Braided stainless steel radiator hoses

[mkaenel]

Does anyone know where to get them (upper/lower) and what lengths I will need for a 302.

thanks

 

[coachbarnes]

Here ya go -- http://www.coolflex.com/cfm/welcome.cfm

whoops -- sorry -- I was too quick to post -- these aren't braided, but they are very nice...

 

[mkaenel]

those are nice but not quite what I am looking for.

Thanks for the link.

 

[brewdude]

Here ya go -- http://www.coolflex.com/cfm/welcome.cfm

whoops -- sorry -- I was too quick to post -- these aren't braided, but they are very nice...

Damn $300 for radiator hoses

 

[LEBCAndrew]

I have not seen any pre-made braided radiators hoses for the Early Bronco. There are companies that make the braided hose covers that slip over your existing hoses, but it is more of a cosmetic touch than anything else.

If you really wanted braided radiator hoses, then you would have to make your own. You would probably need 20AN (1 1/4" ID) hose ($13/foot), fittings to change your radiator to 20AN male fittings ($10/each), and hose end fittings to try to match the existing hose routing (straight is $42, 90 degree is $66, 30, 45, or 60 degree is $74).

Without taking into consideration any labor costs, you could easily be looking at $350 to $400 in parts alone. You would also need to figure out how to connect the AN fittings to the water pump and the thermostat housing.

 

[coachbarnes]

Damn $300 for radiator hoses

yeah..but you can get them in red or blue! ;D

besides..at $300, it would be one of the cheapest parts on my EB! darn money pits! ;D

 

[mkaenel]

300-400 WOW!!!

definately not worth it.

Who makes the covers?

 

[Big Rig]

i've seen them at pep boys and kragen. they usually come in a package that runs about $40 if i'm not mistaken.

 

[73stallion]

there's no way to get a coolflex hose on the uppper anyway, it hits either the fan (40* t-stat housing) or the hood (90* housing). the only way is to get a CSR thermostat housing for ANOTHER $100.00 and rotate it sideways.

 

[coachbarnes]

there's no way to get a coolflex hose on the uppper anyway, it hits either the fan (40* t-stat housing) or the hood (90* housing). the only way is to get a CSR thermostat housing for ANOTHER $100.00 and rotate it sideways.

are you saying that it won't fit with a 90 like this?? you do great work, so I don't want to argue -- I just don't see why it won't work. You've tried it? I can't see why the hose would be higher than the carb...but remember, I'm a slow witted Texin. Sorry -- not tryin' to hijack the thread --

 

[ken75ranger]

I'm guessing he means because you can't do a 90 degree bend with the braided. The slow arc you would need to make would hit the hood.

 

[mkaenel]

Ben,

What is a CSR thermostat housing???

 

[Dusty]

there's no way to get a coolflex hose on the uppper anyway, it hits either the fan (40* t-stat housing) or the hood (90* housing). the only way is to get a CSR thermostat housing for ANOTHER $100.00 and rotate it sideways.

Here's mine. It's not a CoolFlex brand, its the Summit brand hose that's similar though. I've got the 90* T-stat housing on a '95 5.8L, stock EB radiator. It was a few years ago, but I think it was under 100 bux for a kit with enough hose and fittings to do the upper and lower hoses. I've got about 1.75" of body lift but the hose doesn't come close to hitting the hood, and it even goes over the top of my York compressor.

Upper:

Lower:

Better shot of the Upper:

Dusty

 

[73stallion]

okay, let me rephrase that. i tried installing a coolflex style hose with no body lift and a stock hood, the hood wouldn't close.

 

[LEBCAndrew]

CSR Performance Products makes some pretty cool stuff, but they're not giving it away. Their 360 degree swivel thermostat housing really gives you some options when figuring out how you want to run your hoses. I will attempt to attach pictures of the stock replacement housing and the 20 AN fitting housing.

I have their stock replacement housing on my 76 EB and I can always swap out just piece where the radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing for a 1 1/2" hose, 10, 12, 16, or 20 AN fitting. With the swivel, you can turn it so the upper radiator hose runs horizontal across the engine bay and then you only have to make one 90 degree turn to connect to the radiator. There are additional things to consider when routing hoses like this and it can get expensive very quickly.

 

[num]

CSR Performance Products makes some pretty cool stuff, but they're not giving it away. Their 360 degree swivel thermostat housing really gives you some options when figuring out how you want to run your hoses. I will attempt to attach pictures of the stock replacement housing and the 20 AN fitting housing.

I have their stock replacement housing on my 76 EB and I can always swap out just piece where the radiator hose connects to the thermostat housing for a 1 1/2" hose, 10, 12, 16, or 20 AN fitting. With the swivel, you can turn it so the upper radiator hose runs horizontal across the engine bay and then you only have to make one 90 degree turn to connect to the radiator. There are additional things to consider when routing hoses like this and it can get expensive very quickly.

The only catch is that those 20AN fittings cost an arm and a leg - at least the aluminum ones... ~$40.00 for straight and ~$70.00 for angles from summit.
I'm a big fan of the AN stuff regardless of the price, but for coolant plumbing there are roadblocks. If you have a stock-radiator, basically a radiator without AN inlet/outlet, or if you have a stock water pump without AN then it's a tad useless. I've seen nice aluminum race radiators with nicer electric water pumps with full AN plumbing - but the total cost is kinda crazy.

 

[bowhunter]

mkaneal - Got mine from Summit and love them. Their not too bad on the pocket book either.

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=SUM-390124&N=115&autoview=sku

If the link does not work, just go to www.summitracing.com and type in stainless radiator hose in the search field. They come in 12", 24" and 48". I believe I bought the 24" and 48" and cut them to length. The billet collar hides the ugly clamps.

I've been running them for a month or so, no problems or leaks.

Good luck.

Dale B.