Looking for a upper radiator hose for my 31 Model A roadster. Looks like it needs to be around 19" long with about a 100 degree arc (photos attached). Cold Case radiator located approximately 11.5" from the front of the engine block. Anybody know of one that would fit? I would prefer to not use the ribbed flex hoses if possible. It seems like many people have had issues with them but if you have one that works good let me know that as well. Thanks.
Best to take clothes hanger or ? Make shape , Measure OD 's . Some will need cut to fit or a flex . May be 69 camaro 6 , or SBC ? go to auto store Most will let you go threw what they have or look up Dayton / Goodyear /ext catalog by spec & size . You might want to change thermostat housing to make easier
Go to a decent parts store. Look at the radiator hoses hanging. Pick correct diameter with 3 or 4 bends. Buy 4 hose clamps. Go to a hardware store and buy a chrome sink drain. Cut parts to fit. easy peasy nice and……
replace the thermostat housing with one that pops out at a better angle. For example, but you might find a better one. And I'd use old fashioned rubber corrugated flex hose, to give it that era appropriate HAMB look.
Pick up a length of this VW air hose and bend it to the shape you need. Then go match it to what a good auto parts store has hanging from the rafters. Credit @HOTRODPRIMER.
I've used this Gates pdf catalog a few times. Pictures of hoses starts on page 46. Pics aren't that great though but it gives dimensions for each hose in the first 45 pages. https://www.gates.com/content/dam/d...ogs/gates-molded-coolant-hose-id-guide-en.pdf Once you have a Gates part number you can search for it on this web page and it'll give you a much better picture. https://www.gates.com/gb/en/fluid-power/engine-hose/coolant-hose.p.4261-000000-000001.html
I once couldn't find the length or size of hose many years ago so I went to an industrial store and found it and they cut it to size. Mind you it wasn't cheap. I went there also when I needed a piece of hose to go from a gas tank to the filler tube. But they only sold it in two foot lengths. I also had a local auto store that kept a wall behind the counter in their back room of odd size rad hoses and they let me back there to go through them.
Looks at a Gates 20686 That fits my 71 GMC when it had the 350 in it. Dayco 70935 is another number that is easy to find locally. A gates 20607 fits 71 Chevy and GMC vans and looks like it might work and might be easier to cut to length on the engine end.
I used an upper, molded hose from a mid 70's van. It was about 3 feet long but had the bends I needed. Ended up cutting about 1 foot from either end to get what I needed. The coat hanger/ welding rod trick worked well. Make sure the hose ID is correct. Uppers are usually 1 1/2 inch, lowers 1 3/4 inch.
My standard method for all cars I build is to bend up some stiff wire to match the shape I need and go to the local chain parts store and match it up. Be sure to measure your radiator outlet size and the inlet on the intake so you get size and shape correct. Just had to do this for my '39 Chev coupe and got a hose with two 90's so I can have a spare if I ever need another lower 1.75" hose later.
If you’re not married to that flatter water neck (thermostat housing), I’d switch to something that may/will make your life easier and may give your setup a simpler look. Here’s my go to stuff: I use a housing that’s a little more upright than most. And then pick from two different hoses depending on what carb/air cleaner set up I’m running. Single bend: Double bend:
This hose is on a V8-60. The hose is Continental 60734. I searched an application that I found gleaning the interweb (1985 BMW 635CSI 3.5L L6). Then looked at pictures. This hose is listed as fitting some GM's too. 1 1/2 at the rad end and 1 3/4 at the head. The radiator I am using is 1 1/4 on top, I sleeved the outlets up to 1 1/2. Engine is on a run stand.
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