Radiator hoses for my 390, help

[Macgyver]

My M715 that I have been working on has a swapped in 390 ford motor in it and a newly recored radiator. I'm trying to find hoses for it. Does anyone have part numbers on their's? I can read some of the numbers but not all. I really didn't want to go flex since my water pump is 2" and my lower radiator is 1 3/4". I was over at napa for hours looking for a hose and got close but nothing good.

Any ideas? Thanks!

[randyscycle]

Don't have a 390, but with my 396 Chevy, I had to spend a few hours at different parts stores trying to match up a close fit. I didn't have anything to go by except rough measurements in my case, so it may just be trial and error.

[Barrman]

My 396 required a lot of searching and cutting too. However, I did find out that a 1976 C10 with a 350 has an upper radiator hose that fits mine perfectly.

Go to a junk yard or used car lot and just look under a lot of hoods. You will find something that looks close. Go buy a new one like that with the proper sized ends on it and you will be set.

[randyscycle]

Oh, and the flex hoses will give you a problem later. I seem to always have them split in one of the pleated areas after a year or so. Seems to be a weak spot, so if you can avoid them do so.

They are great to keep in your toolbox as a trail spare though.

[Barrman]

Randy is correct. I used a flex hose on the top of my 396. Brand new installed in April 2005. October 2006 had me pulling a trailer with a M715 on the back. I stopped for fuel on a nice 95 degree day and had a water fall when I fired it back up. A pleat near the radiator end let go. Thankfully, Pistolnut was in a regular car following along to the Texas FE since I had his M715 on the trailer. I used his car to go to NAPA and came back with the 1976 C10 upper hose. One cut with a knife and it hasn't been messed with since.

[*gearhead*]

My M715 that I have been working on has a swapped in 390 ford motor in it and a newly recored radiator.

What was the radiator out of (if you know)?

[Macgyver]

Hey guys my M715 is on the road!!!

I ended up having a 3 row CJ radiator built that had the 1 3/4" fittings on it for the hoses. The CJ core was basically 1" shorter than the M715 stock core, and the tanks are slightly larger on my new CJ radiator. For hoses I ended up ordering the stainless flex hoses with rubber ends from Jegs. I gave up trying to find a lower rubber hose since I have the radiator hose, the new power steering box and hoses, drive shaft for the PTO winch and the fan shroud all fighting for the space. My lower hose ended up kind of like a cork screw in a way. I'll try to post pictures of the beast tommorrow. I've been driving it to work for the last 4 days, and it's a blast, except for the seats. I ended up putting some Jeep Wrangler buckets in it today, and it's a joy to drive now. I'm keeping my stock seating just in case for later, but the stock seats were killing my back

[Tomahawk715]

I took a bunch of old hoses-cut them to fit around the fan etc-then duct taped them together once I had "one that fit". I then took it to the local parts store and told them I needed a hose like the one I made-they looked thru the million hoses and found one that fit like a glove. This was for a small block chevy. Then I ended up switching radiators and going to an electric fan so it was all a big waste of time But that method works whenever your doing a swap.