MG Engine Swaps Forum

Maybe another new guy stupid question but I seem to have a lot of these lately. The car has the metal corrugated hoses, with rubber ends and silly looking covers making taking the 2 hose clamps off harder. Anyway, after 10 years the rubber is less than flexible and a leak has started, Since one end leaked I figured the other 3 are soon to follow. Found rubber replacement pieces, fun because one goes from 1.75 to 1.25 but all is on order. I am not fond of the metal covers or the hose clamp system. I am thinking 2 clamps over the corrugated metal and one where it attaches to the engine or radiator.
Is this the system most of you use? I like the look of silicon hose and non corrugated metal I saw on line, looks much better, maybe a winter project. There is one very tight bend on the lower rad, clearing the steering rack is the issue. A lower radiator outlet on the other side would have been nice.

Having flashbacks to the custom intercooler hose layout on my old audi, a couple hundred bucks of silicon hose and aluminum pipe but it worked out well. I did end up with quite a few extra pieces but didn't have any second orders.

I'm unsure of the hoses you're referring too. All my hoses are Red silicone.

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Mk1: CKD 11/66 first registered 8/5/67; owned since 3/77. 18GB +40 balanced. Peter Burgess BVFR head. Piper 285. 123. FidanzaFW. 4synch c/r box. Lots more as I did a nut and bolt rebuild; finished 2015. Tartan Red.

GT: December '78. VW Golf guards, flush fit front and rear valances. Torana XU1 vents, frenched indicators & Mk1 rear lights. 'Worked' Rover V8 with Monsoon ECU for EFI. GM4L60E, Lokar tiptronic & Quick4 controller. Vintage Air A/C. FC IFS. CCE 4 link rear. Salisbury with Quaife. Jaguar Storm.

Pics?

Here is a pic of the upper at the radiator

And at the engine

What it looks like under the end

I’ve been using those hoses on my car for years. The photo is the first set installed. I agree they are a PITA to remove once they’ve been installed for a number of years.

My rad had to be removed a while ago due to a leak and I ended up sacrificing the hoses and rubber couplers to get them off. I installed a new set in black but same design. I’m hoping these won’t have to come off anytime soon.

I’ve had good luck with these in the sense of no leaks. The advantage is they can be cut and shaped for any configuration. I believe they’re popular in the hot rod community as well.

When I first built the car, I did search for some rubber hoses that might be the right shape but had no luck.

Good luck in your search for replacements.

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"Speed costs........how fast you want to spend?"

We used those initially on the Roadmaster (455 BBB) but quickly transitioned to the traditional black hoses. You can bend a coat-hanger wire to the configuration you need and then either measure or cut old ends to take the works to the auto parts stores and they will let you go through their stock to find a match. I've done this many times over the years on many vehicles. You might have to go to several stores to find the right hose. In some rare cases you might even have to cut and splice using a piece of exhaust tubing to get a proper fit. But if you persevere eventually you can find the right hose for almost any combination. Always remember that excess length can be trimmed off.

Jim

Do not know for certain, but I have read many times over the years that those internally corrugated metal hoses create turbulence & do not flow as well. Seems to be doing the job for Randy & Simon, though.

Not fond of the look or so far the tendency to leak. The latest thing is buying a kit with metal bends and rubber or silicone hoses to join them. Much nicer look. But for now hopefully new rubber ends will stop the leaks and a nicer look can be a winter project.

for what its worth - if you do end up needing to do any coupling or joining of some parts store hoses, and dont want to deal with a bunch of hose clamps all over the place, ive had great luck with these:

https://www.gates.com/us/en/fluid-power/engine-hose/hose-clamps-and-couplings.p.7405-000000-000000.html

https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/group.asp?GroupID=GTSPGCLAMP


gates power grip heat shrink bits, theyve been working great on the hodgepodge of hoses for my heater valve. they are one time use, but its a much cleaner look.

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MegaSquirt resource
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'67 B GT - ITB Miata-Swap



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-29 12:07 AM by ValveCoverGasket.

Agree, I have a few on my cobbled-up upper and lower rad hoses........install, heat, shrink and never have to worry about a leaky joint!
Edit: added photos.
For the upper hose, I cut the the Gates clamp into two thinner pieces to attach my rad fill - never had a seal/leak problem in 19 years!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2024-04-29 11:43 AM by ex-tyke.

Very interesting, never saw those before. Thanks

I believe you have a cross-over pipe/hose from the right to left bank of the engine. Do you know what size that hose is? Are you planning to replace it as well?

I prefer to run standard radiator hose, but the 3.4L and older engines, the hose configuration is greatly different.

-BMC.

Maybe over the winter. I only want to drive it without being towed home right now. That can only happen once and it did. The rad hoses were leaking because the rubber ends were dried up and cracked when I tightened them. For now the best solution is to put on replacement rubber hose ends and new clamps, hoping no more puddles in the garage.