Just bad carma...

[m2500tvr]

I'm sending out just bad vibes to the universe or just suffering a lot of bad carma these days. I'm in the US, near Boston.

My daily-driver Dodge Neon R/T recently decided it needed a hole in the #1 piston (first bad carma), so while I've been working on the repair of this car I've been using my '85 280i (with 24K original miles) as my daily driver. The weather hear around Boston has been pretty mild so it's been quite appropriate for the 280i.

Well, now for the second episode of bad carma. I just now had to have the car flat bedded home. It's lower radiator hose opened up on the highway. I ended up driving overheated about 5 miles before I got to a good place to stop. There was a state police barracks and highway maintenance area. I'm beating myself up now for not stopping there. I just wasn't sure of what to do and I passed it, pretty much commiting me to the next exit on the Mass Pike, which is where I was hoping to get to stop.

So, I'm worried about having damaged the engine. I'm running synthetic oil, but that'll only provide so much protection. Really, the first thing to do is to replace the hose and take it from there. How well does that fibre cam gear deal with heat?

Can anyone help with a replacement part number or source for this lower radiator hose? I can take the hose to a local auto parts store and hunt through everything to find a hose, or part of one, that would be proper replacement. I've done it plenty before, and always with very good result. Just takes some time hunting. But, if anyone's already done this and can help with an instant part #/manufacturer/source that would be appreciated.

Oh, and while I'm at it, does anyone have a lead on getting all the hoses for this motor. I've just gotta replace them all. I have been very good at service work like this, but neglected this this time and I'm paying for it now. I'm not worried about the straight-run hoses so much, this stuff I can get anywhere (maybe get just a little fancy with some basic Earls or Aeroquip). It's the molded/shaped hoses for the 2.8i Ford engine I suspect I'm going to have to work a bit to source. This engine has that one funky tapered hose that runs from the water pump to wherever. So, any sources for hoses for the Ford 2.8i motor?

Also, anyone have any good words to say about just how durable and tough this motor is that it's unlikely that I've done any serious damage to an unmolested, original, low-mileage motor. It would sure help

Two things...

- When the Neon motor failed, I told myself I'd get AAA (for those outside the US, a popular, helpful membership travel service that can help with the cost of roadside emergencies). Didn't.
- Just last Sunday I was with my brother in the 280i telling him I really need to replace all the hoses in the car. Didn't.

Thanks!

- Steven

[so called]

Bad luck.
Hope things work out with the motor.
I used to have a 280i coupe but dont have any info on the hoses or anything.
I travel the US regularly so if you end up sorcing any hoses in the UK I can maybe bring some with me.
Mail me if you need.
Cheers,
Tony.

[jeff m2]

I replaced my lower hose by taking it in to a parts place and getting one with the correct bends in it. I had to cut it to length obviously.
I didn't bother asking what it was from. (I didn't care)
The guy pulled a suitable one in a couple of minutes.

That lower hose needs another peice of hose wrapped round it as protection from chaffing, it is pretty tight down there.

Hope all is ok once it is filled. Maybe do a water fill first just check nothing else popped.

[m2500tvr]

Thanks for the replies.

Thanks for the offer, Tony.

I remembered that I may have one. I may even be used, but it's still in better condition than the one that's in the car now. I'll take the damaged one to an auto parts shop and match it with something. I've had success doing this in the past.

Yes, I'm just gonna fill it and see how things work.