1953 chevy upper rad hose help needed.

So, the engine is all in, and everything is all hooked up after the rebuild.

I go out looking for a radiator or to recore mine and they are priced outrageous due to the price of brass.

So, I go and get a alumn one off ebay because it's at least $100 cheaper. Mounts pretty decent and has about 1" of space between the fan and the radiator.

Here's my issue. The alumn rad that I got, the top inlet is offset by about 3-4 inches off to the side and the inlet is about 2-3 inches shorter than the stock one.

What do I use for a upper hose now?! I bought an 8" flex hose (1 1/2 inch) and put a 1 1/2 to 1 1/4 reducer on it and I can get it on, but it pretty kinked and I doubt enough water will go through it.

I need to figure out a way to go from 1 1/4 up about 2 inches and over to the side about 4. I even tried to turn around the therm housing to make it work and point to towards the back.

Problem is, I got the radiator a few months back and I doubt I can return it. Unless someone needs a 2 core for a 350 swap.

Suggestions?!

Thanks!

-Mark

 

Here are some pics. Therm housing is still on backwards.

 

I was actually thinking of asking the parts places around here to let me walk around look at the hoses hanging.

 

That is what I was going to suggest!!! Parts store guys will usualy let you crawl all over if you ask real nice like. Bring your pics with you.

 

Some late model stuff even has a different size on each end.

 

Shape a piece of welding rod,coat hanger,etc the shape of the hose you need then go to parts hose .Look for a molded hose that has the shape,diameter you need in it cut out the section you need. Jimmie King

 

yes , that's how it's done....bend a piece of wire in the shape you need and start looking at all the hoses. the piece you need may be in the middle of a longer one

 

you can use a chunk of preheater hose (the bendy foil stuff) to get a pretty good idea, then go to a napa (local parts guy) and paruse the isles!

 

+1 for the wire hanger trick. you could find something in two minutes, or you could be searching all day (i've done both) but eventually you'll find what you need.

 

If you can"t find anything at the partshouse go to a heavy equipment dealer,such as Catapillar ,they have some pretty oddball hoses on their machines .alot of the stuff is made for tight clearance and stepdown hoses.

 

Wow, thanks for the bending wire idea! I guess I'm not the first one to end up in this situation. LOL

I would of just took a good guess and bought a few of them to try them, taking back the ones that didn't work.

There isn't much room there to work with at all. Heck, even an 8" flex is too long or bends wrong.

Off to the auto stores tomorrow!!

-Mark

 

Boats have some outrageous bends in their hoses too sometimes.

 

make a 90 degree bend by butting tube or conduit or exhaust pipe cut at 45 degree and reverse, did it quit a few times

 

The water neck makes a funky bend in the application of some early sixties 261 equipped Canadian Pontiac's. I have a couple of the water necks like what is shown in this ad and if it would work for you PM me and I'll trade you.

http://edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-cars-ve...-Pontiac-Laurentian-4-Door-W0QQAdIdZ224125942

 

....a possible solution is to get a thermostat housing from a Chevy 216/235 six cyl; it'll bolt rite on to your 350. It's the same size as your new radiator inlet and the hose fitting goes strate up so it's easier to connect hoses to....

 

You're real option is copper tube and two short pieces of hose to connect it. That's what I would be thinking anyway.

it might help to get a goose neck that points straight up also.

 

Thanks for the excellent idea!

Went to the auto store and found a hose that should work. Was 1 1/2 and had to put a rubber adapter in one side to take it down to 1 1/4, but it looks like it'll work.

Sat I finally get to fire it back up after a year.

-Mark

 

Use a hose that is long enough to put a LOOP or complete circle in it!

 

I actually though of that!

Except that the one that I tried covered up the oil fill cap..

LOL