Radiator hose?

[mildlyamused]

What's the best way to stretch a 1.5" hose end to 1.75" to fit the return of the H2O pump?

[ROADRACER83]

Andy:

You can't stretch the hose, but you can use an adapter to step them up or down.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/P...nd-Extensions/

I looked and also found some in the NAPA belts and hoses catalog.

http://napabeltshose.com/

Ron

[Dan Babb]

Put the end in boiling water for a few mins.
Then force it oner a trailer hitch ball (wear gloves)
then let it cool.

It will help, but it will still be a bitch to get it on the pump.

[MorePower]

If you are willing to spend a couple of bucks (<$10 at HF), a tail pipe expander worked well for me. Just need to let the hose sit for a couple of days with the expander in it.

[CCRsAC]

Ask your local (usually old-school) auto parts store if you can go in the back and browse through the hose rack. I found all sorts of great hose bits by doing that. Typically, you can find what you need - it'll just be attached to a bunch of stuff you don't, which can be cut-off and discarded (or thrown in the spare parts pile in the corner of the garage).

[Bob Cowan]

Like Ron said, you don't. Trying to stretch is out like that will pretty much guarantee a catastrophic failure.

Either buy a hose end adapter, or make one from some muffler tubing.

[mg2]

Hey Andy hows the build going ? I still need to come over to see what mine will look like in the future. Do you still have your rivit spacing tool that came with the kit ? Mine is on vacation somewhere in the garage. I'm waiting for the powder coater now so I can put my footboxes on for good.

[Bill_VA]

Been there done that. Heat up the end in hot hot water, lube up the hose with hose lube (AutoZone has it at the counter in a little packets), slip over the pump and leave it there for a day or two. It's still be a challenge to do while on the car, but easier.

[Bill_VA]

Also, make sure to use good clamps (don't ask how I know). I ended up using the heat shrink bands from NAPA, tremendous clamping power and they look good too.

[KRUSTY990]

What CCR said. There is no need to strech anything, Go to NAPA, they have a book that shows a ton of different hoses with pics and dimensions. Pick the one that will work in your application. I would do anything to keep from using that SS junk or streching the hose mouth to fit.

good luck: krusty

[narve00]

Different brands of hoses make a difference too.

I tried stretching a hose from Advance and it was never going to happen. Went to Autozone, got the "same" hose and was able to install it.

[tirod]

Do y'all know why some hoses stretch better than others? Lack of inner braid. It's a low quality hose.

If distorting and breaking the inner braid is what it takes to fit a hose, count me out. There's hundreds of them at the parts store, fitting the CORRECT hose properly the first time isn't that hard. "Redneck engineering" the wrong hose and getting it to work isn't a recommendation, it's a testimony to the fitter's skill level and expertise.

Don't damage your build with a cheap shortsighted solution. At $15 a gallon and a tow truck fee hours later, you are just setting yourself up for failure. Do it right, you won't mess with it for 75K miles.

Hey, I work a parts store, pay me once or pay me over and over and over and over . . .

[narve00]

The lower quality hose wouldn't stretch.

The higher quality was far more compliant.

6 years and 20k miles the hose is fine. Frankly I like having only 2 connections on the hose rather than a spliced hose with 4 connections.