Upper radiator hose
 

My upper radiator at the radiator fitting is leaking. I'm trying to either tighten the hose clamp, or pull the hose and replace, but I can't access the area to get a good grip on the clamp. What's the trick? Do I pull something out first? (Besides my back)

It's an early model #968

Watching this thread with interest...
 

Hmmmm...seven days and no answer. I'm watching this thread closely...I'd like to replace my rubber SPF hoses with silicone rubber ones from Samco. In measuring and figuring out which pieces I'd need to order, I noticed the impossible accessibility of the upper radiator hose clamp on the radiator. I'm thinkin' the dealers have one guy with twelve elbows on one arm that goes around installing these clamps on everyone's car... :LOL:

OK...Yeah, it's hard to get at but I managed to get one of my small 1/4" drive sockets sockets (1/4? 5/16?) on the clamp by feel and loosen it. You'll never get to it with a screwdriver. When I replaced the clamp, I rotated it so the screw head was in the most accessible place-about 10:00 or so and now it's much easier to access.

Lowell

The reason it is a pain is because that hose is put on the radiator before the radiator is in the car.

Oops, sorry Freddie, I found the solution and didn't post it here. Actually I called Dennis O. and he had a secret. Drop the radiator.

Remove the two nuts securing the lower bracket. I also had to unfasten the mounting of the oil cooler and it's cowling and swing it out of the way after I rubbed the radiator fins against it. But drop the radiator and let it rest on the frame via the fan motor and lower radiator hose. Also a HUGE help was removing the hood. That way you can access from three side instead if 1 & 1/2. I replaced the two hose w/ coupler with a cool flex system. It looks great. Also, the radiator has a partial cowling adhered to the top and seal against the bottom of the body nose. Don't forget to reseal that too.

Hopes that helps.

I'm hoping the hose lasts for 15 years! I have nightmares about doing the job.

Bob

Hmmmm...drop the radiator...that just may work okay... I'll give it a look-see. I'd rather NOT drop it, but I'm afraid my little short arms (32" sleeves) will necessitate it... Removiing the hood is a good idea, too...is it hard to get it realigned, though? I'll be working by myself and won't have anyone to help out...I'm guessing reinstallation would take 2-3 folks...

I saw a neat hood alignment trick on one of those speedvision shows, and you may or may not ( I am guessing not ) want to do it to your car. You take a very tiny drill bit and drill through the bracket and first layer of the hood very carefully on both sides, then when you go to put it back on make sure the drill goes in again and you are magic. Drilling a hole in my car is not exactly something I would want to do normally, but a misaligned hood is a biatch to get realigned. This is probably an oldy but goody, so I apologize if I am telling you something you already know.

James

Hey, Steve, thanks for the procedure! How about a pic or two? Thx.

-Dean #747

The car is fully assembled, but it's up on a lift with other problems now. I'll run by the shop to snap some shots, but it's very easy dropping the radiator. It was just getting the nerve up to do it at first. But WATCH THE RADIATOR FRONT. I rubbed the oil cooler cowl when dropping and set a "line" in the fins. Lessons learned.

As for the hood, if it's a Superformance, that's a breeze. My daughter and I lifted the hood in it's open position. Using the hood rod on one side and my daughter on the other too support, I ran around and installed the 6 hood bolts finger tight to the hinges (did not remove the hinges from the car body). Then set the hood down and latched it, adjusted the position, then from below with a 18" long 3/8" extension tightened the 6 hood bolts snug. About 5 minutes of work.


Ahhh..I just saw that was you Dean. You're the one with all the cool ideas. Or did I just one up ya on the "CoolFlex" hoses?? I still say that custom clutch fluid reservoir you have is awesome. The hoses probably cost just as much or more.

Another edit: Hey Freddie, is that the #11 I see on you avatar. I had the same number on mine until yesterday. I took the car down to Texas World Speedway last weekend for tracking and HPDE. What a blast and how exhaustive. But.....they gave the number "11" to another car, so I had to add black tape to form the number "117". NOTE TO ONESELF, duct tape and static cling decals don't release from each other. Stretched and ripped trying to remove. So $100 worth of decals right into the trash can. These things are just fun money pits.

BTW, my personal best at the track; 125 mph in the banked front straight away before diving back down into the infield. So exciting, got a "woody".:LOL: :LOL:

Steve #968

No, Steve...I run a "77" meatball on #770... I use the static cling rondelles from Finish Line. Here's a link to the picture I made my avatar from...

http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/atta...2&d=1062710099

I'm going to VIR with Dennis O's buncha loonies over Memorial Day...it'll be my 3rd stint at VIR, but the first with my TKO and 3.23 Torsen locker rear end. I can't wait to see how they perform on VIR's south course.

I ran Mid-Ohio last year with those miscreants from Ohio's LCS...had a blast, but it rained out our second day...bummer. Still...the Tuesday run times were really fun and I seriously enjoyed myself. I really like the tranny and rearend combination at Mid-Ohio, so I'm betting VIR will be just as exciting.

...of course, evenings will find us with a few cocktails in hand....you know how we are... :p

:eek: :eek: :eek:

How dare you! :LOL:

I just figure that someday I will have to replace hoses and I better get a head start on ideas and what others have done (Coolflex, colored silicon hose, etc.). You know...more ways to throw money at this limited use roadster that I adore and only drive a couple of times per week. :LOL:

Thanks for the kudos on the reservoir. Gotta give props to Rob Frink for whittling a spacer bracket for me to make it work on our cars. Ron is lucky that I don't live close by...I'd be a puppy dog on his shop porch begging for more billet...I have all kinds of ideas for our cars! :LOL:

-Dean

The way I've always removed hoods from the hinges was to get a knife, small screwdriver, grease pencil, lipstick, etc. and score the hood around the hinges. When reattaching, line it back up and you're good to go.