Radiator Info Needed

FreeBird · Post by **FreeBird** » December 4, 2006, 10:55 am

Got a question for you all who have put 302 in '66 F100. Did you have problems with the hoses hooking up to the radiator? I seem to be dealing with hose diameter issues, as the thermostat housing is 1.5", the water pump inlet is 1.75" or so, but the diameter for the water necks on the radiator I have for 352(which I wanted to use) is 2". Do I need a radiator for later truck with 302 or what did y'all do about these hookups? Thanks in advance....

FORDBOYpete · Post by **FORDBOYpete** » December 4, 2006, 11:54 am

Better Parts suppliers & jobbers sell hoses with different combinations of length & end opening sizes. Just get a Universal Flex hose about correct length, with the two sizes you want to mate up and use that.

Y'all can get back to your Slick driving qwik that way.

FBp

ICEMAN6166 · Post by **ICEMAN6166** » December 4, 2006, 12:04 pm

ran into that with my 292 and a fe radiator.got a nice flex hose and adaptor from the auto parts.

Slick Fan · Post by **Slick Fan** » December 4, 2006, 12:14 pm

Just spitballing here...you might check into hoses for a later year with a/c & tow package, or camper package, or both.
Also, a good radiator shop should be able to hook you up with the correct sized hoses, they should have dimensions in a catalog...you just have to find a counter guy willing to take the time, that's the hard part.

Or just go with flex hoses, like these guys said.

FreeBird · Post by **FreeBird** » December 4, 2006, 12:44 pm

Thanks again y'all. Will try for molded hoses with different size ends first, but if I have to I will settle for flex with different size ends. Like Pete said, gotta get back to driving. What started out as a simple power steering conversion became a cooling system upgrade, remove and clean/paint all brackets and pulleys, etc. (you know how it goes) and some other stuff "while I'm this far along" and days turn into weeks....Ready to be done with this and move along to the next thang.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » December 4, 2006, 6:12 pm

The last time I bought parts at Auto Zone I ask the guy behind the counter for a 5/8ths heater hose and he brought me a 2in radiator hose.

That was the very last time I bought parts from Auto Zone.

Just thought I would share that while we were discussing hoses.

66camperspecial · Post by **66camperspecial** » December 4, 2006, 7:29 pm

What I do when looking for hoses is write down the sizes of the outlets and I form a wire in the shape and length of the hoses needed and the guys at the parts store let me browse and I can usually find a molded hose with the end sizes. Sometimes the hose is a bit larger and will need to be trimmed and I write down the numbers so I dont have to go through all the hoses again. I write the sizes on a piece of tape and put it on the ends of the wire I formed for the shape. Jeff

douglloyd · Post by **douglloyd** » December 5, 2006, 10:10 am

I had to use adapters. You can get the correct hoses for the 302 but then you will have to use the adapters to size up to the radiator.

Depending upon what transmission you use, you may end up with a 302 engine mounting further back than the original, so the adapters add useful length.

I kinda like the idea of using wire shapes for browsing the hoses at the store though.

6166 Junkyard Dog · Post by **6166 Junkyard Dog** » December 6, 2006, 7:50 am

This is how I did 2 trucks, for the bottom hoses or top hoses you can go to a Muffler shop put a bend in a pipe for you with a reduction at either end & at places that sell Big Truck Parts they sell stick hoses in different sizes & then paint the steel center section color of your motor & for some fancy clamps use the ones that holds Turbo Hoses on,,, This idea has been around Looook @ the Flathhead Trucks have 2 steel pipes with hoses on ends & will never have to worry about hoses collapsing from the suction of the water pump or what would look cool would find a piece of stainless steel or aluminum that will shine Go to a Scrap Yard Recyler & roam around & see waht you can find

,, On Big Slick I have a piece of PVC Elbow with 2 different size hoses that has been used on a lot of trucks that have the FE-Motors with different radaiators I have used over the years Been on Big Slick for 3 years now.