Ford Blitz Restoration/Rebuild

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Private_collector

I have found this set of radiator hoses for sale. Are these the style that were original? I have two conflicting images in two manuals, showing this type in one and a solid metal pipe style in other.

I've always assumed the metal pipe was used on all CMPs, as a means to save rubber during the war, and that any full-length rubber hoses found on CMPs are post-war replacement parts, like those seen in pic 1 (purchased 1973).

I've noticed the Army retained the metal pipe in post war years. They're still present on my FGTs which would have been disposed of in the '60s.

I'm planning to use metal pipes on mine because they look more genuine to me, but unless someone knows of a source I shall have to get some made up. They need to be mandrel bent, as opposed to press bending done by exhaust shops, which squashes the inside of the bend (looks wrong and would probably cause problems fitting hose clamps). Some specialist exhaust shops can do mandrel bending to maximize gas flow (eg. for turbos) and various engineering works, eg. bullbar manufacturers. I made enquiries recently and was quoted around $200 set up cost, plus material and labour at around $20 per unit. For the moment I've just used straight exhaust pipe with suitable rubber sections (two bends from a Falcon radiator hose) as seen in pic 2.

Perhaps I'm wrong Tony, ie. full-length rubber WAS used on some CMPs. However I much prefer the look of the metal ones myself. The two small rubber sections in your pic look right, ie. rough surface texture and spiral moulding marks. Not sure about the red stripe though. Hose clamps look right, ie. pre-worm drive type.

I guess it depends how obsessive you are about appearance! I'd be interested to know what others have used.