Pipe tubing material for coolant
Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2022 11:49 pm
I want to install solid tubing on the firewall to clean things up a bit. Car is a LHD Federal Plus 2.
What would be a suitable material that is hopefully commonly available? I spoke with a representative at our local Metal Supermarkets, which appears to be a chain store that can provide pretty much anything you want, and can recommend a fab shop to do any cutting, bending, flaring that may be required.
I am thinking of two 3/4” OD coolant tubes attached to 3/4” ID rubber heater hose at each end. One tube is for the thermostat housing to the heater core top nipple. The other 3/4” tube us for a customized header tank setup. Ideally the selected tubing can be custom bent in a gentle curve to sit tight to the Plus 2 firewall that has a central curved section. Hopefully I can have the tubes bent 90 degrees so I can mainly use mostly straight hose runs to button things up.
The vacuum line on my car has a solid tube that mounts the non-return valve. I am not sure this setup is stock. Although I don’t have the car to hand to check, can someone advise what material would have been used, and whether I could bend it with my hand bending pliers that easily formed the smaller brake lines?
As I don’t have the car to hand, can someone advise on the nipple OD / hose ID for the heater core and the thermostat housing nipples? I vaguely recall the heater core nipples being very tight and the thermostat nipple really loose. Are they actually different sizes? I think I used 3/4” hose throughout the cooling system, but can’t be sure now. The idea is to figure out something better this winter while the engine is removed.
Is the speedometer cable normally attached to the firewall or is it acceptable to leave it loose over the bell housing?
I have attached a picture of my engine bay. Sorry that it is so dark, but you can sorta see the vacuum tube and non-return valve. The bottom of the header bottle has a 3/4” hose connection which runs to the water pump suction. The firewall is additionally cluttered with the normal 3/4” heater hose, a couple of wire looms (non-stock), bonnet release cable, speedometer cable and a flexible clutch hydraulic line. I may be able to move the bonnet release cable to a bent retainer attached to a cam cover nut.
Have also attached an archived photo that shows the Plus 2 firewall with the curved profile I need to consider.
Thanks
Stu
What would be a suitable material that is hopefully commonly available? I spoke with a representative at our local Metal Supermarkets, which appears to be a chain store that can provide pretty much anything you want, and can recommend a fab shop to do any cutting, bending, flaring that may be required.
I am thinking of two 3/4” OD coolant tubes attached to 3/4” ID rubber heater hose at each end. One tube is for the thermostat housing to the heater core top nipple. The other 3/4” tube us for a customized header tank setup. Ideally the selected tubing can be custom bent in a gentle curve to sit tight to the Plus 2 firewall that has a central curved section. Hopefully I can have the tubes bent 90 degrees so I can mainly use mostly straight hose runs to button things up.
The vacuum line on my car has a solid tube that mounts the non-return valve. I am not sure this setup is stock. Although I don’t have the car to hand to check, can someone advise what material would have been used, and whether I could bend it with my hand bending pliers that easily formed the smaller brake lines?
As I don’t have the car to hand, can someone advise on the nipple OD / hose ID for the heater core and the thermostat housing nipples? I vaguely recall the heater core nipples being very tight and the thermostat nipple really loose. Are they actually different sizes? I think I used 3/4” hose throughout the cooling system, but can’t be sure now. The idea is to figure out something better this winter while the engine is removed.
Is the speedometer cable normally attached to the firewall or is it acceptable to leave it loose over the bell housing?
I have attached a picture of my engine bay. Sorry that it is so dark, but you can sorta see the vacuum tube and non-return valve. The bottom of the header bottle has a 3/4” hose connection which runs to the water pump suction. The firewall is additionally cluttered with the normal 3/4” heater hose, a couple of wire looms (non-stock), bonnet release cable, speedometer cable and a flexible clutch hydraulic line. I may be able to move the bonnet release cable to a bent retainer attached to a cam cover nut.
Have also attached an archived photo that shows the Plus 2 firewall with the curved profile I need to consider.
Thanks
Stu