Sunday, June 04, 2006
radiator and hoses
The radiator used is a unit from a 1986 diesel Trooper. The hose inlet/outlet are on opposite sides of the radiator (as compared to the radiator from the gas Trooper); the core is also thicker and the tanks are larger, it's much more robust overall. The radiator and shroud are bolt-in items, no modifications needed to mount to the chassis.The upper radiator hose, shown above right, is also from a diesel Trooper. It required minor trimming to fit.
The lower hose (above left, shown from underneath, with the near end being the engine end) was problematic. The engine-side inlet is larger than the outlet on the radiator and is located slightly to the side of the outlet. I tried to find a hose that had the curvature I needed which also changed diameter at some point, but I was unsuccessful (not to mention annoying to the fellows at the parts counter). Additionally, the distance is too short to use any sort of universal flexible hose.
I decided to have the radiator modified and have the outlet enlarged to match the inlet tube on the engine. With this done, I found that Gates hose #22364 has a curved section that fits perfectly (after removing a 90-degree bend at one end). According to the Gates site, this hose fits a 1998-2001 Ford Ranger or Mazda B2500 pickup. I am not sure which hose it is, or which engine it fits, but these trucks are common so I don't anticipate any problems finding spares in the future.
posted by acy76, 10:15 PM
