Upper Radiator Hose
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Upper Radiator Hose
Hello Corvette Forum,
I am trying to replace the upper radiator hose on a 1982 Corvette.
The hoses at Autozone, Advance Auto, and Ecklers all have a hose with the engine side wide and the radiator side narrow. My hose is wide at both ends. There is no way to fit the recommended hose on the radiator. Either a previous owner upgraded the radiator, or the computers are all wrong. Anyone else had this happen?
Thanks in advance,
Cliff
I am trying to replace the upper radiator hose on a 1982 Corvette.
The hoses at Autozone, Advance Auto, and Ecklers all have a hose with the engine side wide and the radiator side narrow. My hose is wide at both ends. There is no way to fit the recommended hose on the radiator. Either a previous owner upgraded the radiator, or the computers are all wrong. Anyone else had this happen?
Thanks in advance,
Cliff
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,239
Likes: 19
From: Chino CA
Hello Corvette Forum,
I am trying to replace the upper radiator hose on a 1982 Corvette.
The hoses at Autozone, Advance Auto, and Ecklers all have a hose with the engine side wide and the radiator side narrow. My hose is wide at both ends. There is no way to fit the recommended hose on the radiator. Either a previous owner upgraded the radiator, or the computers are all wrong. Anyone else had this happen?
Thanks in advance,
Cliff
I am trying to replace the upper radiator hose on a 1982 Corvette.
The hoses at Autozone, Advance Auto, and Ecklers all have a hose with the engine side wide and the radiator side narrow. My hose is wide at both ends. There is no way to fit the recommended hose on the radiator. Either a previous owner upgraded the radiator, or the computers are all wrong. Anyone else had this happen?
Thanks in advance,
Cliff
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
While I'd love this sale and any other.. I'm going to get him out of this jamb...
Go to Autozone and order the hose for a 1977-1979 early car. GM part number was 3970124.
This hose is the same as the one you got (which was correct) only the hose is 1 1/2 id on both ends.
The hoses changed in mid production 1979 and went through 1982 in which all hoses were 1 1/4 at the radiator and 1 1/2 at the thermostat housing.
Maybe next time..
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Jan 16, 2011 at 05:22 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 8
From: Charlotte (Area) North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Thx Mr. Jlr..
While I'd love this sale and any other.. I'm going to get him out of this jamb...
Go to Autozone and order the hose for a 1977-1979 early car. GM part number was 3970124.
This hose is the same as the one you got (which was correct) only the hose is 1 1/2 id on both ends.
The hoses changed in mid production 1979 and went through 1982 in which all hoses were 1 1/4 at the radiator and 1 1/2 at the thermostat housing.
Maybe next time..
Willcox
While I'd love this sale and any other.. I'm going to get him out of this jamb...
Go to Autozone and order the hose for a 1977-1979 early car. GM part number was 3970124.
This hose is the same as the one you got (which was correct) only the hose is 1 1/2 id on both ends.
The hoses changed in mid production 1979 and went through 1982 in which all hoses were 1 1/4 at the radiator and 1 1/2 at the thermostat housing.
Maybe next time..
Willcox
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
On this subject....and relating it to some replacement and aftermarket radiators,
How big of a difference does the reduced flow from the smaller later connectors make.
What I am asking if you have two radiators the same except one has the lager connectors and one the smaller will the smaller one see reduced cooling from reduced flow?
How big of a difference does the reduced flow from the smaller later connectors make.
What I am asking if you have two radiators the same except one has the lager connectors and one the smaller will the smaller one see reduced cooling from reduced flow?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 3
From: STANTON CA
On this subject....and relating it to some replacement and aftermarket radiators,
How big of a difference does the reduced flow from the smaller later connectors make.
What I am asking if you have two radiators the same except one has the lager connectors and one the smaller will the smaller one see reduced cooling from reduced flow?
How big of a difference does the reduced flow from the smaller later connectors make.
What I am asking if you have two radiators the same except one has the lager connectors and one the smaller will the smaller one see reduced cooling from reduced flow?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
I'm no expert, but my educated guess is that the answer is there is no difference in flow or cooling. The velocity of the coolant going through isn't that great, so having a 1-1/4" inlet versus a 1-1/2" inlet isn't going to make a difference. The opening the coolant is flowing through in the thermostat is much smaller and providing much more of a restriction to flow.
