Auto trainy, you are right. I had already done all the work to loosen the tube mounting at the rear of the engine so I finished up by putting some Gates greenstripe hose over the existing tube after cutting off the crimped on hose at the front end with a dremel. But I was curious so I did a quick test hookup with a hose doing as you suggested with the elbo and coupling. It had plenty of room to exit behind the alternator. BTW the hose is 5/8" and not 3/4" as the Mercury dealer stated after looking it up in his books.
But it was all a loss I guess. The car is getting water in one of the cylinders. Something happened to the head or the head gasket when she overheated as a result of the hose failing. If it is a head gasket I guess I will try replacing it. But if it is the head I may have to give up on this car.
Any quick tips on taking a head on and off. I have already changed a manifold on one of these cars. The valve cover and head is next after i figure out which one is messed up.