Mike.

 

Well, I found the answer in my 1983 Helm manual. The V-6 models (at least for that year) were the only ones that had those metal heater tubes routed atop the frame rail with the 90 degree pre-molded hoses connecting to the heater core. I was just curious as this really doesn't apply to me...