Radiator Hose, mismatched inlet and outlet

I have a Chevy 4.3 and I'm using a stock radiator that has been re-cored. The radiator outlet and the water pump inlet are not the same size. There is a half an inch difference in diameter: water pump inlet is 2 inches and radiator outlet is 1-1/2 inches.

Is there a way to adapt the two necks? Can I just sleeve the smaller neck with a section of a hose? I'm trying to avoid going to the radiator shop to have them replace the radiator outlet to match the water pump.

While on the topic of hoses, I'm on my way to the store to buy longer fuel filler and vent hoses. In the case that I don't find hoses of the correct length and bends, can I splice two hoses together with a solid pipe as an inner sleeve? metal pipe? plastic?

thanks

 

You should be able to get a flex hose with different sizes on each end. This used to be a common item. A good local parts store can help.

Yes, an inner sleeve is fine. Done all the time. You can even use short, straight lengths of fuel hose and bend a pipe to fit. Metal is best, since you can't really tell what the long-term effect of fuel will be on plastics.

 

It was interesting to find a type of green plastic hose on the lines running from my tank to the canister. Thick walled for its diameter, tough as nails. Looks like it hasn't been touched since the thing was built. One small area (about 2") had been smashed between a rock and the frame, I patched with a little piece of fuel hose, that plastic stuff didn't want to be cut with a sharp knife, I think I wound up dremmel cutting it. Aftermarket? Who knows.

 

Original IIRC. I thought it was only used for vapor, though someone claimed it was used for liquid fuel too. Not to my recollection though.

 

I found out that the local pep boys have numerous radiator hoses with different sizes on each end. I would've liked to use one of those flex hoses for the kink-free bends. I looked at a few at the local napa but they were too long. I bought a hose from an Astro Van (the donor) but the water pump side was too small somehow. Exchange it for a Chevy S-10 (same motor) rad hose and the pump side was the correct size.

both places just allowed me to go behind the counter and search the shelves...

Regarding the filler hose, I think I'll go with metal. Plastic reminded of the time when I used an old plastic gas container with a plastic nozzle and the nozzle has turned brittle and broke into pieces as I was inserting it in my yj's filler...

 

Your parts store should be able to get the corrugated flex hose in the length you need. Molded hoses are actually better, but sometimes you have to compromise. You may have to rig a bracket to support the hose and keep it from flopping around. Such things are typical for motor swaps.

 

When I swaped in a Buick 350 into my CJ6 used hoses from a 1970 J10 pickup.
Had to shorten them in the middle, cut the and used a barbed hose coulping. These were steel, a peice of pipe would not clamp tight, it would slip off at pressure.
Took the hose part # and put on a sticker inside the glove box door, so if I blew one on a trail ride could find at the local FLAPS

Andrew

 

Dayco hoses has software that will take your two diameters and give you a list of part numbers that match your needs. I use it all the time when putting odd engines in vehicles that don't match. They call these hoses "Dual end" hoses. Go to your FLAPS and see what they can do fur ya.