Braided hoses

[Jman]

Thinking of replacing the upper and lower radiator hoses with stainless steel braided ones. Good idea? Bad idea? Where do I get them?

 

[Vettelt193]

Thinking of replacing the upper and lower radiator hoses with stainless steel braided ones. Good idea? Bad idea? Where do I get them?

do you want them for looks, or actual 'performance' of the hose?

For looks (they do look cool) you can get covers for pretty cheap... basically, braided covers that you cut to size, with end clamp covers to complete the look. I have seen a few sets on ebay for under $30... the kit includes all different size hoses so you can do more than just your radiator hoses.

 

[iron cross]

Most of the cars I have seen equiped with these covers look like hell. Dents and funny bends get all the immediate attention, distracting the good points of other accessories. Easy spot to get knocked down in show competition. Plus everone knows that they are just fakes and it comes to mind what else isn`t real with the rest of the car. I would say NO.

 

[Jman]

Hmmm...

I want the finished hose and all. Not interested in recovering them just for looks but I'm thinking it is time to do a complete cooling service. Drain, flush, fill, and new hoses. So why not consider the braided ones?

 

[Ken]

Actually, the stainless look, along with the blue and red anodized AN fittings are going out of style; they're being replaced with the Earl's Pro-Lite 350 and fittings that are either black anodized finish, or unanodized fittings in either natural aluminum finish.

 

[wallyknoch]

I want the finished hose and all. Not interested in recovering them just for looks but I'm thinking it is time to do a complete cooling service. Drain, flush, fill, and new hoses. So why not consider the braided ones?

Real SS hoses would have to have AN aircraft fittings on each end like those illustrated in Ken`s post. An extremely difficult situation to overcome at the radiator and waterpump. Not impossible with aluminum parts, but the fittings in those large sizes are very costly and so is the hose and it does not comform very well in tight situations. This trick stuff was ment for race cars with open areas and not for tight Corvette engine bays. But it`s your car, and you can attempt anything you want to with it and good luck in the fix.

 

[Jman]

Well.......

In summary then it looks like the examples in Ken's post would/is better fitted for the smaller diameter hoses and I'm better off sticking with the standard rubber hose program for my radiator ones. At least that's what I'm taking from these posts. Thanks in advance for the input as I'm not hell bent on jazzing this thing up but I'm just trying to give a little forethought to improving things as I might replace a part or two.

 

[Ken]

... jazzing this thing up

A thought that I've been toying with, an idea taken from old hot rod flathead engines as well as some customs, is to utilize a piece of stainless pipe for the main length of upper radiator hose, leaving short pieces of rubber hose on each end to connect to the radiator and manifold. It might look good. :cool

 

[Vettelt193]

one of the hi perf. corvette companies had a kit for our cars with better hoses.... I will try to find them again. From what i remember they look cool and are stronger.

 

[wallyknoch]

A thought that I've been toying with, an idea taken from old hot rod flathead engines as well as some customs, is to utilize a piece of stainless pipe for the main length of upper radiator hose, leaving short pieces of rubber hose on each end to connect to the radiator and manifold. It might look good. :cool

It looks great, as I have done it before and polished the SS tube to finish it off.

 

[Jman]

Indeed......

My CE friend from Florida is on the right track. I'd like to keep it simple and if I can improve things a little than all the better.