I'm using a JDM GC8 rad for my L into WRX swap, which works great. Just wondering if there were any compatible hoses I can source in case I need some spares.

This is the rad that's wider, with side tanks instead of top and bottom tanks and the funky fender-mounted catch tank. It would appear to me that I need the same hoses as the earlier Imprezas, just with an extra inch or two of length each to stretch the extra width. The lower hose seems to be no biggie, I can chop down any extra length there is because the run to the thermostat is pretty straight once it turns away from the rad outlet. The upper S-shaped hose is the trickier one as the straight part between the two curves is longer than on my old L rad hoses.

Would a 90-94 Legacy / Legacy Turbo hose be similar? I haven't been able to look at one in person, other than in pics, but the rad appears to be the same sort of wide design.

Thanks!

For big money and no whammies, Samco makes a coolant hose set for the early WRXs. I just got my set including the "Ancillary" coolant hose kit.

If you can get part numbers for the early WRX hoses you should be able to order through subaru. You will have to slum the UK or Austrailian subaru boards for help.

-Rob

Thanks for the tip -- I did some more poking around on the web and found a UK site listing the UK spec turbo and P1. That listed the same part numbers as the 90-99 USDM Legacy: 45167AA020 (upper) and 45167AA030 (lower). I'll have to get myself a set to see if they are identical.

Cool. Come back and post your findings.

-Rob

Here's a shot of the upper radiator hose on my '97 2.5GT:
http://www.submariner.org/thepno95/Pictures/Subaru/Samco%20after2.jpg
The '97-99 2.5GTs have radiator end tanks, not top and bottom tanks. I assume the Outbacks of the same generation would be the same, as they used an identical drivetrain. The coolant overflow bottle mounts to the back of the driver side fan shroud - it bolts to the upper radiator bracket and hangs down from there. It might be easier for you to fit this type of coolant overflow bottle rather than using the "funky fender mounted" one.

Note that Samco makes an upper/lower radiator hose kit for the '98 2.5RS, which is the same drivetrain as my 2.5GT, so I ordered the kit and it bolted right up.

Pat

^^^

The GC8 WRX radiator is shaped differently than the GC 2.5s though.. best bet would be to hit up eBay UK and order the geniune kit.

The Ver1/2 Samco kits are:
TCS22-C
TCS22-C/A

I bought them from No Limit Motorsports, which had the best prices I could find and shipping. They are however special order from UK so it took 8 weeks to get.
http://www.nolimitmotorsport.com/samco/apps-Subaru.html

The hose from Pats Legacy look to be the same as the early WRX;

http://home.comcast.net/~r.files/WRX/engine1.jpg

-Rob

The Ver1/2 Samco kits are:
TCS22-C
TCS22-C/A

I bought them from No Limit Motorsports, which had the best prices I could find and shipping. They are however special order from UK so it took 8 weeks to get.
http://www.nolimitmotorsport.com/samco/apps-Subaru.html

The hose from Pats Legacy look to be the same as the early WRX;

http://home.comcast.net/~r.files/WRX/engine1.jpg

-Rob

The upper one fits, but the lower one does not - the AC line is different on the JDM cars and IIRC it means the lower hose is longer.