Hi, Gang. I've seen this subject addressed several times on the forum (I searched "history"). However, the question of obtaining a good current part number for the '71 GS 350 upper radiator hose was never answered. I'm looking for an original-fit upper radiator hose for my 1971 Buick GS 350. The hose currently on the car is marked with GM part #1386849, and it fits great. This hose appears to be the factory original on my fairly low mileage, never-messed-with car. My research shows this GM part number is correct for the '71 GS 350. This GM #1386849 supposedly interchanges into a current Gates #20577 hose. However, Gates must have condensed numbers over the years, because this hose badly hits the bottom of the left snorkel on the GS 350 dual snokel air cleaner. Next, I checked the Gates catalog for a 1971 Buick GS 350 application and found Gates #20869 listed. This hose also hits the bottom of the left air cleaner snorkel, when installed in the same position as the original upper hose on my car. However, if I install this Gates # 20869 hose "backwards", it fits. But, it winds up running over the fan shroud like the GS 455 hose position. I know for a fact, the original upper radiator hose on a '71 GS 350 runs just below and in back of the fan shroud (not on top of the shroud). By the way, I saw a high dollar '71 GS 350 car on eBay the other day, and it used the Gates #20869 hose installed in the backwards direction (over the top of the shroud). So, a guy has to be careful. Since there are a fair number of 1971 GS 350 cars out there, SOMEBODY has to have come up with a current number for a good, stock-looking upper radiator hose! Can anyone offer a suggestion? Thanks for any help! John
