72 C10 Chevy - LS with Entropy Radiator Lower Hose Solution

[roushinator]

So I have been fighting this lower radiator hose on my truck project. 1972 C10 with LS3/Whipple with entropy radiator. People online with “similar” builds were like “oh go buy such and such hose and cut it and it will fit”. Well I did that (twice) and it never “fit” right. I even tried to go the Autoplumb 16AN hose/fitting route. But it did not work out. So I thought about it for a while and realized the problem is the thermostat housing and that it mounts at the wrong angle and the outlet comes off at a weird angle too. Yeah that might work on the Camaro but not this truck. I needed a swivel 90 degree thermostat housing. But could not find one for my motor that was exactly what I wanted. They did have one for a Chevy 350. So I found an adapter and mounted the thermostat housing. The hose was now easy to make. It’s L shaped no weird bends. I still don’t know if I am going to use those hose clamps though. I can see myself slashing my arms open later on.

Thermostat Housing Billet Specialties - BLK90220
Adapter Plate ICT Billet - 551491
HPS 1.5" 90 and straight
HPS 1.5" Billet 6061 Aluminum Joiner Hose Union Connector Black 2"

[bigmoe]

Always feels good when you come up with a solution to a problem. Can you not find a hose to fit now without splicing? I'm with you on the hose clamps. I wish someone made a better looking/functioning hose clamp.

[roushinator]

Originally Posted by bigmoe

Always feels good when you come up with a solution to a problem. Can you not find a hose to fit now without splicing? I'm with you on the hose clamps. I wish someone made a better looking/functioning hose clamp.

Well i thought the 90 that i ordered would be long enough but it was short by about 1.5" so i just spliced it

[LS short box]

Great write up. Are those silicone hoses? If not I've great luck either making a one piece hose from a larger hose walking around the parts store stock room. Oreilly's typically has a good stock in the back room.
Or at NAPA they still have a hard copy parts book for hoses the give you basic dimensions for hoses. If you don't mod the hose you can send it back and get a new one.

[nsb29]

Summit racing has a shrink clamp it’s a band that you shrink with a heat gun. I had to cut mine and use a tube so I turned my clamps so the adjustment was to the back side and painted them black, but I’m going to order the shrink bands for the splice. the only complaint I saw was a guy used to large of band and it didn’t get tight enough

[roushinator]

Originally Posted by nsb29

Summit racing has a shrink clamp it’s a band that you shrink with a heat gun. I had to cut mine and use a tube so I turned my clamps so the adjustment was to the back side and painted them black, but I’m going to order the shrink bands for the splice. the only complaint I saw was a guy used to large of band and it didn’t get tight enough

Yeah i am going to try those.

[nsb29]

Originally Posted by roushinator

Yeah i am going to try those.

Call summit and make sure how it’s sized if it goes hose size or outside diameter it’s not clear at least not to me

[A1971Blazer]

I didn't get a picture because I was just getting my radiator connected so I could start and run the engine
I had a bottom hose off a 2000 Tahoe 5.3 that I bought out of a wreck.
I trimmed out a section that fit pretty well on the Entropy for my LS1 swap

[LEEVON]

Amazing tip! I never thought to adapt a small block outlet. I paid hell with the problem on my 5.3L 1950 pickup due to limited space and parts options, ended up fabbing one.

[derotoreut]

I swapped a LM7 into my 70 K10. I guess I was one of the lucky ones who ended up being able to use a stock hose for my lower. My upper was another story. I ended up using two silicone 45-degree hoses with a piece of stainless tubing connecting them along with Gates shrink hose clamp. Worked out OK.

[Thealien]

Tagging this for information, thanks.