So, does anyone have any ideas on how to remove the offending hose? I can just barely get my finger down there to feel the hose clamp on the bottom, and it's facing the block, the conduit for wires, the smog pump hoses. Everything. There is NO WAY I can get anything down there to even begin unscrewing it in the position it's in.

Secondly, does anyone know if there's a way to re-route all of the wiring and crap that goes behind the passenger head? I have leaky valve guide seals, and with all of the crap there, it looks like getting that valve cover off is going to be full of joy. Thanks for any help!

 

First remove the distributor cap, coil, and (obviously) wires that plug into the coil. Remove what vaccum lines you can. If you've got an automatic, you can remove the dipstick and tube as well. The main harness obviously can't be removed, but it should have enough wiggle room to get the the hose clamp and loosen it up.

Not a fun job, but not something tooooo hard really.

 

You should probably remove the valve cover also. That hose is delinately a major PITA. Once you removed enough stuff to get to the hose, cut the hose axially and simply rip it off with vise grips. Its stuck on really well!

 

Ugh. >.< Changing my heater core has turned into a mission of epic proportions. If that valve cover comes off, I'm changing my valve guide seals with the rope method.

 

Careful while in there, that tube it hooks up to can and does get rusty and you can break it and that is a real PITA to resolve to factory condition. I usually cut them off and replace them if they dont just pull off.

 

My father and I worked for appx. 3 hours on that clamp. We ened up using extended needle nose pliers, laying over the passenger side of the motor and stuffing half my hand up to my elbow down in there while trying to slide the clip far enough to let the pipe go. Same process back in, but we didn't take any of the other components off, in retrospect that may have proved useful. Have you taken apart the whole interior yet? That's fun, I still have leftover bolts in a bucket from that one.

 

Whole passenger interior is out, except the roof and the dash. So many bolts. O.o

I eventually got the clamp, and then couldn't get the new hose to go on. I ended up undoing both bolts on the pipe, a bunch of braces, the A/C can, and a bunch of other crap, then holding the pipe up with one arm, while I pressed the hose on with the other, and tightened the hose clamp.

It's not exactly as it was stock, as I flubbed up and turned the hose slightly more left than it should be, but screw it. I'm done with that job, and it's sealed.