I don't have a pic of mine, but I'm running a late-model serpentine setup out of a Fox body. I use the Fox style thermostat housing and upper radiator hose. The hose is actually a little too long, so I cut about 1" out of the middle and couple it together with a fitting. I'll see if I can snap a pic tonight.

 

I haven't gotten to the point on my Mustang yet, but I have before on other stuff.
I collect a few likely suspect hoses from the local salvage yard, often from the trash pile. Take that mess and start fitting. I cut them up however and clamp the cut ends together with PVC pipe pieces or whatever to make up a decent approximation of what I need. Remember that the curves, routing, and end diameters are all I care about. When I have my sample I drag it to the local parts store. They generally find the sight of my alleged radiator hose so amusing they let me carry it to their wall of hoses and see if I can find a match. Way too long a hose is fine, you can trim it off. Watch out for hoses being "bell-mouthed" at the end. The end diameter may be perfect, but if you need to cut off four inches the diameter might be greatly reduced at that point and will no longer work.
I've actually had pretty good luck doing this. Key to success are shops with big inventories of hoses and employees who don't mind you fiddling around back there.

 

+1 I have had similar success getting to the wall of hoses, the only difference is that I just use a wire hanger bent to the shape I'm looking for, a little less scientific but it worked.

 

With everyone changing engines, brackets, and radiators it gets to be a challenge finding the right radiator hoses to fit sometimes.

I couldnt find a molded rubber hose that would fit right so i went with a flexible stainless tube. I liked it just fine until I had to take the hose off and on a few times and then had to replace the rubber insert ring and couldnt find anyone selling the same type of glue that was used.
I might have to go with a braided stainless or a stainless tube with rubber ends.

I'd like to see what everyone else has been doing to tackle this problem.

I have a couple pics.

If you need part numbers, let me know. I will try and find them.

 

Paul, thats exactly what I'm looking for! I have the same set-up as you. If you can get those numbers that would make my day! Thanks

 

I used the summit hoses with a stock style Northern radiator and have no problems. I've had the hoses off a few times and only once had to replace a hose end....but didnt need any glue? They sell the replacement rubber for the ends of these too. Even Kragen sells the replacement rubber....

 

Paul,
Thanks so much for posting this! I was able to get the upper hose and got it mounted. Really happy with the fit! Napa didnt have the lower hose so I'll have to shop around...no big deal.

Thanks again!

 

Glad I could help. This forum has been a great help to me and I'm glad I can return the favor.

 

i'll be ordering that upper hose tomorrow and see how it goes-- i have a Howe alum rad in mine and was gonna go hunting at the autoparts place for one to fit

thanks

 

Was wrong about my sourcing, I ordered a Gates 20609 and 21736 from Amazon.

And for anyone going electric fan, the Amazon site also has a third-party selling the Standard TS136 fan thermoswitch (Buick GN/Pontiac Turbo TA, 185-degree or so, wire pigtails with connectors readily available, just drill and thread the cast-in hole blank in the Fox thermostat neck 3/8NPT and connect to your fan relay) for $12, I bought a few.

Switch

Pigtail

 

Ok, I found the thread on the search and here it goes.
For the upper hose use: napa nbh 8427 It is for a 86-90 broncoII 2.9L with man. trans.

For the lower hose use: napa nbh 7452 It is for a 70 Fairlane 500 351W. Note: use this hose if your rad outlet is on the driversside and is 1 3/4 and the waterpump inlet is 1 3/4.

Thanks for posting up the Part No's 6t6Red!! I'm going to have to get them this week and see how they fit up. I've got a 65 Mustang, 351w with a Northern Rad like yours, and I just welded on a new 1 3/4 lower DS inlet. Sure hope they work!

(Yes, I know this is an old post, but I really do appreciate the PN's!! So much easier than trying to convince the sales guy at Napa to let you dig though their racks of hoses or all their catalogs ! )

 

Heres mine. Direct fit. I have the part number laying around somewhere...PM me if you need it.

This is in my old coupe but I have pretty much the same setup in my fasbtack...

 

I really like the look of a mandrel bent tube, polished or powdercoated with short rubber clamps on the ends. It looks best when the length is long, not so good if its a stock length set up.

 

Standard smallblock hoses

 

Bigred: Are those the Hose Candy clamps? How do you like them? Have you had to take one off yet? Just curious.

 

nope they are gates power grip clamps. Ive had good luck, one time use but thats ok.

 

I don't have pictures to share yet, but I decided to go with a 20 AN fitting on the radiator and water neck with a black steel braided hose...routing (besides being able to bend the thing) should be a non issue. Cost on the other hand...I guess you really have to want to do it.

 

^^ aren't the AN hoses even smaller ID than regular hose and would/could affect circulation and maybe hinder cooling? But maybe if your rad and fan is up to the tast its a non issue.

 

I only did it for the upper...20an is about an 1 1/4 vs the 1 1/2 stock opening, should be fine...the lower will just be stock hoses...not spending that kind of money if you can't see it, plus the stock lower opening is like 1 3/4 inches.

The 16an is only 1 inch, I think you would really be pushing it there, but they do sell water necks with 16an fittings (actually more common than the 20). Radiator and fans should be up to the task.