Hello all,
I'm getting to the point where I need to start thinking about which route to go with plumbing for water to and from the radiator.
I've seen rubber and steel. Black pipe (heavy) and copper.
Most going below the floor pan.

Are there any other options?
Much thanks.

do the rubber Gates hose "under" the car as recommended by Renegade.............

Rubber under the car will bounce back from random hits, Ian noticed that feature when he jumped a curb. I doubt copper would take the weight of the car if you high centered on a speed bump, though thick wall steel should be OK. Some people have run rubber hose down the rockers inside the heater ducts, but I've heard that bleeding the system can be problematic.

I'm running Gates down the center of the car (installed at Renegade)

Eric

Slight Hijak..Anybody know how GM did the cooling on the fiero?

Roger,

It's personal preference, there are advantages and disadvantages to each material and route. Production cars are designed to use metal tubing with short rubber hoses. Since we are adapting, bare rubber hose or copper/steel/aluminum tubing, or sstl braided hose with AN fittings have been used. Routing under the rockers or down the tunnel are more protected but you have to cut and fab more. You could also leak water inside the cabin if routed inside. The rubber down the center is the least fab oriented and has the least amount of joints. It also begs the question if there was enough damage to rupture the hose, you've got more problems than a leaking hose. Whatever you chose, make sure to minimize kinks, leak points, and air pockets...

Heres a pic from a few years ago when I was fitting my system. Copper and rubber, its worked so far, 15000 miles later. If you have some bends and clamp the tubing to the car at strategic spots, the tubing will not rotate or move on you.
Mark

Heres a pic of the rad early on...
Mark

OK, so does anyone know where the cheapest place is to get Gates hose in bulk?

QUOTE (rogergrubb @ May 4 2005, 06:28 PM)

OK, so does anyone know where the cheapest place is to get Gates hose in bulk?

I'm pretty sure the Renegade use the green strip truck hose.

I used Marine exhaust hose for mine. it's what the big Yacht's use and can handle way more temperature than a V8 can ever throw at it. It's got a really thick wire reinforment to it.

It's easier to install then copper and way tougher than the standard truck hose. if you have a wholesale hose place the should have it. or a marine supply place.

Roger,
Two words: search engine
skline, renegade, v8 conversion, etc...
or a type a V8 builder's members name and "and" or "or"

Here's some info: hose clamp
hose alternatives

I installed the Marine wet exhaust hose in mine and when Joe bought his we redid the hoses in the same hose. It will withstand any impact you come across. I get the hose here locally for a lot less than I could find the Gates hose anywhere. If you are ready to buy, let me know and I will get you a price on it. Just need to know what size hoses you are going to run. It's like $80.00 for both hoses if I remember right.

If Guy (914GT) sees this thread he will chime in. Look at his 914 V8 conversion thread, he used 3/4" thick wall iron pipe. Strong enough to use it as a jack point.

Here is the thread: conversion project

I used the gates hose on my first conversion, but on my new one I'm going with solid tubing under the car.

If you do go with the gates rubber hose its best to get it from a 18 wheeler truck supply house. I got all of the green stripe for a conversion for less than $50

Bob

I have found that heavy wall aluminum conduit works very well. It dissipates heat and doesn't weigh much.

pic 2

I have rubber hose on mine.
Pictures here: http://photos.yahoo.com/nicksws6

I went with stainless steel tubing -
Pictures at;
http://www.phoenixhobbies.com/html/cooling.html


Paul

QUOTE (Nickm1 @ May 5 2005, 09:06 AM)

I have rubber hose on mine. Pictures here: http://photos.yahoo.com/nicksws6

That one hose (pic 13) has a kink in it.

QUOTE (Phoenix-MN @ May 5 2005, 09:20 AM)

I went with stainless steel tubing - Pictures at; http://www.phoenixhobbies.com/html/cooling.html Paul

Very nice job!

yep, thats why I took a picture of it. Don't do that.

Bob,
Could you tell me what radiation you installed? I'm still looking for one.
btw, I use that marine hose for all the cooling, especially at the engine. The type with the wire bends without kinking like the green stripe hose. Not cheap though, they sell it "by the inch".

It all works, I didn't like the look of the droopy hose under the car. I used thin wall electrical conduit. It's light weight, aids in cooling, weldable, etc. If you hit this tube hard enough to crush it you'll have much more serious issues to deal with than cooling tube....