I'm trying to hook up the heater core hoses using the OEM 96 Explorer heat tube, my question is does it matter how I hook up the hoses to the tube in order to get the right direction of water flow? I know how the direction of the water flow on the Explorer went but when using the OEM Bronco heater valve the configuration the hoses route better in the opposite direction.

The picture is of the front of the heater tube as I don't have a pic of the 2-rear ports.

I don't think it would matter but not 100% sure

It doesn't really matter at all except for one thing. You will want the shutoff valve to be in the hot side hose to keep excess heat out of the heater core during hot weather. The hot side tube is the one attached to the intake manifold.

Thanks for the response Phil and pointing out the hot side of the tubes as I had no clue.
I was able to get the heater tubes mocked up with the old explorer/bronco hoses??