can i use a bent copper pipe in my radiator hose setup?? pic inside of what i mean

okay if this is completley stupid or dumb try not to be too harsh on me, but on my 58 ford fairlane, im puttin the 460 in it, and on the 460 the water nect is on the passenger side, and the inlet on the radiator is on my driver side.

i attempted to use an ugly flexy looking hose from oreillys, but it was too short *it was the longest one they sold too*, and it was kinking anyway. besides i didnt wanna go that route.

eventually i'll get a new radiator, but the one i have is a 3 core and would be perfect for the time being. so for now, can i just buy a 10 dollar copper pipe with the bend in it, place two hoses on both ends with a clamp, then attatch it to the water neck, and then to my inlet???

someone i ran into at home depot said use an exhaust pipe inside of the copper, but i read it could rust. any ideas if this could work? i searched on the hamb for this, i found something similar but it wasnt quite like what im asking. thanks if you can help, or understand my picture i drew ha

 

Quick answer, Yes you can.

Later, Mark

 

I've done it, I've even used a 90º copper bend, soldered directly to my radiator for my thermostat housing on my hot rod.

 

Yes you can...

 

I don't see a thing wrong with doing that......

 

I've soldered copper plumbing fittings together to make complicated bends for both the heater & radiator hoses, then attached rubber hoses to them with hose clamps. Works fine.

 

Lots of early auto manufacturers used copper/brass pipe in the old days.

 

Yes you can but any radiator shop can move that connection pretty easy. Thats what I would do.Have a great day Gary

 

awesome thanks guys and yea ill eventually have a radiator shop move the inlet.. well maybe,in the long run im just gonna buy an aftermarket radiator, this bent copper pipe will just be a temporary fix for now though. thanks everyone!

 

We put two long copper pipes, and lots of elbows soldered together on MBL's flathead in his roadster....lots of "experts" and even one plumber said it would never hold up....That was about 6 years ago....no leaks yet, but I'm on my third rubber heater hose cap from two years ago on one of my cars.

 

Your sure can... This set up works great. And has been doing so at least 7 years.

 

It would be a good idea to add a lip to each end of the pipe just like the like the radiator outlet has to reduce the risk of the hose blowing off.

 

I'd polish the copper and run it long term!

 

I have a short chrome plated copper tube in my upper radiator hose..so yes, yes you can

 

my 47 plymouth i think came from the factory set up this way a hose comes off the rad then there is a 90 degree pipe the a hose to the block
you can go to a muffler shop and they can put a ridge at both ends so when you clamp it the hose can't blow off
when i change hoses im going to use copper pipe

 

I would think that you just have to watch out for metal fatigue if any vibration or flexing force is applied to the copper pipe. In this case, with rubber hoses on each end, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Guys have used straight pipe in the runs for their flatheads with dual radiator hoses and dual water pumps.

I'd use a piece of stainless exhaust tubing and polish it to a shine, while using something like a 30 or 60 grit to sand the tips where the hoses would connect. Put it in place, make it look nice, and drive it like you stole it!

 

Works great for me. I did weld a bead all around each end of the tube so the hose clamps wouldn't slide iff the ends of the steel tube under pressure.

Used the same deal for my heater hoses.

SPark

 

My son used a simple U-bend on his Falcon...

 

LM14.....is that Pex tubing in your heater hose runs?

 

If you can't get the right hose then theres absolutly no reason why you can't, Ive seen it done heaps of times.

 

make a "bead" of solder to form a slight barb to keep hose from sliding off when hot and under pressure (BTDT), I get all sizes and shapes from local plumbing supply, not big box store.

 

I use a double 90 copper 1 1/4 fitting on my rail to make the rad fit properly . I had the little rail at a car show two weeks ago and two "Experts" were there quizing my pals if soldered coppper was safe for a cooling system. They were postulating like your typical armchair experts. I did not feel compelled to bother to tell them the whole radiator was held together with the exact same solder and is is made of copper as well but much thinner of course.
Somehow finally idiots dont bother me anymore. Anyway it has been on my car for 5 years now wih no problem.
Don

 

A very traditional approach. As a steamfitter in the 60s, I often supplied the copper fittings. I hope the statute of limitations has expired.

 

I used chrome sink pipe on the Peter Beater.

 

Rolf did it too on his coupe build, he has or had a list of all the different bends, looked really nice and solves a lot of problems.

 

It's electric welded mild steel tubing bent to shape.

SPark

 

yes you can, cooper is what your radiator is made of. I'm using a short section of 304 stainless because the lower radiator hose is close to the belt.