Upper Radiator Hose

[mytruck1949]

Looking to see what others have done.

Truck 1949 3800

Engine swap from 216 to 261

I have found the perfect lower radiator hose but from what I am finding on the webs and Jim Carters site I am not finding an upper radiator hose that follows gets me from the thermostat housing to the radiator.

With this conversion the Thermostat housing is larger than the Radiator inlet. I understand that a larger hose is used and double up at the radiator. I tried a 1962 hose, same year as the motor but due to the angles it kinks. Even when I trim the hose down. it is the kink back to the Thermostat housing.

So what have others done here? Any part number would help of what you had used.

[skihor]

I have taken old hoses and cut them up to mock up the size and angles needed.
Then go to the largest parts shop around and psychically compare it. Never failed to find something that worked.

[MARTINSR]

Yep, make a pattern out of a thick piece of wire and then take that pattern into the parts store and go through the hoses. All you need are the bends, and the diameter, that's all you need, you cut off what you don't need and wham, there you go.

Brian

[mr48chev]

I don't like them but have had to use a flex hose in that spot on a couple I have done.

Either Gates or Napa has a correct length flex hose with the correct size ends.

Otherwise you are searching the hose catalog for a hose that has the right sizes with a bend and a straight section or using a length of hose inside a hose to "adapt" it and I am not a fan of that although some aftermarket late model "fits more than one application" radiators come with a rubber sleeve to do just that.

I think the Dayco 76925 is the reducer adapter you need for that then you That goes from 1-1/2 to 1=1/4

That would let you find a molded 1/1/2 inch hose like a mid 70's GM V8 upper hose that you could trim to fit as long as it had the right bends You would have more hose left over than you used but it might still be less than a flex hose. Easier to find sometimes too.

Going on the bend a wire thing that Martinsr suggested I have a box of old radiator hoses in the shed that have no purpose except to be cut up and fitted together to make a pattern to take to the parts house in search of a molded hose that will work. Some scraps of pvc pipe an duct tape an you have a pretty reasonable sample.

[_Ogre]

a short radius 1.5'' exhaust bend might do the trick like this one from summit
just cut it to length and use rubber couplers on each end



i did something similar on truk to get around the air filter

[my56chevytruck]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

a short radius 1.5'' exhaust bend might do the trick like this one from summit
just cut it to length and use rubber couplers on each end



i did something similar on truk to get around the air filter

I was getting ready to suggest using some pipe in your hose setup and OGRE beat me to it. Good job my friend. Also, have you considered using radiator hose shrink wrap? its a great look and works perfectly.

https://content.speedwaymotors.com/P...a50a2b106c.jpg

[MARTINSR]

Yep Ogre, that can be a great fix!

Brian

[mr48chev]

Problem is that he has 1-1/4 on top and 1-1/2 on the bottom.

I had a new neck put on mine at the radiator shop when I redid the radiator for the V8 back years ago. That would be the best way but finding a radiator shop that will do it these days might be a bigger challenge. There used to be 15 radiator shops within 25 miles of my house now there are two and one just pretty much installs new radiators except for repairing spendy farm equipment or semi truck radiators.

[Keystoner]

Dayco 70959 is 1 1/4 x 1 1/2. Pic below.
Looks like there is plenty of room to cut to fit.

Measure your height from housing to radiator
and see if your FLAPS has one in stock you can measure.

You can search the Dayco website by dimensions
and see pics for other possibilities.
Hose length 11" & 13" have the most results for your diameters.

http://www.daycoproducts.com/online-...ec=11&branch=0
Scroll down to see the results for 11".

Then search using 13" length.
Maybe 71591 if you cut the top off.
Hard to tell from pics.

Have fun!

[OrrieG]

Use a coat hanger or welding wire to get the shape, go to a real parts store like NAPA with the shape and end diameters and the parts guy should be able to go back and find one that will work. That is what I did for my mutant setup.