(I didn't know where to put this post... but the rad's attached to the engine, so here goes! )

I have an Escort radiator. I've got it so that it fits nicely on my chassis and it's snug within my nosecone. OK so far.

Unfortunately the lower outlet now points about 30 degrees downwards, about 3 inches from the front of the chassis !

I would like to extend the outlet a little, turning it through 90 degrees so that it's parallel to the back of the radiator, and at a 30 tilt to miss my steering rack mount. It will then be easy to find a radiator hose with a 60 degree bend that will then point straight at the hose coming from the water pump.

My plan is to use some brass tube, cut and silver-soldered to make the bend, which will be soft-soldered into the existing outlet (about a half-inch overlap inside the outlet tube). It will have to be soft-soldered as many radiators are assembled with soft solder.

Can anyone see any problems with this approach?

David

David,

It certainly won't cause me any problems

Seriously, it sounds good to me, it's probably what I'd do. (Mind you that doesn't mean a lot ) I'd probably wrap a wet rag around the existing outlet where it's attached as an extra precaution. (While you solder the extension, before anyone jumps in)

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I'd probably wrap a wet rag around the existing outlet where it's attached as an extra precaution.

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I would like to extend the outlet a little, turning it through 90 degrees............


My plan is to use some brass tube, cut and silver-soldered to make the bend, which will be soft-soldered into the existing outlet (about a half-inch overlap inside the outlet tube). It will have to be soft-soldered as many radiators are assembled with soft solder.

Can anyone see any problems with this approach?

David

I'll be using one of those bendy things for the top hose, and it'll be fine for that job.

At the bottom of the rad the hose would have to do an immediate 100 degree turn, followed by a 90 degree turn 2 inches further along. A bendy hose would end up rubbing very hard against the chassis and steering rack. Not a recipe for reliability!

At least if the outlet was formed the way I want it I'll only need a 90 degree bend and a bit of tube to join onto the (standard) Escort water-pump hose.

I might try out your suggestion of using a short piece of hose as a coupler to a home-made metal bend - that might just do the job.

cheers,

David

my XJS had all its hoses replaced once by me - well nearly alll of em. there were at least 6 or seven really short little coupler pieces like i describe in several places!

one thing that might be interesting is that the filler cap on an xjs is actually a straight lenght of pipe, with a T coming off it with the cap on that. its coupled to other bits of pipe with other silly short bits!

atb

steve.

if you look at some of the motorsport catologues u can buy hose "bends" just join too pieces by slippin some metal tubbing in between and the a jubliee clip, on each side.

and you can even buy them in a colour to clash whoops sorry match the paint work on your car

I have a similar set up to you i put a short 90 bend then a stainless tube going oooup over the rack and a 90 to meet the water pump,got plenty tube should you need it
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Well, after faffing around for a while I decided that bent bits of hose weren't going to do the trick.

In the end, I took the radiator to a local radiator maker/repairer who unsoldered the old outlet and soldered in a new one with a 90 degree bend! He also tilted it at 45 degrees so that the hose misses the steering rack mount.

All I need now is a simple 90 degree bent hose - RESULT!

Cost? £15 + VAT, which I thought was reasonable for a half-hour of a professional, plus a radiator re-spray (looks really smart!)

Life will be so much simpler now...

David