radiator

[dezerts10]

Im going to be buying a new radiator pretty soon probbaly something like a ron davis with dual fans and have a question about the inlet and exit ports on the radiator.

I have seen some with AN fittings welded in inplace of the standard hose clamp style fitting. the AN way is pretty cool cause i will be able to run a steel braided line and not have to really worry about a rubber hose expanding and stretching and possibly bursting. so my question is on the one end of the steel braided hose there will be the AN fitting but the other end at the block and the thermostt housing im gonna ahve to run the standard hose clamp style. Is that how its done or is there an adapter or something? or would i just be better off running the standard type fittings onthe radiator and not worry about going the steel braided route.

Gregg

[hoeker]

the AN style is expensive. the hose fittings are $40 to $60 each. add to it about 50 bucks to "upgrade" the radiator and $12/ foot for the hose. the other problem is the line size is only 1 1/4" this is really too small although i made it work on my CORR truck for the last 2 years. that said, a chevy t-stat. hsg is available several places with -20AN. i bought one and made it work on my ford easily, but again it was $60. on the lower hose you will need to make an adapter or weld a AN fitting to the water pump.

FWIW. After 2 years and thousands into plumbing my race truck with -20 hose i am currently converting my race truck back to "normal" style connections.

[dezerts10]

thnaks for the info Ross. I havent looked into prices on the fittings and lines and such but with your info in ind i think ill keep it the "normal" way

Gregg

[partybarge_pilot]

Look on E-bay, there are -20 hoses and fittings on there from nascar teams. Got a whole hose set-up with fittings for 80$. They also have some smoking deals on radiators.......

[hoeker]

be careful with the ebay hoses. they are great buys but generally the fittings are NOT re-useable but if it's the right length you'll save a bunch!

[roach]

i looked into that also, but what changed my mind was when we were prerunning primm last year, we blew an upper hose. it did not take me long at all to find someone with a spare. knowing that what you are looking for will make it last so much longer and stronger, it will still not make it bullet proof. imagine trying to find parts for something like that down in Matomi wash???

[FABRICATOR]

AN hoses for the radiator is not a popular set up for the dezert. Most use rigid tubing with silicone hose connectors.

BTW, dash sizes are not inch equivalents like many think. A -20 braided neoprene hose is only 1.14" I.D.