Radiator hose advice?

[kerbau53]

To make a clean looking setup vis a vis the radiator coolant lines, I want to use bent to fit stainless steel pipe with silicone couplers at the rad/water pump ends. Can anyone recommend the grade of stainless and wall thickness?

Thanks.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Use the thinnest guage that you can bend reliably. 304 is common and should perform well. 316 should also work but will be harder to form. Thinwall bending will require sand packing but freezing water in the tube is another method that has been used successfully.

Jim

[roverman]

Geoff, IMHO, buy your bends if you can get tight enough radius. Jeg's or "Burns' Stainless" in Ca., has large inventory. Good Luck, roverman.

[kerbau53]

Thx everyone. 16 ga. SS 304 will be first choice followed by 6061 aluminum.

[BlownMGB-V8]

We want pictures.

Jim

[Bill Young]

If you have access to TIG welding then you might try the prebent elbows available from this company http://www.wagnercompanies.com/Elbows_and_Wall_Returns_for_Pi.aspx
We used some in aluminum for the water neck on the Roadmaster. They also come in stainless.

[kerbau53]

Thx Bill. I'll keep that in mind too. I have found a straight neck SBF thermostat cover that may simplify the problem too.

Pic is of the problem not the solution.