Radiator hose tricks

[Dale Fultz]

Mike got an idea for you, I done it for another builder. He couldn't find
hoses either, we took the aluminized exhaust pipe made nice neat bends laid
in place and used short hoses at each end made a very nice job. Just a
thought. Dale SR-033
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Kimball" <mkimball@gci.net>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 10:29 PM
Subject: Radiator hose tricks

I finished installing my radiator below the engine up against the firewall.
Then I learned something about radiator hose. The big sizes can't be
routed. I proceeded on the premise that I could buy 1-1/2 and 1-3/4 hose
and route it from my radiator to the water pump and the thermostat
housing.
Then when I went looking for some hose I discovered you can only get
straight pieces locally in 3 or 4 foot lengths and you can't bend them
more
than a few degrees without kinking. Arrrgggghhh! There are a couple of
possibilities I found on the web for hose that can be bent more than
standard hose but it's iffy. I decided to go down to the local auto parts
store and see if they'd let me poke around and see if there are any
pre-bent
pieces off-the-shelf that might work. I cut and bent some copper tubing
to
the correct shape and off to the auto parts store. Believe it or not I
found two pieces that would work just fine if not for one thing. They
have
one end expanded to the correct size but the rest of the hose and the
other
end is too small. Anybody know how the end of a radiator hose is expanded
and if there might be a way to do it in one's shop?



Mike Kimball

044SR





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[Mike Kimball]

I think I've narrowed the solution down to two products. Wysco stainless
steel flexible hose (http://www.wysco.com <http://www.wysco.com/> ) or
Coolflex copper flexible hose (http://www.coolflex.com
<http://www.coolflex.com/> ). I'm not sure what the rationale is but
Coolflex claims copper is an advantage over stainless. Coolflex also
stresses their Lifetime Warranty. If it ever fails or leaks, get a new one.
No mention of the warranty on the Wysco website. Also, pricing and ordering
information is easy to find on the Coolflex website. No prices and
basically "call us" on the Wysco website. I hate that. Coolflex sells
standard 1, 2, and 3 foot lengths but states that custom lengths are no
problem as well. Wysco sells 1, 2, 3, and 4 foot lengths. No mention of
custom lengths. I'm leaning toward Coolflex. Thanks for the responses
guys. I'm two hoses away from starting the engine! I've only got headers
right now, so maybe I'll also wait until I attach some exhaust pipe. I'll
take some pictures and upload to the archive. If I beat John Worden and
Brian Robertson's V8 installation into the air will I be the first V8 Super
Rebel/Moose?



Mike

044SR





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[Fred Messinger \(fredm\)]

Hi Mike,

Cool looking hoses!

So are all of the vibrational loads absorbed by the rubber end sleeves?
I guess if they use them between a vibrating auto engine and a non
vibrating auto radiator, then somehow the rubber/copper must be able to
absorb the prolonged vibrations without suffering from minute cracks.

Fred

-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 10:30 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Radiator hose tricks

I finished installing my radiator below the engine up against the
firewall.
Then I learned something about radiator hose. The big sizes can't be
routed. I proceeded on the premise that I could buy 1-1/2 and 1-3/4
hose and route it from my radiator to the water pump and the thermostat
housing.
Then when I went looking for some hose I discovered you can only get
straight pieces locally in 3 or 4 foot lengths and you can't bend them
more than a few degrees without kinking. Arrrgggghhh! There are a
couple of possibilities I found on the web for hose that can be bent
more than standard hose but it's iffy. I decided to go down to the
local auto parts store and see if they'd let me poke around and see if
there are any pre-bent pieces off-the-shelf that might work. I cut and
bent some copper tubing to the correct shape and off to the auto parts
store. Believe it or not I found two pieces that would work just fine
if not for one thing. They have one end expanded to the correct size
but the rest of the hose and the other end is too small. Anybody know
how the end of a radiator hose is expanded and if there might be a way
to do it in one's shop?



Mike Kimball

044SR





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[Dale Fultz]

Hi Mike , Not being smart but remember that flexibility can leave room for
vibration, vibration to fatigue and fatigue to cracks , even in stainless.
Wish you the be best of luck getting into the air first. Dale SR-033
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[Mike Kimball]

I finished installing my radiator below the engine up against the firewall.
Then I learned something about radiator hose. The big sizes can't be
routed. I proceeded on the premise that I could buy 1-1/2 and 1-3/4 hose
and route it from my radiator to the water pump and the thermostat housing.
Then when I went looking for some hose I discovered you can only get
straight pieces locally in 3 or 4 foot lengths and you can't bend them more
than a few degrees without kinking. Arrrgggghhh! There are a couple of
possibilities I found on the web for hose that can be bent more than
standard hose but it's iffy. I decided to go down to the local auto parts
store and see if they'd let me poke around and see if there are any pre-bent
pieces off-the-shelf that might work. I cut and bent some copper tubing to
the correct shape and off to the auto parts store. Believe it or not I
found two pieces that would work just fine if not for one thing. They have
one end expanded to the correct size but the rest of the hose and the other
end is too small. Anybody know how the end of a radiator hose is expanded
and if there might be a way to do it in one's shop?



Mike Kimball

044SR





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[Keith B. Oliver]

were the hoses smooth or ribbed
the ribbed hoses can be bent along as you put a spring or large coiled wire
inside
some of the ribbed ones come with the coil
????

Keith B. Oliver
ELITE N654ME (reserved)
Farmingdale, Maine


-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of
Mike Kimball
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 10:30 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: Radiator hose tricks


I finished installing my radiator below the engine up against the firewall.
Then I learned something about radiator hose. The big sizes can't be
routed. I proceeded on the premise that I could buy 1-1/2 and 1-3/4 hose
and route it from my radiator to the water pump and the thermostat housing.
Then when I went looking for some hose I discovered you can only get
straight pieces locally in 3 or 4 foot lengths and you can't bend them more
than a few degrees without kinking. Arrrgggghhh! There are a couple of
possibilities I found on the web for hose that can be bent more than
standard hose but it's iffy. I decided to go down to the local auto parts
store and see if they'd let me poke around and see if there are any pre-bent
pieces off-the-shelf that might work. I cut and bent some copper tubing to
the correct shape and off to the auto parts store. Believe it or not I
found two pieces that would work just fine if not for one thing. They have
one end expanded to the correct size but the rest of the hose and the other
end is too small. Anybody know how the end of a radiator hose is expanded
and if there might be a way to do it in one's shop?



Mike Kimball

044SR





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[Ken]

The best of the automotive hose is silicone which bent reasonably well
for me in the one inch size. I found 10 foot lengths for much cheaper
than the 4 foot lengths from an industrial hose supplier and it was more
flexible with less reinforcing layers. For sharp bends there are some
companies in California etc that sell bends in most any angle and
diameter for the performance market. This stuff does require special
hose clamps with smooth interiors and no sharp edges. A web search
should find the bends. I was skeptical at first but the folks who know
about this were all adamant that even the intake hose runs at positive
pressure and silicone was recommended.

There is also the metal corrugated hose sold by Summit Racing etc.
Don't recall the name but it is high quality stuff I'm told. I've seen
1.5" stuff used on a conversion. It comes with short rubber couplings on
the ends.

I'm not aware of any way to expand hose as the reinforcing is intended
to prevent expansion.

Aviation hose is the least flexible.

Ken

Mike Kimball wrote:

I finished installing my radiator below the engine up against the firewall.
Then I learned something about radiator hose. The big sizes can't be
routed. I proceeded on the premise that I could buy 1-1/2 and 1-3/4 hose
and route it from my radiator to the water pump and the thermostat housing.
Then when I went looking for some hose I discovered you can only get
straight pieces locally in 3 or 4 foot lengths and you can't bend them more
than a few degrees without kinking. Arrrgggghhh! There are a couple of
possibilities I found on the web for hose that can be bent more than
standard hose but it's iffy. I decided to go down to the local auto parts
store and see if they'd let me poke around and see if there are any pre-bent
pieces off-the-shelf that might work. I cut and bent some copper tubing to
the correct shape and off to the auto parts store. Believe it or not I
found two pieces that would work just fine if not for one thing. They have
one end expanded to the correct size but the rest of the hose and the other
end is too small. Anybody know how the end of a radiator hose is expanded
and if there might be a way to do it in one's shop?



Mike Kimball

044SR

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[Dave Ricker]

That's the same sort of idea used by people who do turbo conversions on cars. I
expect that if you search down that path you'll find some aluminum tube & elbow
sources.

Dave

Dale Fultz wrote:

Mike got an idea for you, I done it for another builder. He couldn't find
hoses either, we took the aluminized exhaust pipe made nice neat bends laid
in place and used short hoses at each end made a very nice job. Just a
thought. Dale SR-033
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Kimball" <mkimball@gci.net>
To: <rebel-builders@dcsol.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 10:29 PM
Subject: Radiator hose tricks

I finished installing my radiator below the engine up against the firewall.
Then I learned something about radiator hose. The big sizes can't be
routed. I proceeded on the premise that I could buy 1-1/2 and 1-3/4 hose
and route it from my radiator to the water pump and the thermostat
housing.
Then when I went looking for some hose I discovered you can only get
straight pieces locally in 3 or 4 foot lengths and you can't bend them
more
than a few degrees without kinking. Arrrgggghhh! There are a couple of
possibilities I found on the web for hose that can be bent more than
standard hose but it's iffy. I decided to go down to the local auto parts
store and see if they'd let me poke around and see if there are any
pre-bent
pieces off-the-shelf that might work. I cut and bent some copper tubing
to
the correct shape and off to the auto parts store. Believe it or not I
found two pieces that would work just fine if not for one thing. They
have
one end expanded to the correct size but the rest of the hose and the
other
end is too small. Anybody know how the end of a radiator hose is expanded
and if there might be a way to do it in one's shop?



Mike Kimball

044SR





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--
David A. Ricker
Fall River, Nova Scotia
Canada






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