[Chuck]

Coolant Hoses, Part I

The output from the thermostat cover was routed to the starboard side of the engine and then down behind the alternator. The idea of running rubber hoses close to the exhaust manifold was not very appealing. A detailed diagram of the two sections of pipe needed for the coolant line was drawn up. While we were at it, we decided to also have stainless pipes fabricated for the front section, with connections for the heater hoses. The sections of stainless line were fabricated by Stainless Specialities http://www.stainless-specialties.com. (By the way, they fabricated the side pipes for our Cobra and did an exceptional job). John did an outstanding job. The shine on the pipes was mirror like and the bends were sharp and crisp. Stainless Specialties is an excellent resource for not only exhaust pipes but special projects like this.

The long sections of stainless tubing needed support. Two brackets were fabricated from a seven inch length of 1 ½ aluminum stock bent in the shape of the letter “J.” Since the hose will move a bit with the motor, the stainless tubing was not anchored to the chassis but rather simply rests in the J brackets. A piece of rubber should prevent vibrations. The visible portion of the brackets was sanded with 1000 grit paper and then polished with Mother’s Billet polish, yielding a shine that rivaled the stainless tubing. One bracket is near the thermostat cover secured to the bulkhead and the second supports the lower most portion of the stainless tube secured to the chassis.

This plumbing arrangement required that the oil dip stick be replaced. Canton provides a dipstick for the oil pan ready to secure to an existing bung. It worked fine.