The Ford Barn

Daves55Sedan · 06-26-2018, 08:50 PM

Wow, this lower radiator hose for '55 Car with 292 V8 is the hardest thing to get on if the radiator is already bolted on to radiator support in the car. In the past, I had often removed the battery and battery tray and left the radiator unbolted, working the radiator into the hose which had already been pushed on to the water pump by tilting and moving the radiator into it.
But I didn't want to do that this time because I didn't want to mash up the cooling fins on the backside of this new radiator against the fan blade.

Another way you could do it easily would be to remove the fuel pump, which would give room to pull the radiator hose back into that space so you could just push the hose forward into bottom radiator hose connection. But I didn't want to disconnect all those fuel and vacuum lines, then re-assemble and check for leaks.

Finally, I went down to the local chain auto parts store and got a universal (acordian type) hose. I cut 1/2 inch off both ends of the rubber, pulled the spring out of the inside and cut off about 1-1/2 inches of it and put it back in the hose. It was still difficult, but I was able to get it in the bottom of the radiator finally in about ten minutes.

My power steering pump belt is a fraction of an inch away from rubbing against the hose. The belt is not as tight as it should be, so now, I guess I will try to tighten the belt some more to get it to run further away from the hose.

What type of tricks have you guys used to install the bottom radiator hose that might be better than any of the above?

06-26-2018, 08:50 PM	#1
Daves55Sedan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Granite City, Illinois Posts: 3,008	55/56 lower radiator hose Wow, this lower radiator hose for '55 Car with 292 V8 is the hardest thing to get on if the radiator is already bolted on to radiator support in the car. In the past, I had often removed the battery and battery tray and left the radiator unbolted, working the radiator into the hose which had already been pushed on to the water pump by tilting and moving the radiator into it. But I didn't want to do that this time because I didn't want to mash up the cooling fins on the backside of this new radiator against the fan blade. Another way you could do it easily would be to remove the fuel pump, which would give room to pull the radiator hose back into that space so you could just push the hose forward into bottom radiator hose connection. But I didn't want to disconnect all those fuel and vacuum lines, then re-assemble and check for leaks. Finally, I went down to the local chain auto parts store and got a universal (acordian type) hose. I cut 1/2 inch off both ends of the rubber, pulled the spring out of the inside and cut off about 1-1/2 inches of it and put it back in the hose. It was still difficult, but I was able to get it in the bottom of the radiator finally in about ten minutes. My power steering pump belt is a fraction of an inch away from rubbing against the hose. The belt is not as tight as it should be, so now, I guess I will try to tighten the belt some more to get it to run further away from the hose. What type of tricks have you guys used to install the bottom radiator hose that might be better than any of the above?