Technical This is what makes hot rodding so satisfying

So tell me. Is there anything in hot rodding more thrilling that to find the perfect radiator hose for a tough application at O'Reilly?

 

I am just about to see if my wire template was true. And only after sifting through about 50 hoses! But I have a section of metal tube ready to splice into the middle -just in case it needs a tweek.
Sometimes the HotRodding gods smile upon you!

 

Man, if every car could use molded hoses instead of flex-tubing, I'd be a happy camper! It usually takes more time than I'd like to find the right one, especially since modern cars are going to smaller diameter rad hoses, there's less inventory in the parts store to look at.

 

Better mark your calender.
I've gotten lucky by cutting one or both ends to the desired profile, just gotta be creative.
I wanted to use this particular thermostat housing but after many trips to the parts store I said f#@k it and made a pair of aluminum plates that oriented the housing as needed.
I had my friend TIG weld them together on the inside, was able to use an off the shelf hose.

 

I can only assume that you found it yourself? I struggle more and more to find anyone at a parts store who can actually provide help of any kind.

 

Oops, forgot the picture.

 

Save those part numbers!

 

He invited me back to look. Good store.

 

Very happy for you.

Last time I did that, I was somewhat surprised and quite pleased that they would still let me go back there and look for myself.

 

Getting harder and harder to find places that will let you do that. Maybe a good reason to show a little patience with the "young dummies" at the counter. I've found the older I get, the more of my "connections" have faded away.

 

Yep, nice feeling. About a month or so ago, I went to a local parts store asking if they had straight sections of coolant hose. Showed him the piece of pipe I had and told him the ID. He went to the back warehouse area and a minute or two later came back and told me they only had small dia. stuff. I asked him how big, and he says around 5/16” ID. I told him that was fuel line stuff and not coolant hose! Needless to say, I went to another store/chain and got what I needed.

 

That only works if the supplier doesn't change their numbering system... I saved the number of a molded curve hose that was a perfect fit for an upper with a SBF in a '55-56 Ford car. I checked recently and now get a fuel filter...

 

Building this for another guy. I'll be in Trembling Hills, drooling in a corner when he needs a new one!

 

I keep a little notebook for each car, which has the part, car make and model that the part came from, etc. Also the wiring pin-outs for electrical stuff. It all helps when you sell the car, and what with my brain getting smarter as I get older (I think that's how it goes).

 

Years ago, I bought 2 VW aluminum flexible heat exchange hoses, they are perfect for finding the correct shape radiator hoses.
When you flex the hose it will stay in shape, then off to the parts house. HRP

 

I went through the trouble of replacing the flex hoses on my old V8 powered 1949 Chevrolet sedan with fitted hoses several years ago..
sold it a while later, then saw it for sale on ebay with flex hoses. they also tossed out the $50.00 K&N air filter. must have brought it to a rip off mechanic for "service" .. they got serviced all right.
also missing in action was the NOS green plastic window tint at the top of the windshield I put on. pretty hard to find item and not cheap.

 

Winner! A 1" trim at both ends, and on it went!. I'm not doing anything more today, I've used up my good luck quota for the day.

 

Gotta love it when that happens. I am thankful that the guys at my local O’Reillys let me search through those as well to find the best fit. I am not a fan of the flex hoses as least as far as looks.

 

And they really don't flex much either.

 

I save the tags off my rad hoses but forget to label which one to which car.

 

I agree. I have cut up a lot of hoses to get the right shape but, not to hijack your post, when all else failed, I had to make this one. I was very satisfied with the outcome

 

Been there, done that!

 

Yes, I always start out with a 'little notebook' but always end up with a fat 3-ring binder!!

 

Is that a Chevy 6? I just did the same thing, but I used a thermostat housing from a Chrysler V8, it was the right size and went straight up. I just used a hose with a 90 degree bend.
The bottom hose was a modified Aussie Ford lower hose.

 

During my build, the upper was a snap, the lower on the other hand, well ahhh, went into my trusty auto parts, dug out the old books, looked at all the measurements and designs, heck, they had one on the wall. Try that with these computer jockey these days, iffin it ain't on the web, it don't exist. heh, heh, heh

 

Getting the lower radiator outlet changed to 2" dia. made finding this section of a hose a lot easier. L/side is the w/pump end, R/side is radiator. When in position it will fit in a 6 1/2" tall,6" square box.

 

Yep. Tricked out 235.

 

I've always used a hose that had some part of it fit my template, and then cut off one or both ends to get the shape I needed.
But I've switched to the corrugated stainless tubing that bends to any shape, and uses a short rubber hose at each end to make the final connection. I was hesitant and apprehensive at first, but it really does work great.

 

But . . . . that takes the satisfaction out of it!!