Lower Radiator hose
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 405
Likes: 31
From: Houston, Texas
Lower Radiator hose
I have a 72 L48 (stock)
I am replacing my lower radiator hose after having my radiator rodded and cleaned at a show (it was clean and did not look like the source of my overheating) and could not find one with a spring inside like the one I removed. Will this still work? The guy said that they no longer have the springs and they were not necessary. I thought it was to keep the hose open.
Any comments welcome,
Thanks
I am replacing my lower radiator hose after having my radiator rodded and cleaned at a show (it was clean and did not look like the source of my overheating) and could not find one with a spring inside like the one I removed. Will this still work? The guy said that they no longer have the springs and they were not necessary. I thought it was to keep the hose open.
Any comments welcome,
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
.......the spring is there to prevent collapse.......bought mine from Ecklers last year, which had the spring in it......you should ask the guy what the manufacturer has done to compensate for the missing spring......if he can't give you a reasonable answer, then return it and buy a proper hose.........
Race Director
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 11,920
Likes: 2
Originally Posted by standup
.......the spring is there to prevent collapse.............you should ask the guy what the manufacturer has done to compensate for the missing spring......if he can't give you a reasonable answer, then return it and buy a proper hose.........
...although the newer hoses are probably made of a better quality
material that does not collapse!
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,942
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by gtr1999
Can you swap out the spring into the new hose? I was told the same thing about them.
Gary
Gary
That's what I did, can't hurt.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,770
Likes: 3
From: St Louis MO
I looked at most local auto places and called the others here locally and found no hoses with springs in them. I bought one of the springless models and just used the spring out of my old one.
Brett
Brett
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Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 560
Likes: 1
From: Mooresville NC
Originally Posted by tshort
You can still find them with the spring in them. Try Napa.
I tried NAPA for my 79 and had them order it. While the online catalog states it has the steel wire their instore books don't show it. Best bet is to order from a Vette store and ensure they have the spring in the hose. Should spend $25 or more with a spring inside.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
From: Winnipeg Manitoba
When I redid my radiator, I was able to source the lower rad hose with the spring from Zip Corvette. There was no one in my city that carried the hose with the spring. I decided to get the spring because getting access to that hose is not the easiest and I did not want to go back in there again if a problem should arise with a collapsing hose.
