Stainless Ribbed Radiator Hoses

[roger55]

I've been look at these Flexi-Kool radiator hoses:

Flexi-Kool Radiator Hose

Are these good? Reliable? Would anyone be leery of these?
They say they don't crack.

Sure would be handy to install since I have a custom radiator in my car and can't use stock length hoses.

If anyone has experience with these (or similar) or just has an opinion, I would appreciate it.

[67 ls1 vert]

I never liked ribbed hoses. But I haven't heard anything bad about them.

[oestek]

I never liked ribbed hoses. But I haven't heard anything bad about them.

+1.

[roger55]

Thanks guys.

I've never liked them in the flexible rubber hoses. But, I've never seen these stainless ones on a car before.
The come in different colors too (powder coated).

I was thinking that black might look pretty good.
This is for my '55 Chevy Bel Air and I've got an aluminum radiator and core support but left them natural instead of polishing.

But, I was more concerned about reliability. I want to be able to drive this car across the country and not have to worry about stuff like this. I guess since the ends are rubber, they handle the movement and vibration from the engine so the metal doesn't crack over time.

[slownova73]

5 years and no problems period.

[FULMNTE]

Running the on my Monte for 4+ years without any issues...

[1969CamaroRS]

[DynoDon]

Always HATED them, look like they belong under my sink. I did have a customer bring in a Model A that had them and one had cracked, was leaking slightly, so we figured out the bends and went to the auto parts store for a proper molded rubber hose. I know some guys like em, but I don't and they now look a bit dated, too 90's for me - JMHO

[roger55]

Always HATED them, look like they belong under my sink. I did have a customer bring in a Model A that had them and one had cracked, was leaking slightly, so we figured out the bends and went to the auto parts store for a proper molded rubber hose. I know some guys like em, but I don't and they now look a bit dated, too 90's for me - JMHO

I decided not to go with them. I posted this same question on a few other forums and yours is not the only one that mentioned cracking as well as other problems. However, like here, there were several positive reports too. I'm not crazy about the way they look either. But the bottom line is reliability. I wont take the chance.



For my top hose, I am going to get a mandrel bent piece of stainless tubing and use rubber couplers for the ends. For my bottom hose, I am going to make a template and find an auto parts store that will let me search their shelves.

[DynoDon]

For my top hose, I am going to get a mandrel bent piece of stainless tubing and use rubber couplers for the ends. For my bottom hose, I am going to make a template and find an auto parts store that will let me search their shelves.

Make sure you leave at least a couple of inches between your stainless tube and the radiator. I am repairing a radiator right now where the tube was very close to the radiator with a short rubber hose and the vibration cracked the radiator where the connection was welded to the tank, on a beautiful Griffin Aluminum radiator.

[roger55]

Thanks.
I am intending to use a silicone 90 deg elbow on the radiator end.