A Tale of Upper Radiator Hoses & Fans

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

I have had 2 radiators and three hoses. I've done a lot of work on my bronco to try to get it cool.

I have the silicone radiator hoses now which I really love. However, they suffer from the same problem all others do (at least in my application) in that they all come in contact with or dangerously close to the fan blades. I added a 1" spacer to the fan, now it hits the shroud (dealing with that in another thread).

The only fix that I have found that works is to treacherously put the upper radiator hose on about 3/4" and tighten it up, essentially on top of the flared end.

A picture is below, but I am curious: When people run a puller fan (not that I want to go this route) can they/do they get away with not using a shroud? I guess I've seen most without a shroud, and the really big expensive systems usually have a shroud. I want to stay with this great 18" mechanical fan as it so far is working great and I would space it another 1/2 closer to the radiator I suppose but would need to replace the shroud, but that seems like a lot of work to get the radiator hose to just work.

I guess I could drain & remove the radiator and ask the radiator shop to extend the inlet side another inch. How else has this problem been solved? Surely I'm not the only one who has experienced this, and please...stop calling me Shirley.

sykanr0ng · Jul 22, 2016

What some people do is make a bracket and/or loop that attaches to an upper engine bolt that will hold the hose away from the fan.

toddz69 · Jul 22, 2016

DaveLev said:
I have had 2 radiators and three hoses. I've done a lot of work on my bronco to try to get it cool.

I have the silicone radiator hoses now which I really love. However, they suffer from the same problem all others do (at least in my application) in that they all come in contact with or dangerously close to the fan blades. I added a 1" spacer to the fan, now it hits the shroud (dealing with that in another thread).

The only fix that I have found that works is to treacherously put the upper radiator hose on about 3/4" and tighten it up, essentially on top of the flared end.

A picture is below, but I am curious: When people run a puller fan (not that I want to go this route) can they/do they get away with not using a shroud? I guess I've seen most without a shroud, and the really big expensive systems usually have a shroud. I want to stay with this great 18" mechanical fan as it so far is working great and I would space it another 1/2 closer to the radiator I suppose but would need to replace the shroud, but that seems like a lot of work to get the radiator hose to just work.

I guess I could drain & remove the radiator and ask the radiator shop to extend the inlet side another inch. How else has this problem been solved? Surely I'm not the only one who has experienced this, and please...stop calling me Shirley.

And on a related note - I can't tell if that's a clamp specifically designed for silicone hoses. Is it? It should have a smooth underneath the worm drive portion so that portion doesn't dig into the hose.

Todd Z.

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

That's interesting...like an unused accessory hole on the heads or an intake manifold bolt? I'd love to see photos of that.

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

Did not know there were clamps made for those hoses. Get me a link to some parts, and I'll buy those, too. Would need 2 for upper, 2 for lower, and 2 for the bypass.

I swear this will be coolant change #6 in 3 months.

toddz69 · Jul 22, 2016

Here's a link to some that I've used:

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=HOSECLAMP

I also scrounge them for free off the Crown Victoria cop cars in the junkyards that used silicone hoses. They have the Ford logo on them

.

I like to use them on regular hoses too.

Todd Z.

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

Thanks Todd - that's great. Now do you happen to know the outer diameter of these hoses, or shall I find a seamstress tape measure (cloth/nylon style, not a big construction metal tape)?

Glass Pony · Jul 22, 2016

I had some issues in that area with my fan and that radiator hose. (I run a 3/4" fan spacer) I bought silicone hoses also and cannot that hose for the same reason.
I'm now using a Dayco E70627 as it comes extra long in that area. So long I have to cut a couple inches off of it.

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

Thanks for the Dayco tip. Man I looked everywhere for a better solution to the upper. In fact, if you look online, the Gates equivalent is #20626, which I tried and ran into the same issue. Hmmm.

toddz69 · Jul 22, 2016

DaveLev said:
Thanks Todd - that's great. Now do you happen to know the outer diameter of these hoses, or shall I find a seamstress tape measure (cloth/nylon style, not a big construction metal tape)?

Your measuring idea is a good one or if you have a dial caliper, measure the od and multiply times pi.

I.D. on the top is 1.5" and 1.75" on the bottom.

Todd Z.

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

I have a digital line micrometer - that should work - thanks for reminding me. My dial caliper only goes to 1", and I really only use it for measuring widths of drill bits at this time.

tirewater · Jul 22, 2016

Couldn't you just use a barbed 1 1/2" hose coupler to extend the hose? Meaning cut the hose a couple of inches from the upper radiator nipple and couple a longer length of 1 1/2" ID straight hose.

garberz · Jul 22, 2016

I used an 1 1/2" tubing splice, with a fabricated bracket that holds it away from the fan blades. This is on a 5.0 conversion, with the hoses reversed.

Mark

DaveLev · Jul 22, 2016

Garberz, looks like you mounted it to the coil block on your 5.0 conversion. Also, what is that fan for, a power steering cooler or oil cooler or trans cooler? Anything below it? where does the hot air discharge, down between fender and frame or something?

I like the idea of adding a barbed spacer, sure, but isn't it odd that all 4 upper hoses I've tried don't reach at all? I would expect someone to have made an extended length one for early broncos. So confused by this.

DirtDonk · Jul 22, 2016

Is this the shape of your thermostat housing Dave?
http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/Thermostat_Housing

If so, they do make a vertical one for the EFI engines. It's basically doing a 90 as it exits the engine, so the hose goes up first.
I thought we had them too, but don't see them on our site. But junkyards and likely any auto parts store would carry them both if you think a different one would help here.

I'm sure there are a lot of images here on the forum that show what I'm talking about.

Paul

DaveLev · Jul 24, 2016

Thank you for posting pix. Looks like it goes toward the radiator then takes a sharp 90 straight up. Mine is stock. I can post pix to show what I'm experiencing no problem.

sykanr0ng · Jul 24, 2016

You could also attach a loop to the fan shroud that holds the hose.
Like the way doghows72 did here:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2874256&postcount=82

(last two pics)

jckkys · Jul 24, 2016

Going back to Dave's first post on this subject and comparing the photos to my nearly stock cooling system. The problem of the upper radiator hose being rubbed by the fan is as I said, a matter of how it's installed. I pulled mine and made a few measurements. The hose has 2 short straight sections, one at each end. One is about 4" the other is about 2 1/2". I did this measurement by holding the hose end perpendicular to a flat surface and measuring the distance from the bottom of the long straight section to the same flat surface. The 4" end goes to the radiator and the short straight end goes on the thermostat housing. The photos indicate this isn't how they are on Dave's Bronco. The long end may have been trimmed when the short or thermostat end is where any trimming would be best done. Even an upper hose that hasn't been trimmed, has to be installed with the bend close to the thermostat, to keep the long straight center section away from the fan. I doubt the hose was made with both end sections equal in length. That's why I suggested swapping the ends of the hose in my first post in the earlier thread. If the wrong end of this hose was trimmed, it may a good idea to buy a new one. Here's a photo off WH on line catalog.http://www.wildhorses4x4.com/product/radiator_hose_set_6977yr The radiator end is much longer than the thermostat so both end may need trimming. To do it correctly, the thermostat end has to be shortened as much as possible and still seal well a hose clamp. The radiator end is trimmed last to make the center section run parallel with the top of the radiator and well clear of the fan. A new hose far cheaper than some of the other "fixes" suggested.

Glass Pony · Jul 25, 2016

Upper hose in this picture is a Dayco E70627. Plenty of fan clearance.

DaveLev · Jul 25, 2016

The dayco hose you have displayed has an extra bend in it my expensive silicone does not. That's unfortunate. I'd like to get my hose to work, but yours looks great. I noticed you have a different shroud (not stock) and only a 1/2" spacer on your fan. I am convinced that with the hose and fan I have, shroud or no shroud, the fan and the upper hose will for sure hit. I did not cut the upper hose - it was the same length as the one I removed, which was the same length as the one I replaced before it. I have never needed to cut the upper hose, but have always needed it a bit longer.

I saw the spacers that others have recommended that 'extend' or patch a broken upper hose. I am a bit uncomfortable cutting the hose I have, and fear it will look terrible. However, that may be the only cost-effective fix.

Creating a bracket or something to pull the fan out of the way - especially if it attaches to the fan shroud - seems a bit hacky for my rust bucket

A Tale of Upper Radiator Hoses & Fans

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