Bottom radiator hose and neck don't match!

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone could give me any feedback on my radiator situation?
I have a 1981 Corvette Coupe here in Australia, with the original sized radiator core at 2" thick (50mm). I am looking to replace it with the heavy duty 2 5/8" (67mm) thick radiator I purchased, but have come accross a problem. The top standard radiator hose fits the top neck of the radiator like a glove, but the bottom hose is too small for the bottom neck on the bigger radiator.

Do you think I could change the hose with a different year model?
If so, what year?

What do you guys recommend?

Cheers

Tony

 

[MaineShark]

I ended up going with a "flex hose" from NAPA. Basically, it's just a spiral-corrugated hose with a spring inside that keeps it open, while allowing you to flex it into any position. You should check with a ruler, but I would guess that your radiator's bottom outlet is 1-3/4", which is the same as your water pump, which makes things easy.

I'd guess that a 24" hose would be right for the job.

Joe

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Thanks Joe!

Thanks Joe.
You are right with the measurements, the bottom hose will fit if I for arguments sake, turn it around and put the end of the hose that goes onto the water pump, onto the neck of the raditor instead. That end does fit the neck no problem, so the your sizes are right.

I haven't fitted the radiator yet and also haven't sized the new up with the old, to make sure it will fit. I have checked the thickness of the craddle that supports the radiator and it seems like it will fit ok. Do you think I will have any other dramas?

She is in the workshop at the moment having an Edelbrock QJet carb fitted and I won't have her back until this afternoon. The guys had a set back and dropped a nut down the original inlet manifold from the Holley that was on there. They took the manifold off and couldn't find the nut, it had fallen down behind the valve in the head!
It worked out in my favour anyway, they are paying for the mistake and I capitalised and asked them remove the other head and replace the gaskets from a kit I had here. I had previously had the water system pressure tested and there was a small leak from the head gasket. They also said my original inlet manifold was cactus as the water jackets were no good. I repalced that with an Edelbrock Performer manifold. Sounds like a good outcome to a bad situation.

Thanks for your feedback

Cheers

Tony

 

[GTR1999]

Check the replacement carefully. I just installed a replacement that came from a big CA radiator supplier and found the hose necks were way off. Instead of sweeps they were 90* angles and there was no way the hoses were going to fit. I had a good radiator shop install the necks from the original radiator to make it work.

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Thanks Coupeman

Thanks Coupeman.

I am having some problems matching everything up now. The radiator in the car doesn't even look like the new 2-5/8" radiator.
The radiator in the car has necks that come straight out for the top one and straight out and up for the bottom one.
I think a previous owner has 'done a swifty' and made something up!
The new radiator has the sweeping necks you mentioned.
The top radiator hose on the radiator that is in the car is totally different to the new one I ordered, which is the standard item for 1981.
The bottom hose I ordered (also standard for 81) is, as I said before, smaller than the neck on the new radiator, but matches the water pump.

Correct me if I am wrong, but the 2-5/8" radiator is out of the 1976 to 1979 Vettes, isn't it?
The necks on the inlet and outlet of all the radiators (69 to 82) are sweeping regardless of neck size.
If that's the case, then I stuffed up and ordered the wrong hoses. I maybe should have ordered 76 to 79 heavy duty radiator hoses?

:confused

 

[GTR1999]

I not a radiator expert by any means, The one I have is for the 1975 L-82 engine which is 2.5/8" thick. It's made by Go-Dan I think in the USA? It's has the auto tranny cooling core in it,so it fits both trannies. The necks that were on it were just plain wrong,the lower neck hit the shround the position was off so much. In retrospect I would have been better off recoreing the original, it fit and the cost would have been about the same.

 

[Jack]

I It's made by Go-Dan I think in the USA?

I'm not a rad expert either ... but most (if not all) OE-type brass copper rads from godan are of asian manufacture ... chances are same origin for their OE-type alum plastic rads.

Some sbc water pumps use a 1 1/2" ID hose at the pump ... cannot recall what years/models this was OE. As Joe said ... try a flex hose ... they have em 2 with different ID's on (smaller at one end-larger at the other) ... many combos available.
JACK:gap

 

[AUSSIEVETTEMAN]

Thanks Jack

I had a look at www.coolflex.com as they had some nice stuff.
If all else fails, then that will be my next step.

Thanks for your feedback.

Cheers

Tony