Lower Radiator Hose no spring?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Lower Radiator Hose no spring?
I need to replace the lower radiator hose on my 81. I searched for a new hose with the anti-collapse spring but could not find one at any of the local parts stores. The counter person told me that the new hose is reinforce so the spring is not needed. I'm not sold on his answer, do any of you have thoughts on this?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
I need to replace the lower radiator hose on my 81. I searched for a new hose with the anti-collapse spring but could not find one at any of the local parts stores. The counter person told me that the new hose is reinforce so the spring is not needed. I'm not sold on his answer, do any of you have thoughts on this?
OR, buy this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/54-55-56-57...19.m1438.l2649
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
been a real long time since the spring was
found by me in a lower hose.
i always reused one if it had it.
funny thing is my 95 cad northstar motor has one.
i would like to use them but like you say, ain't there.
found by me in a lower hose.
i always reused one if it had it.
funny thing is my 95 cad northstar motor has one.
i would like to use them but like you say, ain't there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
"Straight" radiator [lower] hoses require the spring. The corrugated hoses do not require the spring. If an unsupported radiator hose is used, it will collapse at elevated speeds (highway speeds), as that is the suction side of the water pump. That will greatly diminish the flow through the water pump [and radiator] and engine will overheat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 154
"Straight" radiator [lower] hoses require the spring. The corrugated hoses do not require the spring. If an unsupported radiator hose is used, it will collapse at elevated speeds (highway speeds), as that is the suction side of the water pump. That will greatly diminish the flow through the water pump [and radiator] and engine will overheat.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Last time I checked the Corvette Central website they listed two lower rad hoses for 76-82 Corvettes. One with the GM markings and one without. The one with the markings shows a spring in the photo. I would double check with them before ordering.
I have changed the lower hose on my '79 a couple of times over the years. I just take the spring out of the old hose and insert it in the new one. PITA, but doable.
I have changed the lower hose on my '79 a couple of times over the years. I just take the spring out of the old hose and insert it in the new one. PITA, but doable.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
You can find them if you add "mustang" in the search-
For under $10- it's worth the insurance- and might as well do it while you are at it...Having to drain your radiator again- not to mention is a PIA PLUS about $30 in coolant. Does it really make sense to think the newer hoses are that much better??
"9 Cooling myths"
http://www.onallcylinders.com/2016/0...to-avoid-them/
"The truth is, you must have an anti-collapse spring in the lower radiator hose if you have an older vehicle with a conventional cooling system.
Because the lower radiator hose channels coolant to the water pump and engine, it is susceptible to negative pressure and collapse at high rpm. The anti-collapse spring prevents that from happening. One hose manufacturer says you don’t need the anti-collapse spring because it was used only for factory-fill purposes. This has never been true because of the positive pressure on the lower hose during fill."
Here's one for $6
http://www.virginiaclassicmustang.co...OCK-P1416.aspx
For under $10- it's worth the insurance- and might as well do it while you are at it...Having to drain your radiator again- not to mention is a PIA PLUS about $30 in coolant. Does it really make sense to think the newer hoses are that much better??
"9 Cooling myths"
http://www.onallcylinders.com/2016/0...to-avoid-them/
"The truth is, you must have an anti-collapse spring in the lower radiator hose if you have an older vehicle with a conventional cooling system.
Because the lower radiator hose channels coolant to the water pump and engine, it is susceptible to negative pressure and collapse at high rpm. The anti-collapse spring prevents that from happening. One hose manufacturer says you don’t need the anti-collapse spring because it was used only for factory-fill purposes. This has never been true because of the positive pressure on the lower hose during fill."
Here's one for $6
http://www.virginiaclassicmustang.co...OCK-P1416.aspx
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 53,648
Likes: 878
From: Southern Cal Ca
St. Jude Donor '22
key words pld conventional
hoses are better. thicker and don't swell or
split like they used to
pressures are higher in rads.
15lbs is now 18lbs
apparently mustang still has them avail
confirms my experience.
learn anything?
hoses are better. thicker and don't swell or
split like they used to
pressures are higher in rads.
15lbs is now 18lbs
apparently mustang still has them avail
confirms my experience.
learn anything?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
Still taking it all in. I guess I should own a Mustang. 👍
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Last time I checked the Corvette Central website they listed two lower rad hoses for 76-82 Corvettes. One with the GM markings and one without. The one with the markings shows a spring in the photo. I would double check with them before ordering.
I have changed the lower hose on my '79 a couple of times over the years. I just take the spring out of the old hose and insert it in the new one. PITA, but doable.
I have changed the lower hose on my '79 a couple of times over the years. I just take the spring out of the old hose and insert it in the new one. PITA, but doable.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I don't buy this theory that springs are required. If this was so, then why do the mass produced hoses comes without them.....if there was truly a failure of the product, then a spring would be installed. My hose was purchased specifically for my car, and it did not come with a spring. I have never had a cooling issue. Something has changed since the original design included a spring.
Now if the "high" RPM meaning maintaining 6000 RPM for hours, maybe that would be an issue....but where do we do that? Not on public roads or highways.
Now if the "high" RPM meaning maintaining 6000 RPM for hours, maybe that would be an issue....but where do we do that? Not on public roads or highways.
Last edited by Shovels and Vettes; Apr 1, 2018 at 10:13 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 27
From: Eastern North Carolina
I don't buy this theory that springs are required. If this was so, then why do the mass produced hoses comes without them.....if there was truly a failure of the product, then a spring would be installed. My hose was purchased specifically for my car, and it did not come with a spring. I have never had a cooling issue. Something has changed since the original design included a spring.
Now if the "high" RPM meaning maintaining 6000 RPM for hours, maybe that would be an issue....but where do we do that? Not on public roads or highways.
Now if the "high" RPM meaning maintaining 6000 RPM for hours, maybe that would be an issue....but where do we do that? Not on public roads or highways.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,233
Likes: 657
From: Thunder Bay
Pretty sure the spring won't do any harm and I feel a lot better knowing its in there. If I ever have a cooling issue, its one thing I know isn't the problem.
When I first fired up the 427 the upper rad hose would collapse when I reved the engine. I was worried about it at first, but finally decided it was the result of air in the system. It went away after the system was fully bled. I posted a video to Youtube. I can easily imagine the same thing happening to the lower rad hose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmsU...ature=youtu.be
When I first fired up the 427 the upper rad hose would collapse when I reved the engine. I was worried about it at first, but finally decided it was the result of air in the system. It went away after the system was fully bled. I posted a video to Youtube. I can easily imagine the same thing happening to the lower rad hose.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmsU...ature=youtu.be
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Got me thinking a little. Since these systems are under positive pressure, how would the bottom hose collapse? Most of the system is inflexible and filled with liquid. For the bottom hose to collapse, the pressure difference would have to be greater than the said 15 PSI and the fluid would have to expand somewhere else. The upper hose maybe?
Last edited by CA-Legal-Vette; Apr 1, 2018 at 01:39 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,810
From: Cool Northern Michigan
Its not so much the pressure, its the suction on the hose that collaspes it. The waterpump inlet puts a tremendous negative suction on the lower hose at speed. The coolant from the radiator can not fill the lower hose fast enough. Thereby collaspsing it.If you don't think it happens, put a Go-Pro camera on the hose and go for a ride on the highway.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 4,786
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From: North Georgia, USA
You can reuse the spring, provided it hasn't corroded to the point where it's falling apart.
The springs are also available separately. Search on your favorite search engine, or fleaBay or Amazon, or your favorite online "speed shop" (Summit, Jegs, etc.). Earls Performance makes some generic ones. The ones for a Ford Mustang should work, or the ones for the late 1960's Pontiacs.
The springs are also available separately. Search on your favorite search engine, or fleaBay or Amazon, or your favorite online "speed shop" (Summit, Jegs, etc.). Earls Performance makes some generic ones. The ones for a Ford Mustang should work, or the ones for the late 1960's Pontiacs.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,837
Likes: 1,028
Its not so much the pressure, its the suction on the hose that collaspes it. The waterpump inlet puts a tremendous negative suction on the lower hose at speed. The coolant from the radiator can not fill the lower hose fast enough. Thereby collaspsing it.If you don't think it happens, put a Go-Pro camera on the hose and go for a ride on the highway.
The longer the hose the more the issue. The old Caddys and Montes with the long azz hood and the long azz hoses were notorious for this.