redout

'91 Sunbird LE, 3.1 6cyl, [speedo/odo not working so uncertain on mileage] greater than 200,000 km (125,000mi), auto trans.

I have a coolant leak - that much is clear as a (large and rapidly forming) puddle. I'm fairly certain where it's coming from but I don't know what it's called (and therefore don't know what to ask auto-parts store for). It appears to be a "hardline" up against the firewall. It comes off the reservoir via a hose going to the front of the car, then turns and connects to a formed hardline heading back (and down) towards the passenger compartment (I assume this is the firewall?). It runs along the firewall from passenger-to-driver side and then I lose it (by sight). There are a couple of these lines by the looks of things - possibly outgoing and return lines? - and it appears that it is the outgoing line that is at issue. I can see fluid escaping this line in a stream that seems to indicate a sizeable hole. A friend who tinkers with his many VW's thinks it's the line that goes the transmission/transaxle.
I have a "Haynes Repair Manual" that covers this vehicle but I'm unable to find anything that covers this kind of problem nor can I find a good picture of the area and lines I'm having trouble with.

My questions are:
1. Does what I've described sound accurate in regards to the parts/problem?
2. What is the name of this part?
3. Is this a specific part or a generic "hardline" part?
4. Is this something I can generally do myself (seems like it's just line replacement, ought to be easy enough....)

Thanks very much for your help (the forum has helped several times in the past, most times without even posting).

redout

redout

Update:
The line in question actually comes off the thermostat and I'm assuming then goes to the heater core. I'm not sure why this is a hardline but from what I can find it's not an after-market part (damn!).
Mechanic friend of mine thinks that I can just train a heater hose along the hardline, tapping it into the original connections.

Unless there's anything from anyone to suggest otherwise, I'll be trying that tonight.

thx.