Radiator Hoses

[Charlie]

Went to replace the radiator hoses on my 79' 440 and the auto parts store couldn't come up with the right hoses.  Since Dodge did not have a 440 in a truck or van in 79' we looked for a 78'.  All the hoses they showed in the computer and the book were either to short or bent in the wrong direction.  Anyone have a brand and part number for these hoses?  Thanks
Charlie at: NetConnected@hotmail.com

[handyman]

Go to past forms and all the part numbers are listed you can get them through NAPA

[Charlie]

The first place I looked was the Parts Listing back in the archive forums, the list doesn't have anything for the radiator hoses.  I wish it had.

[Richard Peterson]

You might consider searching for a suitable hose in the back room of a friendly autoparts dealer.  I was able to assemble a hose to my satisfaction from two different hoses and a splice in the middle.  The stock hoses I found just didn't quite fit the way I wanted.  There is no "magic" involved with finding a radiator hose.  Just get something that will fit and look right.  

[Charlie]

I had two pipes bent (upper 1 1/2, lower 1 3/4, to fit perfectly and then clamped on with silicone hoses at each end.  Very clean, won't rote or cut and looks good.

[Guinnessecco]

Had some temperature creep up on long hills so pulled radiator and had it put in a hot tank.  Too many leaks so put a new core in it for $200.  I asked for a bigger core than stock, but there was no extra room on the upper and lower tanks.  They did a nice job.  The Mike's Radiator here in Fresno did it for me.  The new hoses I used were a different shape than the old hoses, which is good because the old hose came too close to the alternator belts and had almost worn through the upper hose, well past the fabric enforcement in the hose.  The hoses are Goodyear and the upper hose number is 60858 and the lower is 60974. Decker here in Fresno had them in stock, no waiting there.  I also had to replace the heater-air conditioning blower motor since the bearings froze on me and that was $44 at NAPA.  The hoses were about $12 each.  If you ever take a radiator out, jack the RV up about a foot and take the radiator out the bottom.  Only way to do it.

[EKS]

Guinnessecco
See earlier post on radiator replacement info. There is one that fits the standard tanks that has better than twice the cooling capacity of the stock radiator.

[Guinnessecco]

This was a four row radiator with high density (close spacing of fins) core. I went back and read the old post.  In my book the number of fins defines the cooling capacity.  Flow helps, but the temperature difference out the bottom compared to what comes in the top of the radiator is what counts in my book.  High flow is important thorugh the engine heads (think exhaust ports) and a high flow water pump helps with that for an engine that works close to full throttle like in a large truck.

[EKS]

The more surface area exposed to the air that takes the heat away the more heat will be expelled. Any system is only as good as the weakest component. A $5,000 stereo with $50 speakers is only going to give you $50 sound. For the small difference in cost I would upgrade anything I had to replace anyway, particularly in a problem area like cooling. I was just trying to be helpful, don't get a commission.

[RYBKA]

Hi Charlie,

Foster is right.  
My 79 Clipper hoses were replaced last year via Napa, but only after they checked the DODGE MOTORHOME section of the hose books, not the Van or Truck sections.  

vty, Rybka #3279

[Charlie]

Thanks for all the responses.  My unit must be an odd ball because Napa or no one else could get me hoses that fit, they were all to short.  I ended up getting a 20" flex hose and I had a muffler shop bend me a pipe that fits also.  Thanks again.