Hello everyone, I’d like to start with saying I couldn’t find this information anywhere. I was wondering if anyone knew if there was a heater core hose kit or what people have done for their setup in a k24a2 ek? I know for k20 engines k-tuned makes a kit. I apologize if I sound stupid, but this is my first k swap and I’m pretty inexperienced. Thanks for any advice in advance!

 

K-Tuned also makes a male-to-male hose barb adapter since one of the two hoses for the heater core circuit on the engine is much larger in diameter than your stock heater core hose barbs on the firewall. This means that you will need to use two pieces of hose - one from the heater core male barb to the smaller diameter barb on the adapter, and then a larger hose from the bigger diameter adapter barb to the black hard line found on the side of the engine pointed toward the firewall (this hard line wraps around and under the intake manifold and connects to the thermostat housing).

The more difficult hose to deal with is the one between the water valve and the water neck on the end of the cylinder head. The OE bracket holds the hose and water valve pointing in the wrong direction, so modifications are necessary to get this assembly pointed more toward the transmission area of the "K" swap. You can then use generic soft line (5/8" heater hose) or find a pre-bent hose that has a section in it that tends to follow the contour of the hose pathway that you find agreeable.

 

so what you’re saying is I’ll need to purchase the k-tuned heater hoses kit as well as the adapter. Would you recommend doing this with the engine in the car or prepare everything now?

 

In the car will be better for making the hoses to the length that you desire. It is probably easier to modify the bracket holding the water valve BEFORE you set the engine in... although depending on what header you use, you may want to do it all post engine install.