While trying to fix a leak on the overflow tube where it connects to the neck of the radiator, the rod that supports the hood jumped out of it's hole, leaving me wearing the hood for a hat. This was probably the 200th time in the last 45 years. No skin lost, don't ask me how, maybe she was glad for the attention. Anyway, after replacing the radiator, I decided to replace the hoses that were new in 1970. Hoses should last more than 35 years, shouldn't they?? I dug through the box of road spares and came up with 2 lower hoses, here are the numbers for reference, canadian rubber co. #80296, no name hose #N17A3AG. Both of these are good fitting lower hoses. A quick trip to Advance Auto, and impressing the sweet young thing behind the counter with my rusty El Paso spanish, got me a pass to select the hose of my choice from the back wall. A legal pad full of numbers didn't hurt either. She saw I wasn't leaving without a hose, so she left me to take care of other customers. Faster than I could explain that I want a radiator hose for a car that they quit making fourty years ago, I returned to the counter with a suitable replacement. All this for less than 15.00 Oh yes the number is #71085CS, it will have to be trimmed to fit, but it's not a flex hose, and it has the correct size bell on the radiator end and fits the water neck also. The next time you have trouble getting parts, just ask in spanish to see her hoses. It worked for me, I left with a hose and a smile, can't beat that. John [ with a slight head ache but happy ]
- posted
16 years ago