The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop SBC Radiator and heater hoses

I have a 50 3600 that I have installed a SBC engine and aluminum radiator in. The radiator top fitting is centered and the engine has a 45 degree hose fitting. The lower radiator hose connection on the radiator is on the same side as the water pump connection. Before I spend a lot of time at the local FLAPS I am wondering if someone has recommendations for the radiator to engine hoses as well as heater hoses.

I plan to install a heater hose fitting into the intake manifold near the thermostat. Pretty sure that the heater core outlets are sized for 5/8" hoses and the water pump heater hose connection is 3/4" so I will need a 5/8" to 3/4" adapter somewhere in that line. Considering placing a shut off valve in one of the heater hoses so that I can shut off the flow to the heater during the summer months but I believe the ones I have seen have 3/4" hose connections so that would add another challenge.

So, there's this. You can make any configuration you want. Even reduce if you need. Use aluminum, steel, copper, or stainless piping. Make a beader or buy a cheap one off of Amazon to make your own piping. No one says the connection from radiator to engine has to be one piece.

Plus, you could always change your thermostat housing to a straight style, if needed.

As for the heater hose, you can use a 3/4" threaded size to 5/8" nipple adapter. Which I don't believe is a 3/4" pipe tap size but usually 1/2" NPT size?

When I installed the V8 in my 51 I used a top hose from a 56-57 Chevy truck with a V8 and the bottom hose I used the hose from the 6 cylinder.

Thanks for the input.

Mark I believe the hole for the heater hose in the intake manifold is 1/2" NPT. I anticipated a 1/2" NPT fitting with a 5/8" nipple for one heater hose from the intake to one connection on the heater core. The water pump has a heater hose fitting that is pressed into the pump that is sized for a 3/4" hose. If I install a shut off that has 3/4" hose connections I think I can run a 3/4" hose from the pump to the shut off, then a 3/4" hose to a 3/4" to 5/8" hose nipple adapter, with 5/8" hose to the other connection on the heater core.

John, thanks for the information. I have seen pictures of the 56-57 V-8 that look like a good starting point. Was the bottom hose also for a 56-57 just the 6 cylinder versoin?

I use a length of TIG feed wire and make all of the bends which represent where the bends need to be in the hoses, then go to an auto parts store that will let me go in the back to rummage around the racks of hoses to find one which has those bends in it and then cut off the excess when I get home.

Your shutoff should be on the pressure side of the system, the 5/8 hose. It seems to me all the shutoff valves I have seen use 5/8 connections.

George