Topic: '68 390 PS hoses

[Oz390]

Finding it difficult to get correct hoses for a '68 390.  Most short control valve pairs sold as one-size-fits-all have one very curved end, one almost straght and do not appear to be correct.  My old ones had two short-ish stubs, both with slight curves.

Perssure line, pump to insulator.  Similar issues.  Too long and can not be correctly oriented to vertical, per FAM.

The two feed/return lines at the control valves, tubes pre-bent in such a way as to make it difficult to align them per FAM, tight to the housing to be clamped in place, and hoses too long or too short to get to the insulator without really having to force them in place, just do not seem right...

Anyone got hoses that fit a 390 without a struggle on an OEM style setup??  Looking for "correct" (ish)  repros, as NOS are way expensive, if you can find them....

[TLea]

Have you tried these?
http://bluedotspecialties.com/
Not 100% but pretty good

[ruppstang]

Have you tried these?
http://bluedotspecialties.com/
Not 100% but pretty good

+1  Marty

[Oz390]

No, just found them after some searching.  Have some Shaefer (sp?) but have two of some hoses and they don't even match each other, let alone fit.

The blue dots ain't cheap ($200 for the HP hose! ouch).  But may bite the bullet and buy a set and see, as the others don't cut it...

Thank!s

[Bob Gaines]

I think you will find the blue dot hoses are far superior to any of the other so called reproduction P/S hoses. Almost every car needs them by now. I have found the blue dot ones the most faithful to the original design and because of that much less frustrating to be installed compared to the others on the market.To orient the pressure hose off of the back of the pump in a vertical position it takes two people for the best results. One to hold the hose in the correct orientation and the other to tighten the lower fitting and maintain proper position of the lower pressure hose . It is difficult because the hose wants to twist on you. It takes two hands ,one  to tighten the fitting and another to not let the lower pressure hose from the valve to the junction hang down . without a third hand it is difficult  maintaining the upper hose in a vertical orientation while all of the tightning is going on all at the same time. The lower pressure hose is supposed to be parallel to the ground.  That is why it is a lot less frustrating with two people.   

[Oz390]

Mian pressure line, pump to insulator.

One vendor shows this as "correct" 

http://www.cougarpartscatalog.com/ps9cs.html

Blue dot this

http://bluedotspecialties.com.penpubwebs.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=bluedotspecialties&Product_Code=PS93909&Category_Code=Mustang

Which one is right, with or without wrapping?  Tinikng the wrapped may be 69, and not for 68, due to the number?

[TLea]

Wrapping didn't start until 69. The Blue Dot listing shows the armour wrapped as correct for 68 and up CJ which is incorrect. 68 CJ and 428 PI used the same as 390 without armour

[specialed]

The c8za hose was used up till dec 68 on 69 cars then ford went to c9za hose with the wrapping same time they changed to bigger ps pump pulley & longer belt. Dont blue dot make a c8 version pump pressure hose as they have always been hard to find.

[Bob Gaines]

There were 3 different length upper pressure hoses (back of pump).   C7 was longest ,C8 a little shorter (Blue Dot makes both marked hoses but use the 68 length for both) and C9 with the wrap is the shortest and best fitting because of length  (although not technically correct on 67 or 68)  of the 3.

[Oz390]

Bob, would you know the different lengths?  Shaefer has agreed to make a set for me off my old ones, but that one is obviously a old repro,a nd too long.

They will send them to me for test fit, then make me up 3 sets for the 3 big blocks.  So, hopefully, some good fitting hoses come out of it for other big block owners at a preice a lot less than BlueDot, and hopefully ver close as the Shafers looked Ok to me, but I had no OEM to compare to...

[Oz390]

On the routing of the lines from the control valve to the insulator on a 68 390.

Larger fitting return hose (3A713) routes above the smaller fitting pressure tube (3494) along the body of the valve and both are clamped to the valve with a hose clamp, correct?

[rockhouse66]

Bob, would you know the different lengths?  Shaefer has agreed to make a set for me off my old ones, but that one is obviously a old repro,a nd too long.

They will send them to me for test fit, then make me up 3 sets for the 3 big blocks.  So, hopefully, some good fitting hoses come out of it for other big block owners at a preice a lot less than BlueDot, and hopefully ver close as the Shafers looked Ok to me, but I had no OEM to compare to...

One of the issues with aftermarket hoses has been they don't get the bend right at the pump and they use a smaller 3/4" wrench size fitting instead of the correct 13/16" like an original.

[TLea]

On the routing of the lines from the control valve to the insulator on a 68 390.

Larger fitting return hose (3A713) routes above the smaller fitting pressure tube (3494) along the body of the valve and both are clamped to the valve with a hose clamp, correct?

correct. I have several original 68 hoses, tell me how you want them measured