Wondering if anyone is making a brass or stainless steel version of the plastic piece joining the upper radiator hoses and containing the bleed screw. If not,....any ideas on how to replicate it with something more durable (and maybe even more reasonably priced than the LR upper hose assembly?).

Brian

 

I've made one based on some of the plans that have floated around here.





You need a 1 inch metal tee, as well as 3 short pipes (I think they were all 1.25 pipes that I cut the threads off the non-tee side), 6X .75 to 1.25 hose clamps and either the vinyl pipe tape (I am completely blanking on the actual name) or the pipe sealant (which I used) and a brass vent valve to act as your bleeder.

I just drilled into the middle of the tee on the back side and the tapped it and it screwed the vent valve in with some pipe sealant on it. let it sit and dry for a few hours and then I installed it.

 

This version shows the bubbles from bleeding - don't stop with the first few....

 

Where do you find the brass vent valve? Also, why two clamps on each hose where they connect to the galvanized T.

 

Two clamps because the plumbing pipe won't have a ridge on the end like a regular hose mount; and the small valves are available in the plumbing aisle as well.

 

Or you could switch to an inline thermo and use this guy.

Stealth Conversions V8 Cooling System Parts - Coolant Sight Glass

 

Short closed nipples will have ridges

 

What does that mean?

 

Seems like there could still be air in the system with the bleeder valve on the side instead of the top.

 

Would there be room on the top side of the T for a bleeder (for the hood to close and the bleeder to clear it)

BC