Hey guys,
I actually read every post in that "Chalk one up..." thread because I am having the same problems. Idles at 180* but when I'm on the freeway with the AC on it climbs to 225-230. My first question is is there supposed to be a spring in the UPPER rad hose? I have one in the lower one for sure. Does the upper hose suck or blow? It is a prefab hose that I got from Autozone and it is pretty squishy. I do have a recovery system. 13# rad cap. '69 bird, with a '71 400 11 bolt pump. I haven't gone there yet, I want to eliminate all the easy stuff first.
Thanks.

Hey guys,
I actually read every post in that "Chalk one up..." thread because I am having the same problems. Idles at 180* but when I'm on the freeway with the AC on it climbs to 225-230. My first question is is there supposed to be a spring in the UPPER rad hose? I have one in the lower one for sure. Does the upper hose suck or blow? It is a prefab hose that I got from Autozone and it is pretty squishy. I do have a recovery system. 13# rad cap. '69 bird, with a '71 400 11 bolt pump. I haven't gone there yet, I want to eliminate all the easy stuff first.
Thanks.

You do not need an upper spring. Just a bottom one

Is there anyone around that can flow test your radiator? If your getting good flow at idle , I would check to see if you have a restriction in your radiator that won't flow at a higher rpm range.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DOC:
You do not need an upper spring. Just a bottom one </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I don't have a spring in my bottom hose... what does it do???

A spring in you lower hose will prevent it from collapsing at higher RPMs.

I was reading one of the posts on this and the question was where to get one. The $10,000 suggestion was to make it out of some stainless welding rod. My local welding supply house gave me 5-10 pieces. I wrapped it around a piece of round wood and Walla. Instant lower hose spring. I actually used 2 pieces to get the proper length.

Do a search on the topic for the type and size of welding rod that was recommended. I don't remember off hand.

1/16" stainless rod. Same thing happened to me last year, and someone on this board told me about the welding rod/spring trick. Fixed the problem. I did it to both hoses. Brought the temp back down to about 190 (from 220-ish).

I have never had to make a lower hose spring, They normally come w/ one......

current hoses no longer come with springs. Supposedly the new hose technology and materials are not likely to collapse like the older type hoses. I don't believe it, particularly when the hose manufacturers tell you to replace hoses because the inside weakens and you can't tell from the outside anymore.

I take my molded lower rad hose to AutoZone, NAPA etc and find one of their flex hoses that is the same diameter and length. You will have to search through their hoses to find a match. Then I cut the flex hose open, remove the spring and install it in my molded hose. This ensures you get the proper size spring and one that won't rust out!

Hope this helps. Jim

What do you mean flex hose.. that metal looking exhaust type hose in the red box? Maybe you could post a pic of your technique?

Thanks!

What I meant by flex hose is the "generic" ribbed rubber hoses that the Parts Store sell. They are not the smooth molded hoses that PY or other Pontiac Vendors sell for specific applications. The flex hose is ribbed instead of smooth but is black rubber. If you go to a parts store and ask to look at their radiator hoses, you will see what I mean. Hard to explain and unfortunately I don't have any pictures because I throw the parts store hose away after I cut it in half to get the spring out.
Hope this helps. Jim

so these ribbed hoses have the spring in them already and you basically cut open this hose, rip out the spring and put into the pontiac hose?

SOME of the ribbed lower radiator hoses have the spring so you have to search through their stock of hoses. You can see it when looking inside. Just match length and diameter to your Pontiac hose and cut away!

Jim