1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? : MGB & GT Forum : The MG Experience

1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #1 This topic is about my 1976 MG MGB
J and C Jim G Gloucester, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 18, 2024 10:05 AM Joined 8 months ago 17 Posts

Good morning. I'm in the process of replacing all the hoses on this new to me MGB. The top hose was leaking... You can see why, the radiator neck and the engine inlet (outlet?) don't line up, and are quite close to each other, relative to the hose that I removed. I attached a photo of the old hose and the replacement hose. Is this alignment, or lack of, typical? If so, perhaps the hose will fit better if I heat it and compress the bellows? Wrong hose, too long? Wrong radiator? This car has had lots of mysterious wrenching over the last 45+ years, and cracking the code has been very fun, seriously, with my son.
Thanks for the help

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #2
MG14611 Robert P NY, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1963 MG MGB MkI "Born To Run" 1963 MG MGB MkI "Potential"	Apr 18, 2024 10:32 AM Top Contributor Joined 4 years ago 1,822 Posts

Typical. The accordion folds provide some flexibility in the hose. Some include a spring coil inside to keep the hose from collapsing or crimping near the bends.

The offset is typical and the connecting hoses need to flex to allow for motor movement during operations!

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #3
J and C Jim G Gloucester, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 18, 2024 11:17 AM Joined 8 months ago 17 Posts

Thanks, got it. you can see the previous owner clamped the hose way down the bend of the radiator neck, which leaked. I'll likely compress the bellows and see if I can get the clamps to, clamp, where they should. perhaps trim a little excess as necessary.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #4
MG14611 Robert P NY, NY, USA Sign in to contact 1963 MG MGB MkI "Born To Run" 1963 MG MGB MkI "Potential"	Apr 18, 2024 11:33 AM Top Contributor Joined 4 years ago 1,822 Posts

Re-looking at you photos, it seems that there could be a slight crimp in the area where the top radiator tube meets the radiator tank.

That may be the cause of the offset you’re seeing.
I don’t see a way of bending back the tube without inflicting damage to the radiator or the tube!

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #5
daveb David B Sharon, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1974 MG MGB GT	Apr 18, 2024 11:34 AM Joined 17 years ago 45 Posts

From the photo, It looks like the radiator pipe is bent inwards at its base and some black filler out around it. Maybe it was brazed? The two spigots should align with each other. It that is the case, I'd consider getting another radiator.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #6
MGBGM1977 Anthony Piper Heaven in the woods, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1974 MG MGB 1977 MG MGB V6 Conversion	Apr 18, 2024 11:41 AM Top Contributor Joined 9 years ago 3,463 Posts

Mine on my '74 doesn't line up perfectly either. Some say OK, some say not OK. I say typical and OK.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #7
daveb David B Sharon, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1974 MG MGB GT	Apr 18, 2024 11:51 AM Joined 17 years ago 45 Posts

FWIW, I just checked the hose length on my 74 and it's a tad over 7 inches and the spigots appear to be closely aligned. The radiator is original and I believe the hose was NOS when I purchased it years ago. The hose bellows are much more pronounced.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #8
J and C Jim G Gloucester, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 18, 2024 11:54 AM Joined 8 months ago 17 Posts

All good info, thanks! I shall look for a bent neck, measure, etc this evening.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #9
riley1489 Bruce H Great White North, QC, Canada Sign in to contact 1953 Jaguar XK120 1959 Riley 1.5 "King George" 1973 MG MGB	Apr 18, 2024 12:06 PM Top Contributor Joined 12 years ago 26,335 Posts

The hose #GRH305 OEM

https://www.justmgb.com/product/grh305-oem-radiator-hose-mgb-1962-1975/

is a more flexible hose than the one you show, and would better handle the misalignment?
Perhaps buy the better hose?

B.

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, "What are you doing for others?"

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #10
Bob Allen Houston, TX, USA Sign in to contact 1978 MG MGB	Apr 18, 2024 02:00 PM Top Contributor Joined 5 years ago 2,204 Posts

Or just run to your auto parts store with the current hose and find one with the same diameter that matches the curve.

1978 MGB
When diagnosing issues related to running and stalling, always check to see if you have gas in the tank first.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #11
luckyluke Lucas P Lodz, LD, Poland Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB	Apr 18, 2024 03:51 PM Joined 5 years ago 304 Posts

Jim, the offset is exactly the same in my case.
The key is to use proper clamps as on the Anthony's picture and on mine, these type of clamps guarantee no leaks.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #12
bonnett1954 Dave Bonnett Las Vegas, NV, USA Sign in to contact 1972 MG MGB 1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500 "Union Jack"	Apr 18, 2024 06:33 PM Top Contributor Joined 8 years ago 73 Posts

Hey Anthony,
Looks like you could use part # 45. Mine was like yours when I got it, and I took a screwdriver and dug out all the old hardened dried-up stuff out of the channel and the new gasket pressed right in there, no need for glue.
https://mossmotors.com/mgb-009-radiator-and-fittings-1962-76

In reply to # 4786617 by MGBGM1977 Mine on my '74 doesn't line up perfectly either. Some say OK, some say not OK. I say typical and OK.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #13
Cabin Boy Bill Kortum Arlington, WA, USA Sign in to contact 1970 MG MGB "Buttercup" 1980 Harley-Davidson Touring 1988 Suzuki Samurai "Old Blue" 1998 Chevrolet Commodore "Beam'n'Water" & more	Apr 18, 2024 07:02 PM Top Contributor Joined 9 years ago 748 Posts

In reply to # 4786573 by J and C Good morning. I'm in the process of replacing all the hoses on this new to me MGB. The top hose was leaking... You can see why, the radiator neck and the engine inlet (outlet?) don't line up, and are quite close to each other, relative to the hose that I removed. I attached a photo of the old hose and the replacement hose. Is this alignment, or lack of, typical? If so, perhaps the hose will fit better if I heat it and compress the bellows? Wrong hose, too long? Wrong radiator? This car has had lots of mysterious wrenching over the last 45+ years, and cracking the code has been very fun, seriously, with my son.
Thanks for the help

From what I can see this is a simple fix .

Take the radiator into a radiator shop and have the top pipe shortened to where it aligns with the thermostat housing .

The hose is plenty long enough and will have enough purchase on both ends .

While it's at the shop , have it serviced if it hasn't been done in a while .

There is an alternate fix . It appears the fan is at least an inch from the radiator .

Just shim the radiator back toward the fan about a 1/2 inch .

The 1/2 inch will make a big difference in the alignment . It should also improve the cooling .

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #14
J and C Jim G Gloucester, MA, USA Sign in to contact 1976 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Apr 19, 2024 09:18 AM Joined 8 months ago 17 Posts

Update on a few points; the radiator neck is not kinked, its an illusion. I'd like to shim the radiator towards the fan but my radiator is mounted on the outside of the shroud. Perhaps I can move it to the engine side, which I will check later. I dont know if this car runs hot, but I am also keeping cooling efficiency in mind. I'll take yalls feedback and come up with a solution, I'll update with my progress. Not a very interesting project, but whatever.

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Re: 1976 top radiator hose connection seems wrong, is it? #15
75Convert Stephen Oram Calgary, AB, Canada Sign in to contact	Apr 19, 2024 10:42 AM Joined 2 years ago 14 Posts

not really the right approach, but you could space the shroud back towards the engine to get better alignment and the radiator closer to the fan. This would help in the short term. You can use larger nuts as spacers.

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