i just installed one of these stainless steel lower radiator hose. has anyone have any experience with these? i had no other choice, because of clearence issues. and the way my outlets lined up. my worry is sealing with the clamps. anyone useing these? its from summit.
If you are talking about the flexible stainless hoses that have ribs and are connected on the ends with rubber hose and clamps, I would not use them. They are absolute garbage. My son had them on his 479 CI big block Pontiac engine and had 2 instances where they literally blew off under normal radiator pressure, while the engine was hot. Once was when he was working on the tuning of the engine, setting the timing and carb adjustment. The engine is a radical roller cammed engine and was not overheating, everything was working normally. He narrowly avoided serious burns and had mild burns on one arm. The second time was during the drive back on the return road after a pass at the strip. Again, normal temp and pressure, no overheating. Once those hoses were removed and proper hoses installed there have been no problems.
i don't have the linement of the outlets to use regular hoses i want to but can't. that is the ones i'm talking about.
Been running one on the wife's 350 powered Rambler without issue for 6+ years.... Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
i'm hpoeing they will be alright, that they seal. seems like it went in the rubber on the radiator pretty easily. i'm keeping my fingers crossed.
As you can see they work for some but not for others. If you get to solid of a fit there will be no "give" with motor harmonic's, movement and I have seen them crack out the radiator outlets. JMO
The way that's set up looks like the hose end going into the rubber is off center. Maybe it won't hurt anything, I've never used that type hose before. I'd get a smaller clamp. I'm guilty of using clamps that are too long and end up going back after a while and getting the right length. I just looks better and one less thing to cut your hand or fingers. What about the rubber flex hoses?
Took the words out of my mouth. Those aren't great either, but I'd think they'd be a damned sight better than the steel.
from what i can see , i think a regular rubber radiator hose could be made to fit. try Napa # 7286. you will need to trim it on both ends or...i would use a 90 degree rubber bend off the radiator , a 45 off the water pump and then connect them with a short piece of stainless steel tubing
Maybe see if you can find some of those wire hose clamps that whould tighten down in between the ribs on the tubing.
i've had the same thing on my lower hose for 10+ yrs with no problems. i think they are mostly corrugated copper tubing chrome plated and should easily be able to handle low pressure for a long time. after all copper tubing lasts in your home plumbing for decades. the rubber connecdtors are similar to fernco couplings used in plumbing and i believe they are rated up to 15 psi . so if you run 7 or so psi cap should never be a problem either . but that does not guarantee the quality of the installation which can ruin it almost immediately
Originally Posted by 36-3window or...i would use a 90 degree rubber bend off the radiator , a 45 off the water pump and then connect them with a short piece of stainless steel tubing that'll work. and actually, unlike pretty much anything else on a car, designing in a little turbulence is good when you're dealing with coolant, as long as you're not creating severe restrictions.
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