can radiator hose be used as charge pipes?

Post by **AN89HATCH** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

I have some thick flexible radiator/ heater hose, and I was wondering can this be used as charge pipes? They have like a spinning piece of metal in them, which alows the pipe to flex. Would this be ok to use as intercooler hot/ cold pipes?

Post by **red240ne** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

sure, it's a ghetto way of doing things. If you can find radiator hoses bigger than 2"

Post by **WDRacing** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

Yep, will work like a champ...

Post by **Structure240sx** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

one guy that i read about using them said they were swelling at about 7psi but i dont think he had the metal reinforcement in them like you do. plus many factory turbo cars use alot of rubber pipping. i would jsut keep the boost down

Post by **Joe** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

check out a diesel shop for hose that big. they work great

Website · Post by **jab11185** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

what about pvc?

Post by **ftrs13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

gotta love the PVC, used it for months and no problems or complaints, but Im upgrading to 2.25" metal now.

the thing about PVC is that it works well, and it is extremely light weight. it just doesnt look as good.

Im sick of people laughing at me when they see what Im running, and at any rate, i think the PVC, though viable should only be temporary

Post by **andrave** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

I bought diesel radiator hose and its ****ing awesome... you can get S shaped pieces for like 5 dollars 2.5" in diameter off ebay. You know what silicone bends are worth?anyway I have a bunch of them downstairs, they are good stuff. Its fiber reinforced, sturdy as anything.

Post by **wsc** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

turbohoses.com and vecco.net have a big selection of hose, fittings, couplers, pipes, etc.. also if you search for "silicone turbo" on ebay you will find other people selling alot of different types of hoses etc...

Post by **andrave** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

right. of course. and they are expensive, and they are "intercooler pipes."so what is the relevance to the thread?

Post by **wsc** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

sorry.. i thought someone might find something useful there.. it has been a looong day =/

Post by **andrave** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

I guess I was in a bad mood, sorry to sound harsh. its just that the **** you mentioned is way expensive. Radiator hoses are a fraction of the price, and the silicone ones are basically the same thing.

Post by **boost infested** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

running 22psi with 2ply truck rad hose as connectors for over 2 years... its fine! just make sure your piping is close together inside the the rad hose.

Post by **C-Kwik** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

ftrs13 wrote:gotta love the PVC, used it for months and no problems or complaints, but Im upgrading to 2.25" metal now.

the thing about PVC is that it works well, and it is extremely light weight. it just doesnt look as good.

Im sick of people laughing at me when they see what Im running, and at any rate, i think the PVC, though viable should only be temporary

I've seen PVC used for air-ride systems. And not for the plumbing. A guy made a tank for his system with the stuff. He arranged the pipes so that there was as much volume as a regular sized tank, but it layed flat in his trunk. It left him with a useable trunk. It was rather impressive in concept. He ran it reliably for a couple years.

Post by **PMan_S13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

Most of the old turbo fords (TurboCoupe, SVO, Xr4ti, Probe) I've seen use at least one big rubbery hose for the hot pipe to intercooler. Some of the guys around here drive them with the boost cranked up to ~25psi with stock plumbing and don't seem to have any troubles.

Nice that it flexes with the motor too.

Post by **andrave** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

well, a short rubbery piece of hose. my brother has owned 3 ford 2.3's.

Post by **PMan_S13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

they are pretty short, but I've seen a few at least a foot in length with "s" curves to it. They seem pretty tough

Post by **andrave** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

the old nonintercooled ones?

Post by **PMan_S13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

Not that I recall. The ones I remember where either from a SVO or turbo probe or something like that, it's been a while since I've looked at a ford.

It had like a foot long rubber hose for the "hot pipe" going from the turbo to intercooler. Shaped like an "S" and has some type of braid in it. I'm using one now for the first half of my hotpipe. It was the only way for my to squeeze through nicely without removing AC or PS.

Post by **andrave** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

the intercooler turbocoupes, merkers, and svo's used a very short piece, maybe 4" long at most. the non intercooled had one maybe 7-8".

must been a probe, I don't know anything about them.

Post by **PMan_S13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

Haha, you're right. I was out checking fluids and just happened to glance over the hose for a sec. It has, among other things, "PROBE" engraved on the upper lip.

I know this thing came off an intercooled motor, so the old turbo probes must be the only ones with this longer hose. Or at least the only ones confirmed before I get flamed

I'll stand by it for reliability. Doesn't hurt that the junkyard here just lets you have as many clamps and hoses as you can carry out.

Post by **ftrs13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

can you grab me a couple, Ill pay shipping!

Post by **PMan_S13** » Tue Jun 22, 2004 11:58 pm

Sure, always abliged to help someone out.

[email protected] <--- send me an email so we can discuss further.

can radiator hose be used as charge pipes?

can radiator hose be used as charge pipes?

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