I removed the heater hose tubes from the new water pump and tapped the holes for 1/2" and 3/8" NPT. The 3/8" is going to get a plug and the front 1/2" will get a fitting that will attach to the steam ports with a hose.
If you wanted to shorten the hose up, you could go into the upper part of the housing above the hose perhaps? That is what I did on mine..Been this way for a while now and no issues.
