ever use the corigated flexable radiator hose

anyone ever use this type of hose .I have heard not to because it causes turbulance and cavitation. what do ya think?

 

Worked good, looked like ****.

 

do you mean the old "universal" black rubber flex hose, or the modern metal stuff?

I've used the old ones, they're neat, kinda remind me of my childhood...

The new ones are lame

 

i agree

 

oops premature click of the mouse! I meant I agree that they have always worked well for me but they look like ****!

 

Never had a problem with it other than it doesn't win you any points at the NSRA Nats.

 

55 Chevy overheated in traffic ... I changed out the corrugated radiator hoses for fitted hoses and it didnt overheat any more ... there is something to it ...

 

I'll agree with that.

 

Not talking about chrome stuff,only "universal" black rubber flex hose. There are very dif types,(A)the one with no spring molded into the hose,but a spring just laying inside vs (B)the one with spring molded in as part of the hose.
(B)The one that has molded in spring works very good,but only if the guy placing it on is not a fool. Some fool can bend to much and make it fold.
(A)is fairly EZ to get a kink in,plus it can let the spring bunch up and not hold hose open/happens mostly when it gets hot and used on bottom hose.
As for looks,I like them a lot if there the good one and done right looks like cooling fins to me on the hose.
This also a place you get what you pay fore in some cases,look at how many layers of reinforcing of string are in the hose.

 

Just a quick note about the metal flex hoses. I had one, and it ****ed.

 

These work great and aren't going to split or collapse. I use stainless t-bolt clamps instead of the cheapos.

 

yup! and here's the ugly way

 

Like an ugly chick. Still works, just not so well. And you don't want your friends to see you with one.

 

heh....got my engine in Hot Rod mag a couple months ago with that ****....

 

Yeah, I use one. Works great and pisses off the restorers every time I raise my hood.

 

Geez, I never realized there was such a negative stigma attached to these things. How the hell can I cover mine up with no hood? Actually, only my lower one is of that ilk, because of a ridiculous tight turn. The upper is pre-formed, found on the ground in a junk yard. No overheating problems, though, thank you very much.

 

I dont see any pre-formed hoses when I look in the magazines from the fifties. I know that stuff doesnt matter on the HAMB, but just sayin'...

 

Used to be every gas station had a nice ***ortment of the flex hoses, and no molded hoses. Remember that?

 

I got a bunch hanging on my garage wall next to many fan belts......

 

I find these to be to rigid even with the rubber coupling, some radiator outlets will not take the vibration................

 

Mine's set up like Dane's. Had an impossibly short, double turn and down hose position for the lower hose. The old one was a section of something I spent hours staring at hoses trying to match. Bought some Cool-flex and fitted it in 10 minutes.

You don't have to like it, it's my car.

 

Like it was yesterday. Back in the days when gas stations sold gas and car parts, instead of gas and potato chips...

 

The irony is, you see flex hoses all the time in TRJ, but the HAMB, bastion of "traditional" hot rodding looks down their nose at them. Good enough for Ganahl, good enough for Brizio when he restored the Ala Kart but not for the the HAMB. "Period" hot rods with smoothed firewalls, no voltage regulators, and molded hoses...

 

Period correct

Not correct, Period!!!!

 

Good one!

 

A friend had a molded lower hose that would **** down on his big block camaro,he put a flex hose
with the spring in it, overheating problem solved!

 

It was probably missing the spring that was suppose to be inside it.

 

I hate flex hose. bought a car with flex hose, thought I going to keep it so I went out and found proper fitted hoses to fit the car. I ended up selling it and saw it later on ebay with a rubber flex hose along with a cheap paper element replacing the K&N that was on there. Must have taken it to a "mechanic" for a safety check or some such nonsense.

I just think it looks ugly. I bet it works just fine.

 

If they were good enough then , they are good enough now!!!!

 

It is so easy to pick up a moulded hose for most applications in hot rods and looks so much cleaner and more hotrod-like.
I have always believed that it just showed that little extra bit of pride in fitment and appearance.
No real functional difference but the flex hoses in some applications can cause problems with cracking radiator necks loose from tanks.