'81 GTSi, US spec. Is there a satisfactory bulk hose that can be used for the long vent line from the vapor separator to the air intake, and the short connections between the cam covers and the aluminum union that feeds into the vapor separator? Previous owner's mechanic seemed to believe that 7/8" coolant hose could be used just because it fits (have I mentioned that he is NOT on my christmas card list?) but I'd kinda rather use something that doesn't slowly dissolve into black goo when exposed to blowby gases.
An industrial hose shop should have many options. My local guy supplied me with P.S return hoses, oil and breather return hoses and could make pressure side hoses as needed. I bought the stuff by the foot.
I just bought a little over 2' of Gates 27059 3/8" transmission cooler hose for the hose that goes into the sump at O'Reilly today. Cost $7.i8. Not cloth covered but the pattern shows through the top layer of rubber so it kinda looks right. I might sheathe it with some Kevlar woven sheathing to make it look more original. The top hoses that go to the heads and Air cleaner are 22mm, 7/8", -16 AN, and are harder to find. I've got a 3' piece of some industrial hose that cost me about $50, but I think it is too stiff to make the beds - still looking.
Lots of hoses will fit or come close. I used italiancarparts.com. It looks like the real deal and correct. Best of luck.
I found some 22mm fuel-rated hose at belmetric.... 30+ dollars a meter, so in the same ballpark as yours. I'll know how it works in when it gets here in a few days. For the short straight lengths at the flywheel end of the motor flexibility won't be a concern, but if this stuff is too stiff to make the run from the liquid/vapor separator to the air filter housing, I think I'll try bending something up out of thin-wall aluminum tubing.
For the smaller hose that goes from air cleaner to AIR injector valve, and the sleeves on the blowby crossover pipe, I used 19mm cloth braided black hose from italiancarparts.com, which is a solid black color that matches better than the grey color I've gotten from belmetric. For the larger hose from the air cleaner to the separator, I used the 22mm size, also from ICP. For the smaller hose, I'd recommend the 19mm size, except that it's a really tight fit, and the application really calls for 20mm diameter. Unfortunately, icp supplies the same size hose to fit both 19mm and 20mm applications, so the solution turned out to be smearing a thin film of sylglyde silicone grease on the inside of the hose before connecting. It's a bit spendy (~US$25/foot), but it's very close to original appearance, and sold by the foot, which is much less costly than buying the precut "sleeves from" our favourite yellowbox supplier!
German Supply has 18mm & 21mm cloth hose. Jegs has 16AN nylon braided not certain the ID the 12AN is 5/8 ID
I jusr received a new hose from Merlin in the U.K. which is the long hose from the separator to air filter on the right. Check at: https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/p/goodridge-210-series-16-fibre-braided-hose-per-100mm-g-210-16 Note that i bought this for my 328 but assume its same as for your 308 GTSi
The largest size of 210 hose is a real pig to fit on this location as this hose is the largest on the car. Its almost impossible as it has steel reinforcement so doesnt stretch. I used 210 hose for all the breather hoses on my 328. It looks good but strictly speaking not the same as the original cotton braid. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I fitted it and it works and looks great. The large dia hose has indeed a steel reinforcement but really is flexible enough.
