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Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Thought I would share this to make the next poor person's job easier. My BJ8 heater hose is ragged where it connects to the shut off valve at the engine block.
Lesson 1: don't use cheap hose clamps. They can cut the hose. There was not enough slack to cut the end off so --- time to replace the x*$$@@** hose. At least I can replace the grommet easily with the hose out.
- You can access the hose by removing the tach. It is not necessary to remove the heater. You can gently let the tach dangle from the wires rather than disconnect them all or use string to give take the strain off. Hopefully, the PO left the clamp facing the right way to be reached with a shorty screw driver.
- It is not necessary to drain antifreeze out of the radiator although draining a little can hurt. Disconnect the hose at the heater valve on the block and catch a what little antifreeze that drains from the heater in a can. Upon disconnecting at the top of the heater, I only got a few drops of antifreeze on top of the heater box.
- Lesson 2. Wedge a piece of rope in the end of the hose at the heater end so when you pull the old hose out, the rope will follow. Wedge the rope into the new hose. Following the rope back will save time trying to route it over and under the wires correctly and aid in getting it back quickly. When the hose is out, put the grommet in and lube the grommet and hose with dish soap. By having the rope wedged in the center of the hose rather than taped to the outside, it will pass through the grommet when tugging the rope.
- Lesson 3. Keep lots of soapy water on the hose because if you don't it will pull the grommet in and you have to start all over.
- NAPA half inch black heater hose fits well but doesn't have the texture of the original.
Spray some WD40 on the heater cable as long as you are in there. Run the engine with the heater valve open to fill the heater and remove air and then add antifreeze mix to the radiator.
Lesson 1: don't use cheap hose clamps. They can cut the hose. There was not enough slack to cut the end off so --- time to replace the x*$$@@** hose. At least I can replace the grommet easily with the hose out.
- You can access the hose by removing the tach. It is not necessary to remove the heater. You can gently let the tach dangle from the wires rather than disconnect them all or use string to give take the strain off. Hopefully, the PO left the clamp facing the right way to be reached with a shorty screw driver.
- It is not necessary to drain antifreeze out of the radiator although draining a little can hurt. Disconnect the hose at the heater valve on the block and catch a what little antifreeze that drains from the heater in a can. Upon disconnecting at the top of the heater, I only got a few drops of antifreeze on top of the heater box.
- Lesson 2. Wedge a piece of rope in the end of the hose at the heater end so when you pull the old hose out, the rope will follow. Wedge the rope into the new hose. Following the rope back will save time trying to route it over and under the wires correctly and aid in getting it back quickly. When the hose is out, put the grommet in and lube the grommet and hose with dish soap. By having the rope wedged in the center of the hose rather than taped to the outside, it will pass through the grommet when tugging the rope.
- Lesson 3. Keep lots of soapy water on the hose because if you don't it will pull the grommet in and you have to start all over.
- NAPA half inch black heater hose fits well but doesn't have the texture of the original.
Spray some WD40 on the heater cable as long as you are in there. Run the engine with the heater valve open to fill the heater and remove air and then add antifreeze mix to the radiator.
