I know this may be a longshot, but I'm looking for someone who might work for a company that makes Custom silicone hoses. I need (2) made and I'm having a hard time finding anyone willing to just make 2... I know there is going to be a S*%t storm of replies with "alternate solutions"...thanks, but I really need to pursue this route...it's what I want. I'm willing to pay accordingly, if only I could get someone to do it...seems every company I have contacted has a min. order that's way out of wack...
You will need to find a company that does functional prototypes. I don't know of any off hand but it doesn't sound inexpensive. I imagine the ones you contacted do more production run volumes and don't want to get into "onesey twosey" orders so they price accordingly to not get the business. In my past dealings with designing OEM radiator hoses/connections silicone has always been more expensive. Your expectations of "paying accordingly" may be a little different from your initial thoughts. You may also search for a rapid prototype shop that does hoses. Good luck.
OK my chance to learn something new for the day. What is a silicone hose and is there some advantage other then preference to running one?
Made from silicone (like breast implants) rather than natural rubber (like condoms). They are longer lasting, stronger and can cope with higher temperatures. They don't look Hamb friendly (think Fast and Furious) but you can now get them wrapped in a thin layer of natural rubber so that they look better used in classic and vintage applications. Just don't get bright blue ones unless you're a tuner.
I have looked at the same thing and have found that silicone hoses slip very easily when fitted to the radiator.
I'll never be able to work a ribbed hose off a radiator again without the image you have implanted with this comparison.
I used to own 2 ex police 9C1 Caprices that were equipped with silicone radiator hoses. They were an option from GM I guess. These 2 had the 305 motor and I'm quite sure the hoses would have been available for the 350 as well. You might have to slice and dice to fit your car. Worth a look I'd say.
as usual, I can't get any help...not sure why I even bother anymore. This place is full of wiseass opinions and know-it-alls with nothing of value to share....
YES, I have tried GOOGLE...my problem is none of the companies making custom hoses are willing to make JUST TWO...
How do they make the hoses? do they have to make a mold first? If so, how do you expect them to make singles for a reasonable price?
Maybe if you show us your application we can offer more help. Never found a setup that some creativity couldn't make a stock app work.
Not giving you wiseass opinions - someone asked what a silicone hose was and I told him. Seems to be a lot if useful suggestions here. I know a couple of firms over here that would make up a custom silicone hose for you but you will be looking at the thick end of £200 ($300) for a very short length of hose. Cheaper to fabricate what you need from stainless exhaust bends and use short joiner sections of silicone hose at each end. You can get stepped stainless tube as well as a variety of mandrel bends and donuts. You could make up any sort of profile far cheaper than a custom made silicone hose. If you don't have TIG facilities you could tack weld and take them to someone who does. You could powdercoat it black and it would fit in with a HAMB friendly car.
Can you supply a picture, sketch, dimensions or some kind of visual aid to help see what what you are wanting to do? If it is a complicated hose, i.e. a lot of bends in a short span, you may want to consider using tubing in between the connections and using a more simple silicone hose connection. Why you ask? Time wears on all things and when this custom hose wears out, it will need to be replaced and you will be in the same situation again. This is why you will see on some applications a rubber elbow or straight connection on both ends with a steel/aluminum tube in between. A lot easier to get a simple hose piece to fix one end rather than have to replace a complete complex formed hose when you are out on the road. There was also a mention of silicone hoses on a vehicle being an option.. My experience with that option was it was more expensive and getting fairly simple pieces to replicate standard premium rubber connections was expensive as there is a tooling and extra processing involved as well as the increased price of material. There was also the question if it was really worth the extra $$ - could never get a clear answer on that one as it was more of a personal preference than anything. This is just my experiences from being involved on the design side of things with an OEM.
I'll give an answer you might not like (but I think it's the cheapest way)- I just finished my hunt for Radiator hoses, and I was NOT willing to use a ribbed Hose-first, I made a pattern using some Tig rod (using the centerline of the Inlet/Outlet), and I went to NAPA and they let me look through their Hoses-I found a few that I could cut down (and one fit great!), however no one in Town had what I wanted in a lower Hose, so- I went on the Summit site and purchased every Hose that came close (it cost me about $125 or so)-I had to wait for a few to come Factory direct from Dayton and such, but in the end I got one that fit perfectly (after cutting it down a bit)-it looks Factory, and I'm pleased-I suppose I could return the ones I didn't use, but........I wrote down the numbers of the Hoses for future reference- Pricey? A little, but I wasn't willing to use the pipe fabricated method as it puts too much stress on the Radiator Inlets, so this was the next best thing I could think of- There are many places to buy pre-made Silicone Hoses (mine aren't)-I would post some Links here but they just don't fit in this Forum-good luck-
I first heard about these in the late 90's after getting our 96 Impala SS, they were all the rage on the Impala forums, never quite understood the attraction.
I'm pretty sure the purpose of silicone radiator hoses was to better withstand high under hood temps in commercial cars like taxi's, police etc. High speed pursuits or long idling time would create high temps there. In normal duty seems like they would last a lot longer than rubber hoses.
We use the silicon hoses on the big diesels . They do hold up well, but as posted, they do cold leak. That is when temps change, say cool in the morning they sometimes leak and seep. It can be very annoying !
We blow silicone hoses on our macks at way to often!!! They look perfect one day and the next they blow open.. plus they are expensive... $80 to $120 each.. and we have a corporate pricing deal with mack. I cant say we see much cold seepage though and it does get cold in Wisconsin.
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