02-06-2012, 12:55 AM | #1 |
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Coolant hoses
What are y'all using for radiator hoses after going with a newer style motor.. Don't care for the way mine looks.. I've been toying with the idea of running mandrel bent tubing for my upper radiator hose.. Or routing it behind the alternator.. Thanks
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02-06-2012, 08:39 AM | #2 |
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Re: Coolant hoses
Stock 4x4s had a "radiator pipe". Maybe you could start with that.
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02-06-2012, 10:25 AM | #3 |
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Re: Coolant hoses
If you have acess to a mandrel pipe bender a custom pipe should be no problem. Maybe go behind the alternator as you said, tig on a mounting tab or two, and utilize an existing boss on the head. Your engine bay looks nice, however, I cringed when I saw your tools resting on the radiator. That gap between the radiator and the front support cost me big time once. I had a prybar resting there, knocked it off, fell through gap and took out my radiator. I made a plate that goes between the two radiator supports and covers the whole top of the radiator. On your truck it would look good painted to match or polished.
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02-06-2012, 01:55 PM | #4 |
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Re: Coolant hoses
If you want to go behind the alternator, look at stock Tuned-Port stuff like 89 IROC for example.
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02-06-2012, 04:39 PM | #5 |
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Re: Coolant hoses
I had the same issue, and had originally pieced two together that I pulled off the shelf at NAPA. After hating it for a while, I did a 90 coming off the upper rad outlet, a small coupler, then a piece of aluminum pipe all the way to the thermostat housing with another little coupler.
You need some rubber in there due to engine movement, but I figure aluminum pipe will never burst... |
02-06-2012, 04:42 PM | #6 |
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Re: Coolant hoses
Your path might be easier too if you can get a different thermostat housing in there. A 69 Impala one would point almost directly towards your upper rad outlet, instead of straight up. A million others might too, that's just the one I know off the top of my head.
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02-06-2012, 05:23 PM | #7 |
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Location: Tulsa, OK
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Re: Coolant hoses
I've got a swivel thermostat housing and a coolflex hose.
Although, I have been wanting to go the route davepl has on the pic above. |
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