Hoses, brakes, Caprices, and space aliens.

[MrSag]

I'm basically responding to the post started by PoorManQ45. No flaming or even overzealous venting, I just wanted to get some facts straight, and propose a few ideas. My previous car being a '94 Caprice 9c1 (police), let's get the Caprice facts straight first:

1. Police Interceptor is a code name for a police Ford Crown Victoria, and has nothing to do with a Caprice.2. Police Caprices are called 9c1's. Don't know why, don't ask.3. 94-96 9c1's came with optional 350 ci (5.7 L) V8 engines. They're called LT1's, and are the same engines found in the same year Corvettes, Camaros, and Firebirds.4. A stock LT1 produces 260 HP, 330 Lb/ft torque. All of the torque basically available from 0 mph. With the right tires, it's enough to tear up the asphalt. Figuretifely speaking. Seriously though, don't try to race a Q (G50 in particular) with an LT1 Caprice intending to win; that's just silly. But enough ranting:)5. 9c1 Caprices and Impala SS are nearly identical, with the exception of body trim, leather interior on the Impala, wheels, and some minor differences in the engine bay... like hoses... but we'll come back to that later.6. Both 9c1 Caprices and Impala SS's have braking problems. It's true. It is not, however, due to bad pads or rotors. Those are fine. The main problem is that the car originally had drum brakes in the rear. When the above mentioned models were released, rear brakes became disks. But the engineers didn't bother to review the braking mechanism, which was intended specifically for use with rear drum brakes. Commonly reffered to as the "proportioning and metering defects", it rendered the rear brakes virtually useless. All of that can be fixed in about 10 minutes, with a set of tools, a bolt, a nut, a rubber washer, a small file, and a can of fresh brake fluid. Needless to say, I fixed it as soon as I could get my hands on the above objects. The result? Much better, but still very iffy. The second problem? Brake pads or rotors? Nope. Suspension. The stock shock absorbers are way too soft. That caused the car to perform a nose dive when braking hard, thus reducing the traction in rear wheels. Solution? Bilstein Sport shocks. And to make it all worth while, good tires. Those three modifications will put a Caprice somewhere on par with a G50 (The Q does have awesome braking, can't argue with that). The Caprice will now also out-handle and out-corner a (stock) G50, 10-folds. Now, I'm not suggesting you go buy the cheapest brakes and rotors you can find, but I just wouldn't want to spend a lot of money on a name brand and not consider cheaper options, because in buying a name brand I'm mostly paying for the brand's name. Don't skim on the tires though. Every time you want to consider a worse tire, keep in mind that the tires are the only parts which make, or should make, contact with the road and hopefully keep you on it.

Ok, now let's get back to the hoses. The great big difference between a 9c1 Caprice and an Impala SS, is that 9c1's have silicone hoses, and SS's don't. Silicone hoses will last a lifetime. And I'm not even talking about the car's lifetime. Not a myth. I'm an eyewitness to that. The car could be nothing but a pile of rust, but the hoses will still be good. So, why don't we (and by "we" I mean "not me") make a hose kit for the Q that's made out of silicone? And on top of that, make it cheap? It'd make a lot of Q owners happy campers.

[MrSag]

Oh, and as for space aliens, I don't really think they exist. In case you were still interested.

[psychic_mechanic]

The 5.0 'Stangs had blue silicone hoses on them as well to prevent failure over a lifetime of abuse.

Aftermarket companies do make silicone hoses, I just think they cost an arm and a leg.

[PoorManQ45]

Ok, thanks for clearing those things up for me.

So, why don't we (and by "we" I mean "not me") make a hose kit for the Q that's made out of silicone? And on top of that, make it cheap? It'd make a lot of Q owners happy campers.

Where can/could I get silicone hoses? If they are not to expensive, I will use them. And then make a kit for the Q45 and sell to you guys

[AZhitman]

Great stuff, Sag - Well written!

BTW, I drove a 94 Vic (w/police package) and a 2002 Interceptor over the course of seven years as my State-issued vehicle.

Never got a chance to run the Q against the 94, but my Q SOUNDLY spanked the Interceptor from a dead stop to 120 or so on more than one occasion.

[MrSag]

So guys... Can someone please post the measurements (inner & outer diameters, lengths of each fold, type, etc.) of all the under-plenum hoses? I really want this thing to happen. Seems like such a simple concept, it'd be a shame not to try it. Even if we can't get someone to custom-manufacture the hoses for us, we can at least try to find the right size hoses from other auto manufacturers.

[Q451990]

So guys... Can someone please post the measurements (inner & outer diameters, lengths of each fold, type, etc.) of all the under-plenum hoses? I really want this thing to happen. Seems like such a simple concept, it'd be a shame not to try it. Even if we can't get someone to custom-manufacture the hoses for us, we can at least try to find the right size hoses from other auto manufacturers.

I'd say your best bet is to pull a set and send them off to a vendor to measure and re-create them. There are 30+(?) hoses under there...

Heath

[AZhitman]

I'd rather spend the <$200 and get them from one of our sponsors...

[PoorManQ45]

I previously mentioned the idea of using SS hose/tube to replace the OEM stuff. I was at Lowes today, and I saw the SS hoses that are used for gas lines. This stuff is not lined with rubber, the metal is what actually contains the gas/liquid.

Now, my thinking is this. I could use this stuff instead of rubber hoses. To make the transfere from the OEM metal lines to the SS stuff, I would use a ~2in piece of rubber hose, one end on the OEM part, in the other end, I would put a fitting that is barbed on one and has a threaded coupling on the other end. From the threaded coupling, I would screw on the SS line and run it to where ever I needed to. On the other end, I would do the same thing as before, to hook it up to the OEM part.

What do you guys think about this IDEA.

[Q45tech]

We know from vast experience that the oem hoses last at least 6 years or 70,000 miles minimum........many last much longer.

How are you going to PROVE equal durability for less cost?

The labor component of changing all the hoses cost more than the hoses, take a course in Engineering Econometrics.

[Q451990]

We know from vast experience that the oem hoses last at least 6 years or 70,000 miles minimum........many last much longer.

How are you going to PROVE equal durability for less cost?

The labor component of changing all the hoses cost more than the hoses, take a course in Engineering Econometrics.

I think that's their point. As much as I doubt that a homemade hose from Lowe's will provide any improvment (probably the opposite) the earlier Silicone hose idea is interesting... have them custom molded, etc. If you could extend the change interval, that could provide some real savings depending on the cost of the hose. The sad thing is that very few of these cars will still be on the road in another 6/70,000 so replacing with OEM hoses now might bring about the same result.

Heath

[PoorManQ45]

Where can I get silicone hoses from?

[AZhitman]

Bzzzzzt.

I previously mentioned the idea of using SS hose/tube to replace the OEM stuff. I was at Lowes today, and I saw the SS hoses that are used for gas lines. This stuff is not lined with rubber, the metal is what actually contains the gas/liquid.

Wrong answer.

Braided stainless steel lines are not watertight. There is indeed a rubber or nylon interior.

[PoorManQ45]

Braided stainless steel lines are not watertight. There is indeed a rubber or nylon interior.

No, I'm not talking about Braided Stainless steel, I misspoke on that. Have you ever seen the hose that feeds gas to a gas powered appliance? That is the kind of hose that I am talking about. I have cut them open before, they do not have rubber inside of them.

here's what the hose looks like.http://www.lowes.com/lkn?actio...43356