can you not replace with plastic pipes?
that's what we did.
*warning re corrosion and putting another bit in*
When changing engines, the front to back METAL pipes needed slight adjustment. Although where we had to cut was solid, the action of cutting put strain on the pipe further down....and we got a hairline crack that pee'd water under pressure. We covered the section with a flexible rubber hose, and clipped it as you suggest. But it still leaked a little. Sealed and added further clips. Leaked less. Resorted to regualr top-ups (very manageable as lost only tiny amount of water) Gradually got less, as green stuff appeared round clips and sealed itself.
Had other issues, so decided to bit bullet and replace both metal pipes with the plastic ones......which is what we should have done in the first place.
However, I know others have used plastic tube (not the vw plastic pipes) that I think they said were purple from Wickes? (ie other plastic pipe that can take the temp).
Good luck if you go ahead.....but be prepared to do it again in the near future as other bits of the pipe fail. It corrodes from the inside out....so you cannot see where it is just about to go! And make sure you support it very well when you go to cut it!
Hope this helps
Em
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)