Question for those swapping VH's

[elwesso]

This is something that I'm just mildly curious about...

As we all know the VH has a mess of goofy shaped hoses under the plenum... since most of these motors are older over 10 years old, most of the hoses are shot. im just curious what you guys are doing to replace these hoses?

Are you guys replacing these hoses with OEM or are you just getting bulk hose nad hacking to length?

[David Steele]

I measure the diameter of the hose and purchase bulk. I don't even plan on using the stock manifold though.

[tmorgan4]

I've really got in over my head on my rebuild. I bought one and was looking to get a nice clean hone, put everything back together and have a good running engine. Now that I've replaced (or will replace) just about EVERY part that needs it it's costing me. I'd like to replace every hose on the engine, but if I buy them from Infiniti the "Ultimate Hose Kit" which includes knock sensors (that I already have) is something like $900.

I know that some of the unique hoses will need to be purchased from Infiniti, but can you get away with replacing a lot of the hoses with generic hose in the spools? It's a hell of a lot cheaper.

After seeing your writeup on removing the plenum Wes that's the last thing I want to do after I spend the time and money on rebuilding every other piece on this engine when a hose breaks.

[Mettler]

A large number of those hoses are just crankcase ventilation breathers.

You can remove most of them, block up the holes in the covers, and run hoses from the back of the block & from one hole in each rocker cover, to a catch can. Nicely cleans up a lot of clutter under the manifold.

[T45]

I just sized up the hose and went to advance and had the guy let me go in the back and find what I needed. Cost me 60 bucks for my....hosing.

I deleted EGR and IAC and most all the emissions stuff. I kept the pcv system though. The only hose I had to go back for was one of the PCV hoses that basically does a U-turn and the hose I had wouldn't do that without kinking.

A lot of crap can be deleted and you could probably build an entire hose kit if you have the time and don't mind running to different stores. There are a couple of crazy hoses that I didn't use that I would probably have bought from infiniti.

[gs14racer]

just remove all of them, thats what i did. lol

[tmorgan4]

Hey T45,

Does Advance and those places stock curved hoses? I know the straight ones don't like to bend and figured I'd have to order everything that bends from Infiniti or somewhere else.

[David Steele]

Some advance auto carry bulk hose on rolls.

[T45]

IIRC I just used straight 3/8, 5/8 and 3/4 hose for 90% of the engine. Then I couldn't get one to bend, I think it was 5/8, so I went to advance and said "I need a 5/8 heater hose that does a u-turn" and the guy brought one out that was perfect. Luck I guess.

I ended up buying 2 or 3 radiator hoses to make up the coolant hoses on the engine. A lot of the hose I used was a ***** to get on cause of the smaller diameter but in the end it worked out.

[T45]

Oh, sometimes it's cheaper to buy the hose in the packages on the shelf near the "help" section than to buy it by the foot.

[David Steele]

Oh, sometimes it's cheaper to buy the hose in the packages on the shelf near the "help" section than to buy it by the foot.

I bought 3 feet of 3/8th hose for $3 the other day.

[tmorgan4]

A large number of those hoses are just crankcase ventilation breathers.

You can remove most of them, block up the holes in the covers, and run hoses from the back of the block & from one hole in each rocker cover, to a catch can. Nicely cleans up a lot of clutter under the manifold.

Hey Mettler,

Could you explain a little more about this? I think I'd like to go this route. Problem is the engine I bought wasn't complete so I don't even have all of the old hoses (or even close to all of them!) to go get new ones. I'd like to get rid of as many of the "unnecessary" hoses as I can while keeping the majority of the parts on the engine. I will most likely get rid of the EGR and that's it.

[Mettler]

If you look at the top/back of the block in the V, you'll see the crankcase breather sticking out, splitting into two. Yeah, run a hose from one or from each of those straight to an oil catch can. Run a hose from one of the fittings on each rocker cover, also to the catch can, Block other fittings & holes.

Block the bit on the intake snorkel where one of them would normally vent to.

[tmorgan4]

Mettler I think you hit the nail on the head. I read a few good write ups on them and the idea behind the oil catch cans are simple.

Does anyone know off the top of their head what size lines the PCV system uses? I found catch cans with connections ranging from 10-15mm.

[Mettler]

Yeah it is pretty simple. Hmm, the hoses are around about 10mm I.D. (don't quote me on that). Just get something that fits over the fittings, you'll be right. It's not something you need to be too specific with, it just lets the engine breathe.