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stainless coolant lines

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 10:29 am
by bfitz241
Hey guys,
I want to update the coolant hoses and want to use stainless tubing. I am having zero luck. Tried Summit and Jegs and Google.
Anybody know a supplier that can make this stuff? I'd need a straight piece with ribs to hold the hoses and 2 90* fittings or hoses for the ends.
OR, I can ignore it and leave it the way it is.
Thanks

Re: stainless coolant lines

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 8:22 pm
by Tom Wells
Brian,

I did mine using SS exhaust tubing. It may be hard to find a 90 that is a tight enough bend.

I bought a roller to make a ridge at each end, but it only works on really thin SS. I ended up having Rick's muffler shop weld a bead around each end to prevent the hose sliding off.

If you'd like to try the tool, you're welcome to borrow it when I get back. Also, I've seen a homemade ridge-maker made by grinding the jaws of a pair of vise-grips.

Tom

Re: stainless coolant lines

Posted: Sun Jun 04, 2017 10:22 pm
by mooreken
I didn't use stainless but I did use aluminized steel exhaust tubing. I rubbed it up slick and put Shark Hide on it to keep it fresh looking. I made a tool out of a vice grip with the bottom half of a muffler clamp and a small piece of round stock welded to the jaws to crimp the bead in the ends to keep the hose from slipping off.
If you want I can post a picture of the tool. It took a few minutes to make the bead but it did a good job.

Ken