OK, caught with my pants down... after I got the '92 245 3 summers ago, I replaced the major coolant hoses... EXCEPT the 2 at the back of the cylinder head, the real PITA ones to reach. One let go tonight, fortunately near home. It's the upper one which has a molded S-curve - which means it's not a part typically available at the local Auto Zone or Pep Boys. fcpgroton has them, but that's a couple of days away. Any suggestions for a workaround? I'm thinking of copper elbows and short pieces of heater hose, but before I set out on such a quest I'm wondering if anyone has definitive experience with this repair.

1/2" copper cap is a home depot item that fitz - tried it on a spare hose just now; wish you were here I'd just hand you the hoses.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Thanks, Art. With just my lone ride out here (the soon-to-be ex's 850 and kids' 244 back in CT) I accumulated a bunch of spares, but doggone it I missed this one. Fortunately the local parts joint is only a half mile away, and it's a pleasant 80 here right now.

Just went out to the garage to see what I had for spare heater hose and clamps, fearing the worst. Looked in the "soft parts" bin, and guess what I found... those 2 molded hoses! I guess early Alzheimer's must be setting in - when I got the new rad from fcpgroton last summer, I also got a full set of hoses then. Is forgetfulness offset by farsightedness?

I suppose that is good news and bad. I have the same problem, often purchasing a part, then later discovering one squirreled away, or worse-- ordering something because I simply can't get to the part without a major cleanup. But so soon after moving? The ultimate inventory? Hmmm. I still have not found that sample film strain gauge experimenters kit!
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

Jeez, I forgot you were looking for a strain gage kit. Try Measurements Group in NC - world's largest strain gage supplier. Of course they'll want to $ell you $omething, but if you convince them you're a high school science teacher or similar you might get a starter kit for free. Contact me at gasmitty@cox.net and let me know more specifically what you're interested in doing... might be able to find some gages that fell off the back of a truck.

I was looking for one that I already own but lost. Didn't need it for any project, just to continue an email we had a year ago or so. It is somewhere in that layered pile of junk I used to call a workbench. As I don't plan to move, it may remain lost until my heirs call for the roll-off. Thanks!
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

My new abode is fairly well organized. However, I refer to "strata" of projects on the workbench back in CT!

Meanwhile - I've been at the hose job for close to 3 hours and have finally wrestled both old ones off. What an enormous pain. I hope I can get new ones on before dark!

Auto Zone surprised me a couple of years ago when they had these two hoses in stock. If not I wouldn't try bending straight hose to fit. I have made hoses up using 1/2" copper elbows to supply the necessary curves- not pretty but effective.

Randy

Now *that's* unexpected - but I'll give them a try. Thanks!

You might get away with using a longer piece of ordinary straight hose and easing it round more gentle bends.
Be careful it doesn't rub on the dipstick tube - that's where mine got a small and elusive leak.