radiator hose modifications

[HISSIN50]

Hey Guys/gals, I have a quick one for you.

94GT - aluminum radiator. On the pass side, the new radiator's upper hose bung is closer to the driver side than the old one (and the radiator is 3X as thick as the old one, so the radiator is closer to the motor). Ergo, my upper hose needs modifying. What are my options?

My first thought was to see if a parts store has an articulated rubber hose. I used one way back when, but I don't recall how flexible those hoses are. The other option that I see is to use a metal pipe in the middle of the old hose. That would allow me to cut and shorten the hose, so it does not go as far to the pass side. I would also shave the radiator-end of the upper hose to accomodate the new rad's depth. Where does one get a metal sleeve to do this? Has anyone used something crude from a home store, etc? I really dont want to have to order something from a speed shop. I will note that I have not checked out what the local parts stores sell (it is nice to know what I am lookin for before asking guys at the parts store. I often have to tell them that they have what I am lookin for, rather than them knowing what they stock. ).

I really appreciate any thoughts or ideas.

 

[srothfuss]

I tried reading your thead but I have a half of bottle of wine in me and I can't concentrate too well at the moment.

Have you tried shortining the hose at all to see if it will fit? As long as the hose isn't kinked than you should be OK.. I'll look for the metal pipe idea in a moment.

 

[HISSIN50]

I tried reading your thead but I have a half of bottle of wine in me and I can't concentrate too well at the moment.

Have you tried shortining the hose at all to see if it will fit? As long as the hose isn't kinked than you should be OK.. I'll look for the metal pipe idea in a moment.

Thanks for the reply.
I doubt the wine made much difference - my posts are hard enough to decipher.

Yeah, basically i need to shorten the hose, but in its middle (on a fox, I would shorten it where it runs across the alternator [the part where there is a shield over the hose]). I just need to know the best kind of pipe to use to rejoin the hose back together after i cut the hose in the middle. I did not want to use something hideous like exhaust pipe.

I have seen some folks with nice metal unions (often to get around blowers, etc), but dont know where they get them (and imagine they are pricey). I just wanna' do something cheap which is available locally (if possible).

Or if people know of a universal hose that is articulable, that would work too.

 

[DMAN302]

JT you could just head down to the auto store and take a look at the various hoses available. Any good store should allow you to do a little walkabout by the hose rack..pick a couple and return the wrong ones. You could likely use the MAC chrome style..but the $100 is a bit steep( but looks great). Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[my$100project]

I don't like cutting the radiator in the center and repairing idea. You could go the cheap way out, but it could end up nipping you in the butt later. If you don't want to have to go the speed shop or pricey route then I like Dman's idea of looking at various hoses at the local parts store.
You've been a great help to me so I thought I'd return the favor and do a few searches. Here are a few links I have found, that may or may not be of interest. These hoses are a little on the pricey side though, and is pretty much the same thing as a speed shop. However, a lifetime warranty, the uniqueness (if you like their idea), being able to transfer the hose to other vehicles in the future and the time being saved by not having to modify your hose are all factors in your decision. Anyways here's a few links to the flex-hoses I am referring too.
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=194954&prmenbr=361
This is where you can buy them.

http://www.coolflex.com/
Here is a little more info on them.

 

[89MustangGX]

I'm sure you've already tried this or at least though of it, but I have found that a little twisting on the end of the hose can often make an impossible situation work.

Molded hoses, at least in my experience, can sometimes be decieving in looking like they are on there the only way they can be. Maybe try twisting the radiator end around a little and see if you can get the hose to lay out a little better?

 

[HISSIN50]

Thanks Derek, $100 (I am sorry, I dont know your name) and Adam.

Derek, The stock hose is a real convoluted thing (the 94+ accessories are more cramped than a fox's). I will definately try getting something close with the method you describe, but I am not holding my breath (wanted a back up plan).

$100, Thanks for the props and for lookin up a couple sites. The first thing I did was hit Summit online and see what they had - not much that was affordable. I really want to kind of keep it cheap for now, but once I know that my mounting works and will stay that way, I can figure out something more permanent (this was not a fun install). Very good idea though and the right way to do it.

Adam, last night I was twisting that darn hose every which way. It simply needs to be cut - it puckers up in the middle since the bung is now several inches shifted to the right, from the old radiator. That is an excellent idea (If i knew how to post pics, it would make it much easier for you guys to see exactly what I am working with).

I think I will do the hose junction deal with whatever I can find at a home store or parts store (or use a real hose like Derek suggested). I hate doing it, but money is something which I dont have a lot of, esp for a radiator hose. I will keep my eye peeled for what is available though and install it later (i need to get this car back running - this is all I need so I can fill the radiator and see how many leaks it has/how bad I engineered it. ).

Thanks again guys. I really appreciate your taking the time to brainstorm with me.

 

[HISSIN50]

I was playing around. Oops.

 

[HISSIN50]

Oops

 

[89MustangGX]

I think I will do the hose junction deal with whatever I can find at a home store or parts store (or use a real hose like Derek suggested). I hate doing it, but money is something which I dont have a lot of, esp for a radiator hose. I will keep my eye peeled for what is available though and install it later (i need to get this car back running - this is all I need so I can fill the radiator and see how many leaks it has/how bad I engineered it. ).

If that's the way you want to go for now -- I've never used them, but have specifically seen radiator hose "repair kits" at the parts stores. They basically look like a straight piece of plastic with a hose stop in the middle and barbs on each side. They're made for the larger sized of radiator hoses, of course. I've never had a use for them, but it seems that they may be just about perfect for what you're looking to do.

 

[Camman]

on the 65, I went down to my local home depot and made a hose out of the stocker and some kind of pipe made for sewage i think. It was right next to the pvc. Anyway, I just bought the pipe that had the same diameter as the inside of my rubber hose. I was worried about corrosion and the like, but I have kept an eye on it for 6 years now, and nothing but the normal maintanence has been necassary. If I ever remember the name of the pipe ill let you know lol

edit: The pipe is metal and it comes in sizes from 1/4-4 inch I believe. It is threaded on the end which makes a nice little place for the hose to seal. I just bout a male coupler, and it was perfect for splicing/shortenning the hose. Oh yeah, my problem on the 65 was that the radiator outlet was on the opposite side as stock. I had a funky looking lower radiator hose, but it worked like a champ.

 

[HISSIN50]

Thanks guys. Adam, not the route I wanted to go, but will if I have to (I have distorted/melted thos couplers before). I know that cheap and nice dont go together.

Camman, thanks for the info. That is what I am gonna do - go find some pipe that has an ID of 1.5" and see how I do. Then if I cant find an OEM hose, I can go to town.

Anyone use the rubber hoses that are articulated (often 'generic' or 'universal' hoses)? can you crank a tight 90* bend into those? My top rad bung is right in front of the alternator pulley now, which is the other half of my issue (why I thought I needed an OEM hose or a molded hose of some sort). I used one of those articulated hoses once on a weird Euro car I have, but it had no sharp bends.

Thanks again guys.

 

[srothfuss]

Man, look what happens once I fall alseep. I pretty sure that everyone has covered your choices, but at least I got it started. As long as you use metal pipe when you temporarily fix it then everything should be fine. I'd just let your '94 get up to Operating temperature to make sure that it doesn't burst.

Time to go get some water and advil...

 

[04sleeper]

JT,
Sounds like most of the ideas were already thrown in there. I would do what you were going to do and go to the store and look around and come up with something and make it work.

Let us know what you come up with.

Kevin

 

[5spd GT]

When I first read your post I thought of the blower (mac makes them I think) upper radiator hose (chrome) that is meant to clear the supercharger unit. It seems like all the available ideas were thrown out there...some I would have known - some I wouldn't have

I trimmed my lower radiator hose without a problem to keep it from kinking...works great for all I know

Good Luck