Idea for 40 Ford Lower Radiator Hoses

[19Fordy]

Years ago, got tired of dealing with the wimpy stock 40 Ford lower radiator hoses, especially if using a pressurized system. I am using a Griffin 40 Ford radiator which rests on the lower Ford frame rails using a rubber pad. I am not using the 40 radiator bolts with springs as I wanted radiator to sit lower. Engine is 8BA with 8RT pumps. Made new lower hoses from 1 1/2 copper tubing and elbows cut to fit.

Soldered brass ring on inside lip of elbows for added strength. Dimpled ends with center punch for hoses. Attached them to pumps and radiator using straight radiator hose from NAPA. NAPA hose #634 which costs $20 per foot. Haven't changed them for last 15 years. No more soft, collapsed hoses. No need to get copper tubes chromed, but I did. Just changed the straight hoses yesterday to be safe. Also did the same with the top hoses using polished aluminum tubing that tuna towers are made from. Extruded (no seam) so it won't leak.

Connected with 90 rubber elbows and straight hose. Just an idea for those not requiring OEM specs. Plus, metal hoses dissipate more heat. Car still has stock stabilizer bar. The two twisted brackets that go between the radiator and the inner fender panel had to be extended. That "L" shaped angle iron piece in last photo is the new fender brace as I did away with the "Y" bracket that bolts to the front cross member. I have a NOS "Y" bracket for sale if you need one.

I bet you could adapt this idea to a stock 40 also. Thanks, JIM

[drolston]

Double clamps on all hose connections! Must also work on boats. Good precaution, even though you just get an overheat instead of sinking to the bottom of the marina when a clamp fails.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by drolston

Double clamps on all hose connections! Must also work on boats. Good precaution, even though you just get an overheat instead of sinking to the bottom of the marina when a clamp fails.

Instead of hokey looking double clamps, apply a little Indian Head Shellac (as per the directions) on the inside of the hose and the outside of the "nipple". No fuss, no muss... the hoses will stay in place and possible leakage issues will be eliminated.

[cmbrucew]

Mike
I haven't thought about Indian Head Shellac for over 50 years. I used it in high school shop.
Bruce

[19Fordy]

I've had good luck with Permatex non-hardening sealer. Did see a little bottle of indian Head Shellac in parts store yesterday. Thanks for the input.

[BABAR40]

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Very nice handiwork!

[Kube]

I gotta say Jim, even though I prefer original cars, this one of yours sure is pretty

Original or not, I appreciate nice work. I'm happy for ya my friend!

[SofaKing]

Very pretty and looks bullet proof. Why is the elbow in picture 6 dimpled around one end? What is a tuna tower?

[19Fordy]

Dimpling is to give the hose some raised metal to bite into when clamped. When the center punch makes an indentation, the metal around the perimeter of the punch point is raised.
It's a crude form of knurling.

Tuna tower is the structure built onto sport fishing boats from which you can steer the boat and also have a good "lookout" for fish. They are made of aluminum. Here's a couple.
https://www.google.com/search?q=tuna...hrome&ie=UTF-8

[SofaKing]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

Dimpling is to give the hose some raised metal to bite into when clamped. When the center punch makes an indentation, the metal around the perimeter of the punch point is raised.
It's a crude form of knurling.

Tuna tower is the structure built onto sport fishing boats from which you can steer the boat and also have a good "lookout" for fish. They are made of aluminum. Here's a couple.
https://www.google.com/search?q=tuna...hrome&ie=UTF-8

Thanks for the education, amazing what you can learn from asking questions.

[Mart]

It's a nice neat setup. The only thing I would advise, in any application where you use a solid pipe instead of a rubber hose, is that the remaining rubber parts have enough flex in them to absorb engine movement and not fatigue the radiator neck. Knowing how stiff the flatty mounts are, this is probably not an issue here, but I did encounter this on an engine swap I did years ago. The top hose fragged the radiator neck. I found a suitable all rubber hose and replaced the rubber/tube/rubber one and after repairing the neck, it lasted for ages and was still ok when I sold the car.

One other minor point, the radiator does not sit on the springs. The rad sits on the lower frame rail as you have it, on a thin rubber pad. The spring goes either above or below (I'm not sure which) and just holds the rad tensioned to the frame but allows flexibility to move if needed.

Mart.

[19Fordy]

Thanks Mart. I always forget which way those radiator spring/bolts go both on the radiator and the gas tank. The 22 qts. of antifreeze in the radiator weighs 51 lbs. plus the weight of the radiator so it's pretty stable.

[glennpm]

Great job 19Fordy!

Regarding hose clamps, I like these constant torque ones. They are also completely smooth on the ID and don't bit into the hose nor have a big ID bump and tighter area right under the mechanism on the worm type clamps.

http://www.breezehoseclamps.com/breeze/constant-torque/

[19Fordy]

Glenn, I like those hose clamps. I was looking for something like that to replace the common slotted/spiral clamps. Printed it out. Thanks. JIM

[glennpm]

Good Jim!

I wasn't aware of them until a few years ago when I needed clamps for some silicone hoses. these "constant torque" really work. There are a bunch of Bellville washers that keep the torque constant.

[Seth Swoboda]

Originally Posted by Kube

Instead of hokey looking double clamps, apply a little Indian Head Shellac (as per the directions) on the inside of the hose and the outside of the "nipple". No fuss, no muss... the hoses will stay in place and possible leakage issues will be eliminated.

Kube, you talking about Indian Head Shellac reminds me of a can of a similar product my grandfather used and I still have and use today. He always called it "Aviation Permatex". I use it on some gaskets today. It seals up really nice.

[cmbrucew]

Seth
I believe you can still get Aviation Permatex, I bought it before I retired in 1999.
Bruce