Bottom radiator hose question

[Cameron 77C3]

Hi gang.

Fitted the radiator in but I'm not happy how the bottom hose sits. It's slightly squashed oval between the fan shroud and the chassis rail. Is this correct or have I ran it the wrong way? Could not find any pictures from my before rebuild shots and nothing in any of my books showing how it should fit.

Any body got a picture of how it should be or is this how it sits?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.




Click HERE for a larger shot.

[Shane Finn]

The hose wouldn't sit the other way?

That is with the longer arm down and the shorter arm to the radiator. That would take it further down and away from the shroud. I have book full of C3 engine pictures here somewhere. I'll go looking.

[Cameron 77C3]

Originally posted by ZEDohSIX
The hose wouldn't sit the other way?

That is with the longer arm down and the shorter arm to the radiator. That would take it further down and away from the shroud. I have book full of C3 engine pictures here somewhere. I'll go looking.

Na. Tried that.  The longer arm has to go to the radiator.  I have that part in the book Ok.  I can only find a gap between the fan shroud and chassis rail where it can pass through but for the life of me I can not remember where it ran in relation to the old shroud/set up.  Thanks.  See what you come up with.  I really need some one with a 77 C3 to have a look under their hood for me and take a pic if at all possible.

Note:-  I have fitted a new radiator support and fan shroud.  They basically look the same as the old ones so I don't THINK that there is a problem there.  I hope.

I'm going to check that I have the right hose.  My car has air con., so may be the twits in the states sent me the wrong hose.  Where do you get a hose local?  It would be worth me buying another one just to check.

Nope, not that.  Part numbers are the same on both hoses.  [I kept the old one.  Learnt a long time ago to never throw anything out untill you finish a rebuild]

[77CVT]

Call Martin Hewitt here in Brisbane.  He has a heap of hoses (made by Gates) and could probably do you a pair pretty darn cheap.

3372 5455
0417 721 498

Tell him Chris O' sent you.

[Cameron 77C3]

Originally posted by 77CVT
Call Martin Hewitt here in Brisbane.  He has a heap of hoses (made by Gates) and could probably do you a pair pretty darn cheap.

3372 5455
0417 721 498

Tell him Chris O' sent you.

Good man Many Thanks.  Before I ring Qld. does anybody know someone Sydney way.

OK I think I have found my problem.  I think when the conversion from left to right hand drive was done the engine mount brackets might have been changed a little. The right hand, when sitting in the car, looks like its been cut then welded. ie it has an internal weld. Unlike the left hand which is one solid piece with no internal welds. I'd say this is where my problem is. They off set the motors here sometimes to allow for the steering box when moved to the right hand drive.

So one question guys. Should there be any internal welds on the engine mount brackets. Like you would have if you lengthend or shortened a bracket?

Just want to confirm my thoughts.  I'll think I'll have to make up a stainless stell extension pipe/bend, cut my hose and fit the extension/bend in.  I've cut and fitted my old hose and with a extension/bend in the hose it will fit nicely.

Don't want to do this yet to my new hose untill I have another one so again is there a supplier in Sydney.  If not I'll give Qld a call.  [If it's  not one thing it's another] :(

[VET-005]

Hi Cam,
You do have another option and that is go to your local spare parts store and buy a flexible radiator hose. I just bought one recently for a conversion i did ( ecotec V6 in a Hilux). It worked great. These flexible hoses come in different lengths and diameters and are made by GATES.

[TIPPA]

Hi Cam. Thats your prob my man. C3s engines are offset to the right incl transmission and transmission tunnel to give the driver more footwell room. Mirror conversions offset the engine to the left for steering clearance as you figured. Only big dollar conversions actually cut up the floor pan to match the opposite offset. which leaves us with two probs: radiator shroud and radiator hoses. i solved my shroud prob by showing it the sulo bin and fitting thermo fans. unfortunately i have no answer for hoses as haven't had to replace mine, but can say they certainly won't be factory. i'd just go to repco or similar and match up one that fits best. Cheers.

[Cameron 77C3]

Thanks guys.  I'll let you know how it all pans out.  At least now I know where the problem is and can work on fixing it.

[minnie mouse]

spoton with the conversion, my 76 lhd sits the same way without being squashed...

[69 DIRTY RAT]

Minnie Mouse......what the...... happened to your car!
yeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[Brutus]

Originally posted by Cameron 77C3

Originally posted by 77CVT
Call Martin Hewitt here in Brisbane.  He has a heap of hoses (made by Gates) and could probably do you a pair pretty darn cheap.

3372 5455
0417 721 498

Tell him Chris O' sent you.

Good man Many Thanks.  Before I ring Qld. does anybody know someone Sydney way.

OK I think I have found my problem.  I think when the conversion from left to right hand drive was done the engine mount brackets might have been changed a little. The right hand, when sitting in the car, looks like its been cut then welded. ie it has an internal weld. Unlike the left hand which is one solid piece with no internal welds. I'd say this is where my problem is. They off set the motors here sometimes to allow for the steering box when moved to the right hand drive.

So one question guys. Should there be any internal welds on the engine mount brackets. Like you would have if you lengthend or shortened a bracket?

Just want to confirm my thoughts.  I'll think I'll have to make up a stainless stell extension pipe/bend, cut my hose and fit the extension/bend in.  I've cut and fitted my old hose and with a extension/bend in the hose it will fit nicely.

Don't want to do this yet to my new hose untill I have another one so again is there a supplier in Sydney.  If not I'll give Qld a call.  [If it's  not one thing it's another] :(

Cam,
If they only modified the RH mount and left the LH one as is then how could they have reset the engine position? Just a thought.

[Cameron 77C3]

[/quote]

Cam,
If they only modified the RH mount and left the LH one as is then how could they have reset the engine position? Just a thought. [/quote]

Sorry my fault.  Did not explain myself correctly

Looks one side has been extended, hence the weld but it looks like the other side has been shortened, cut, or they swapped brackets.  The motor is definately off to one side as the fan is no longer in the middle of the shroud.  [now using a higer volume than original fan, but smaller dia. flexi fan]

I've fitted a stainless steel flex hose with billet style connectors at each end.  Looks really good.  Just waiting for DC to approve the pictures so I can post the shots.  This was the better option in both cost and appearence.  $125.  Going to do the top hose too.

Thanks bud. ;laugh

[Cameron 77C3]

As promised shots of what I did to resove my problem.

Thanks for the input guys.

[69 DIRTY RAT]

That looks good! I think I might do similar.

[Shane Finn]

Where did you get the SS hose from? That looks cool!

[Cameron 77C3]

Any performance shop should stock them.  I got this one from Austrack Motorsport in Minto, a local and hence close supplier.  02 9820 4255.  {it's only a small business and does not keep a lot of stock}

[hot 70]

from previous experience when the car has been converted to r/hand drive the radiator bottom fitting has to be re/angled to suit the conversion & if not done to the right angle this is the problem that eventuates all moulded hoses to suit corvettes of different models are taken off the original design unless they come from india, china etc