painting braided stainless...

[gmjj13]

is it possible? i bought a braided stainless "kit" that covers the radiator hose, heater hoses and a couple others. i just put the radiator hose cover on and it seems to be just a bit too much "bling" for me. its actually really shiny. i was thinking about spraying it a semi-flat black with high temp engine paint. my question is how well would it hold up? anyone ever done this before? and lastly does anyone know if any company makes black braided stainless hose covers?

thanks for any and all info anyone can help me out with.

this site rocks.

[MarkM66]

If the hose moves at all, I think it'll just rub itself off.

[thedugan]

wrap it real tight with black electrical tape.

[funbnme]

I used something like that on my last car. After a while, it starts to look bad. It loosens up and starts to bunch up a bit near the ends. I don't think it would be worth it to try to paint it.

If you want the black look, you may be better off leaving the black rubber hoses, but invest in some nicer looking hose clamps or hose clamp covers to dress up where they connect.

These are a bit expensive, but may give you the dress-up your looking for.
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

[gmjj13]

thanks for the suggestions. anyone know of a place that makes black braided stainless? here's a pic os what i'm working with. it seems a bit to flashy for me. what do you guys think....

[ty1295]

You could have a hose built from pipe, then just have the ends coupled.

I left mine just stainless, but then you could powdercoat/paint it any color you wanted.

[CarlC]

Personally, I think a stock black rubber hose with Gates shrink-fit clamps would look very good. To spruce up the heater hose ends you can use a press-lock AN hose end and a shrink clamp.

You can see what the Gates clamps look like on my website. McMaster Carr is about the best value out there. Some NAPA stores also carry them under their own name, but they are made by Gates.

[NOJIMMY]

There are kits like the following that use braided hose
http://www.made4uproducts.com/trick_kit.htm

-Larry

[MikeDVC]

There are kits like the following that use braided hose
http://www.made4uproducts.com/trick_kit.htm

-Larry

I've used these for heater and vacum hoses, the black ones look ok (see my garage), but I don't care for the colored ones. They do seem to protect the hose.

I never liked the ss braided hose for any thing, except fuel or brake lines.

[HarleyR]

If it was a -20 AN line I'd have something that would be just what your looking for...

[gmjj13]

Larry, is it me or does that hose look like it has a plastic braid over it? if it was something like a cloth braid, that would be just what i'm looking for.

Harley, i think its more like a -24AN line. what do you have?

Carl, where can i find those gates clamps, they look pretty good.

thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

[CarlC]

The last paragraph of my previous post.

[gmjj13]

cool, thanks...

[HarleyR]

-20 would be more than plenty its all I have ever ran on our race cars... The line I can get is made by Aeroquip... cloth jacket with a convoluted(sp?) innner... bad thing about it the hose has to be krimped...

[eville]

not the best picture, but this is how I did my heater hoses. Like how carl suggested.

[gmjj13]

not the best picture, but this is how I did my heater hoses. Like how carl suggested.

i like how it looks. i think i'll go that route as well with my heater hoses...still trying to figure out what to do on the radiator hose though. as of now, i am just using the hose ends from the kit with nothing on the hose. i may end up leaving it like that, who knows...