I popped my hood with the engine warm, and noticed a new bulge in my upper radiator hose, right next to the thermostat. I gave it a little squeeze and could feel coolant moving, but it didn't shrink any.

Does this mean my thermostat is obstructed? The engine seems to cool well enough for it being a hot summer day.

Nope, that means you have a bad radiator hose and I suggest changing it before it blows out.

X2 i had the same thing starting on my 2000

For the past few years, I always thought to myself, "Boy, these hoses are indestructible! There'* no wear at all!" Figures it would wear on the inside and not the outside.

Any secret to removing them? I remember an uphill battle with the tensioner hoses that was narrowly won, between 15 years of being clamped in place and the rubber slightly melting to the metal underneath.

Unclamp it and twist it off..simple as that

There'* a tool to remove hose clamps, makes life much easier.

dont reuse those junk GM clamps, there more trouble than there worth. and the other hoses should be replaced as long as you have to drain the coolant anyway

Justin.. didn't we let Colin take this off with the hose clamp tool when the motor was pulled to be cammed?

Overall that'* one the easiest of the clamps to get to. And FWIW the coolant flow comes out of the thermostat housing and into the radiator through that hose. The most likely reason for it'* pregancy is you parked next to a Chrysler and it impregnated your Bonnie. Or the years of heat cycles etc.

clamp removal tool..Wow i always use a set of rib and jaw pliers lol

The hose clamp tool is sent straight from god himself. Also yes that hose came off with the engine and was the radiator done by you? So it should come off of that pretty easy.