radiator hoses
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Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Central Cal.
TECH Fanatic
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I'm just going thru this with my 68 C10 LS swap. Aftermarket dual pass radiator so the inlet and outlet are on the passenger side.
Two ways to skin this cat. Do some measuring for the basic length and shape. Go to the local parts store review their radiator hose book. Our local Auto Value store has a Gates book that has thousands of hose configurations.
In lieu of that go down to the local auto parts store and again with some type of pattern and go thru there stock hose selection. I've found the biggest challenge is the difference in radiator inlet/outlet to water pump size.
On my 68 I used a "standard" top hose from the Gate book and then a cut up lower hose.
Two ways to skin this cat. Do some measuring for the basic length and shape. Go to the local parts store review their radiator hose book. Our local Auto Value store has a Gates book that has thousands of hose configurations.
In lieu of that go down to the local auto parts store and again with some type of pattern and go thru there stock hose selection. I've found the biggest challenge is the difference in radiator inlet/outlet to water pump size.
On my 68 I used a "standard" top hose from the Gate book and then a cut up lower hose.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,467
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From: Bossier City, Louisiana
Bend up some stiff wire into a jig shaped in the direction you need your hoses to go - from water pump to inlet, from outlet back to water jacket or wherever. You'll get the idea once you bend it up. Then take these two jigs with you to the auto parts store and buy something that conforms to these two shapes or at least something close that you can trim into compliance.
Rick
Rick
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2018
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From: georgia
my bad, my project is a 2000 chevy s-10 frame with a 2003 lq4/ 4L80E with the stock water pump on it, and I put the 48 body on the frame. the radiator is a ebay purchase that looks just like the factory rad with factory locations of the inlet and out tube except its aluminum.
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Thread Starter
Teching In
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From: georgia
no I cant yet, rear axle still needs to be wielded, its a ford 9 inch, but I was looking for more if someone had already gone down this road so I can get info from them, I sent into two different auto stores, walked the aisles with my wire and found nothing even remotely like I needed. not to mention the lq4 water neck is different size to the upper radiator .
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Most of us talk our local Autozone/Advance Auto/O’Reilly’s into walking into the back with our dimensions and poking around until we find something that will work. Be prepared to alter something to fit.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2018
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From: georgia
yea, I walked two different stores, I have no issues with cutting and making one, just need someone to list parts so I can get them right the first time
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
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From: Central Cal.
You might have to get inventive here. You may have to combine two hoses to get what you want, or even have a muffler shop bend some stainless tube (so they won't corrode) and connect them with short pieces of hose to the radiator and engine.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 108
Likes: 40
From: Lombard, Il
Not to be a weenie, but figuring out the radiator hoses is going to be multiple trip, time suck. There's no magic bullet, unless you are doing an LS swap on a 69 Camaro.
In order to not drive yourself nuts, I would keep the hoses as a side project while you do other stuff. Next time you go to NAPA (for something else) bring your thermostat housing and some tubing that is sized the same as your water pump outlet and radiator outlets. Buy a few hoses, see what works and return what doesn't on the next trip. Making it your only focus will drain your time and patience.
If you need to join 2 different size hoses
https://jagsthatrun.com/collections/...-hose-splicers
or
https://jagsthatrun.com/collections/...se-splicer-kit
In order to not drive yourself nuts, I would keep the hoses as a side project while you do other stuff. Next time you go to NAPA (for something else) bring your thermostat housing and some tubing that is sized the same as your water pump outlet and radiator outlets. Buy a few hoses, see what works and return what doesn't on the next trip. Making it your only focus will drain your time and patience.
If you need to join 2 different size hoses
https://jagsthatrun.com/collections/...-hose-splicers
or
https://jagsthatrun.com/collections/...se-splicer-kit
LOL - in my experience, with swaps like yours and mine, it's nearly impossible to "get it right the first time"....measure what you have, and go search. No other way to proceed.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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I buy most of my parts from NAPA. Yeah I drive them nuts with all the strange requests but since I buy from them they are good. Having said that they don't have the best hose selection. I've found Oreilly's has the best selection. If you are crossing over in back of the radiator for the inlet and outlet a couple of 90 degree bends with a steel tube in between will get you there. Expand the exhaust tubing to match the larger radiator sizes. Weld a bead around the exhaust tubing to make sure the hose doesn't slip off. Also in the upper hose pipe weld a bung for the coolant steam tube to make your life easier.