55/56 lower radiator hose

Daves55Sedan

Daves55Sedan

Well-known member
Wow, this lower radiator hose for '55 Car with 292 V8 is the hardest thing to get on if the radiator is already bolted on to radiator support in the car. In the past, I had often removed the battery and battery tray and left the radiator unbolted, working the radiator into the hose which had already been pushed on to the water pump by tilting and moving the radiator into it.
But I didn't want to do that this time because I didn't want to mash up the cooling fins on the backside of this new radiator against the fan blade.


Another way you could do it easily would be to remove the fuel pump, which would give room to pull the radiator hose back into that space so you could just push the hose forward into bottom radiator hose connection. But I didn't want to disconnect all those fuel and vacuum lines, then re-assemble and check for leaks.


Finally, I went down to the local chain auto parts store and got a universal (acordian type) hose. I cut 1/2 inch off both ends of the rubber, pulled the spring out of the inside and cut off about 1-1/2 inches of it and put it back in the hose. It was still difficult, but I was able to get it in the bottom of the radiator finally in about ten minutes.


My power steering pump belt is a fraction of an inch away from rubbing against the hose. The belt is not as tight as it should be, so now, I guess I will try to tighten the belt some more to get it to run further away from the hose.


What type of tricks have you guys used to install the bottom radiator hose that might be better than any of the above?
 
And I thought it was the hoses I bought were the cause of the difficulty I had installing the lower hose. And I don't have power steering.
 
These things can be tricky for sure. I have always followed this procedure... drain the coolant, remove the old clamps, take a heat gun to the MIDDLE portion (keep away from the edges that fit to the pump or radiator) of the hose to get things as flexible as possible, loosely slide on the new clamps, push the water pump end of the hose on first, but only about 1/2" or so, and then begin working the radiator side of the hose on the lip. Go back to the water pump side and push up again, working back to the radiator side until the fitment looks good. I have noticed that over the past 15 years some suppliers have been producing a longer than normal hose (when compared to the NOS one I have saved). YMMV
 
I removed the P/S belt, and cut some off one end of a new hose. WD42 the inside of each end, and push the top way up, then when the bottom is stared, work it back down to where it needs to be.
 
Ditto on the difficulty for my 56 fairlane. I ended up cutting off length from both ends, putting a couple drops of oil on each lip and force it in on the water pump side first. Probably should have removed either the belt or fuel pump but was stubborn. No other tricks other than brute force from me.
 
I did cut more than 1/2 inch off both ends of the original hose to get it on, but you gotta be careful not to cut off too much because you can easily end up with the radiator hose hitting the power steering pump belt once it is finally on. It's partially that darned spring inside the hose that deters easy installation, but you need to keep that inside the hose because the bottom hose is the suction hose.
I also ended up cutting off a portion of both ends of the universal accordian type hose to get it installed. Both hoses being new and super clean, I didn't think oiling the inside of the hose ends would be helpful, and was scared they might leak. Anyway, the hose is on by brute force and is not leaking. Was hoping somebody had discovered a neat trick to getting it on easier.
 
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