Thread: using coils in radiator hose?

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my radiator hoses are a pretty good fit except for a couple curves that are a bit kinked. someone gave me a coil to prevent the kink, but is this acceptable? If so will the coil need to run through out the hose to make sure it doesn't shift around? Where might I be able to get another coil for the other hose? Thanks

Those coils are used on the suction side of the water pump to keep the hoses from collapsing. Have you tried flex radiator hoses?

What Henry said is true, you want a spring coil in the bottom hose so it doesn't collapse. The best hose to use is a smooth hose if possible. The flex or corrugated hose flow somewhat slower due to the ribs in the hose.

Don't know if it will help you or not but i use stainless bends and 2 short lengths of rubber for hoses.

I second that, It's just another way to stop any problems. If you are out in tim buck too and you get a hole in your hose there isn't a problem fixing it.
My 2 cents
Ken

Heck Steve and Ken, you both have two totally different types of engines from different era's but wow, both are awesome and certainly eye candy to look at. Yes I also agree with the way you both have done the radiator hoses as one said there is only short bits of rubber hose to cause issues.
Steve I am so envious of that flake paint job and also I will have to hate you for having that neat multi carb manifold on your engine,hell I really love that look.

thank you for the replies guys. it sounds like the coils were ruled out so I won't be able to get coolant in my engine and let it run this weekend, but that's ok. the rubber flex hoses are an option, but what about the chrome flex ones? Are they more or less just a more expensive version of the same thing? Steve/Ken, is that just exhaust tubing bent to fit? I'm wondering how I would be able to bend that up. Steve yours looks chromed - Ken is that painted/ceramic coated?

I'll be out in the sticks this weekend working on the car, but I'll check back Sunday night. Thanks again!

I use header tubing, then make my cuts to form the shape I need. Those are ceramic coated to match my headers. U bends, J bends, and 90's.
Thanks whiplash23T.
Ken

I use stainless mandrel bends and weld together, mine is polished stainless, In the pic is 1 x 90 degree and 1 x 45 degree which was cut slightly to 35 degrees. You could probably get yours bent up at a muffler shop fairly cheaply in stainless or mild steel.

Originally Posted by 35fordcoupe

thank you for the replies guys. it sounds like the coils were ruled out so I won't be able to get coolant in my engine and let it run this weekend, but that's ok. the rubber flex hoses are an option, but what about the chrome flex ones? Are they more or less just a more expensive version of the same thing? Steve/Ken, is that just exhaust tubing bent to fit? I'm wondering how I would be able to bend that up. Steve yours looks chromed - Ken is that painted/ceramic coated?

I'll be out in the sticks this weekend working on the car, but I'll check back Sunday night. Thanks again!

Cheers Whip, I can't tell you how long it took to get the carbs running right, infact i still occassionaly fiddle with them.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Heck Steve and Ken, you both have two totally different types of engines from different era's but wow, both are awesome and certainly eye candy to look at. Yes I also agree with the way you both have done the radiator hoses as one said there is only short bits of rubber hose to cause issues.
Steve I am so envious of that flake paint job and also I will have to hate you for having that neat multi carb manifold on your engine,hell I really love that look.

What ,if anything, do you use to keep the hose from sliding off? I mean is there a nipple on the end of the pipe of does the clamp just hold it?

i done the rad hose out of steel and alum .one thing you have to watch out for is engine movement so you need to limit the engine movement with a Tq arm or more flex them that would be more rubber so you do not rip the hose off or in time crack the necks out of the rad less it can move something gota give. heres some tube work i did .BUT i did not make the upper hose up if i did it would of look better. i like to tig the tube up weld the joint but needs to be ligth tight joint so i flow the steel out less to buff up so you have a nice free flowing look to it

Is there a reason not very many use cool flex stainless hoses here, I`ve had them on mine now for eight years, haven`t had an issue yet, the only reason I went with them was the lower hose had too tight of a bend, not sure how many rubber hoses I cut up tring to make it work.
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i used the flex hose on one build i did not care for the bulky hose ends and the bushing set up .BUT they been i use for 7+ years with no issue work good .but if you like to cut and past i would rather do steel or alum has coolent moves better thru the tubing BUT the flex hose will move more

I have the Cool-Flex for my car top hose and while it's doing the job just fine, I really don't care for the "look". And the fact that while I'm currently running my car hoodless, don't like watching that piece of plated copper vibrate and (maybe) work hardening so it will split open while driving 50 miles outside of West Overshoe on a Sunday afternoon. Thanks for the ideas.