Heater for 1936 Cabriolet

J

Joe Shell

Member
I have a 1936 Cabriolet with a vintage after market heater installed. The heater works great, but the radiator hoses and heater hoses are grubby. I was thinking of replacing all hoses, clamps, and the heater hose nipples that get installed on the left side radiator hoses.

I have some questions:

How difficult is it to replace the lower radiator hoses on this car? These hoses are only about 6 inches long and i' wondering if the new hoses will be flexible enough to install without moving the radiator.

The existing heater hose nipple on the upper radiator in installed about halfway between the radiator and the water pump. I'd rather install the new nipple in the new radiator hose much lower but don't want to take a chance on reducing flow thru the heater core. Is it necessary to install the nipple halfway up the hose or will it work just as well installed closer to the water pump? I think NAPA stocks the heater hose nipple. Anybody use these and how is the quality. Do you have to use any type of sealer when installing the nipple onto the radiator hose?






Thanks for any advice.
 
Joe....as I recall from years ago...my buddy put the lower hoses in hot water and softened them up and they went right on. I really don't remember a lot of cussin' and swearin' at the time !

Mike
 
A lot depends on the stiffness of the hoses. I had hoses that were quite stiff and were tough to put on. I have cut up fingers to prove it. I went to NAPA and got a couple of hoses that were for modern cars that had straight lengths long enough to fit between the radiator and the pumps. They are softer and go on really easy. I had to pay for the complete hoses with the bends in them to get the length of straight hose, but it was really worth it. If you have to use the "In the hose" fitting rather than going to the water pump, then you might want to use the stiffer hose so that the fitting has enough rigid rubber & fabric to hold the fitting properly. A little rubber lube and patience will help get the hose on.
 
Hot water and squeeze in the middle and kind of fold it it the middle and it will go on.If your running thermostats in the hose The "T" fitting goes close to the W/P and the therm goes after it up more on the hose. You want good hot water through the heater. Its hottest at the water pump. ken ct.
 
"Its hottest at the water pump. ken ct."

Ken, I thought the water at the pump was just coming in after being "cooled" in the radiator. Then it gets pumped thru the engine to get hotter. Do I have the flow path wrong??
John
 
Q: How difficult is it to replace the lower radiator hoses on this car? These hoses are only about 6 inches long and i' wondering if the new hoses will be flexible enough to install without moving the radiator.

A: Actually it is not that hard to replace the lower hoses on a '36. Flexibility on a '36 is nice but, not really a worry. However, on a '35 the need for flexibility does pay a bigger role (I have a '35 coupe and a '36 cabriolet). All you need to do on the '36 is remove the bottom radiator pan and you have full access to the lower hoses

Q: Is it necessary to install the nipple halfway up the hose or will it work just as well installed closer to the water pump?

A: For me I have found that the hose nipple location doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Just have it between the water pump and the thermostat.

Q: Do you have to use any type of sealer when installing the nipple onto the radiator hose?

A: I use common pipe sealer/compound found in hardware stores. It does a great sealing job and still allows things to be taken apart if needed at a later date.

Hope this help.

Tom
 

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Hi there, I would have thought your two heater hoses should connect to the radiator hoses on the right side which is a neater straight run. That is presuming you heater is mounted inside on the right side which is the correct position on a left hand drive car. A little rubber grease smeared inside the hose ends and on the lower inlet on engine will help. Kink/bend the hose tight in the middle and slip it on but watch your knuckles. Fit the heater nipple in radiator hose before fitting hose. Good luck, Kevin.
 
oldford 2, Yes you have the flow path wrong. The pumps pull the hot water out of the engine and into the top of the radiator. Regards, Kevin.
 
You are right. I was thinking about later motors with the pumps at the bottom. Was I correct on their flow?
Thanks John
 
koates said:
oldford 2, Yes you have the flow path wrong. The pumps pull the hot water out of the engine and into the top of the radiator. Regards, Kevin.
Click to expand...
Thanks Koates,my heater taps are on the right side for shorter more direct runs to the firewall. ken ct.:) 36 coupe.
 
John, Flow for early and late engines is all the same direction the difference being the low pumps pull the cooled water from the bottom of the radiator and push it up through the engine block to the top of the engine and top of the radiator. They work and cool better as they don't suffer from cavitation problems so much as the top mounted "puller" pumps. Regards, Kevin.
 
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