The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 54 Chevy Radiator and Hose Size

So I recently did the short water pump conversion on my 1957 Chevy 235 engine. So now the engine has 1.5 inlet and 1.5 outlet. I bought a no name aluminum radiator with 1.5" inlet and a 1.75 outlet. Several months ago I ordered replacement hoses from Rock Auto that were sized 1.25 inlet and 1.5 outlet. So in short I have a lot of parts that do not fit. How does everyone usually make all this work?

I did find a no name radiator on Ebay that has both 1.5 inlet and outlets. That would solve most of my problems. I think the 1.25 hose I got from Rock Auto is probably incorrect, but the 1.5 lower hose looks good and would make some sense. Why are 1.5 inlet/1.5 outlet radiators not more common or standard? I find it hard to believe when this truck was new it used a hose that went from 1.5 to 1.75. And I honestly don't see a point in a 1.75 hose because your 1.5 hose will be a bottle neck and slow your volume down.

Thanks for any suggestions

Your '57 235 would have been born with a 1.5" outlet at the tstat housing and a 1.75" inlet at the water pump. The short water pump sounds like it has a 1.5" inlet.

Your 1.25" upper hose is incorrect...you'll need a 1.5".

You can buy a reducer/expander at most FLAPS to solve your 1.75" to 1.5" dilemma.

Your question about bottle neck is valid, but you will encounter the same problem regarding flow if you switch radiators to one with a 1.5" outlet. The reducer/expander isn't elegant, but it will take care of your issue.

Matt

I have read on these pages of using a short piece of 1.5 hose as a spacer for your 1.75. I myself just used the top outlet from my 216 on my 235 replacement engine along with the 216 hose to the radiator. I am also using the water pump conversion plate. I have had NO heating problems and I have run it very hard on some very hot days.

I like the idea of using the 1.5 hose as a spacer for 1.75 hose. Unless you looked hard that would be almost unnoticeable. Does anyone know part numbers for the formed hoses that I need? The top would be easy, its just a 1.5 hose with a 90 or almost 90 degree bend. Even if it was long on both ends I could trim it to fit. The bottom would be a little trickier because its a few different bends. I already bought what was suppose to fit that truck but both were one size too small.