5kCSQ turbo water cooling line alternatives

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

There are two "hybrid" cooling lines for the turbos on the MC engines.
By hybrid, I mean that the line consists of a metal line with a
permanant fitting that connects to a short length of rubber hose.  One
of these lines is connected at the upper radiator flange on the head,
while the other connects to an adapter that is inserted into a freeze
plug in the block.  

The problem is that the price of the upper hose is ~$70, and the lower
is about twice that.  It seems to me that all I should need to do is to
hack off the "permanent fitting" and replace the hose with another short
section of hose, attached with a hose clamp.  I would simply go ahead
with this idea, except that the end of the line would not be likely to
be swaged out to help hold the clamp in place ... so I'm a bit
concerned.  Has anyone BTDT with these lines?  If so, did you make any
attempt to enlarge the end of the line to help to make it hold?

While I'm on the subject of hoses ... some of these cooling lines are
quite difficult to access when the engine is assembled.  Is there some
kind of hose that has better lngevity than the fabric sheathed rubber
stuff that is typically used?  Would silicone hose be up to the task in
the area near the turbo/EM?  Any thoughts about sources for this hose?

TIA!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)