[DeTomaso] Connecting to the Coolant Underbody Tubes

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/10/08 11:48:20 AM, cdifani at pacbell.net writes:

> My coolant lines are AN16, and my heater lines are AN12. My current issue 
> is figuring out some way to create a threaded fitting on all the lines. I 
> realize that I could create some kind of adapter, and then use a short length of 
> radiator hose to connect it, but I'd much prefer a "solid" connection.
> 
Dash-16 lines are small compared to stock which would be around dash-22 
(1-3/8" ID). These larger fitting are available from Aeroquip for use in large 
airplanes and are not cheap. Some are sold thru speed shops. If you're (hopefully) 
using aftermarket stainless steel underbody lines, they can be hand-flaired 
with some effort by pulling sideways while rotating a piece of pipe or thick 
bar stock stuck in the tube end an inch or so (once the AN nut is slid on), then 
complete the bootleg-flair by greasing the nut and connecting fitting up, and 
slowly tightening the nut and coupling together. A small amount of careful 
ball-peen hammer work might help. Or, stainless AN fittings can be cut and 
welded or brazed to the SS underbody tubes for an expensive but never-fail fix. 
Obviously this is best done out of the car with the tubes in a big vise, and it's 
even more useless effort with the stock exhaust tubing used for our main 
water tubing; you'll likely to be in there again fairly soon due to rust. 

On the thicker walled but smaller diameter heater tubes, once you're sure 
they are not badly rust-damaged, they can also be welded or hand-flaired in the 
same manner. The tubes are a true pain to remove first, so i"d try doing them 
in-place, with the engine out. Back in the day, we flaired dragster exhaust 
pipe tips and Weber intake pipes the same way, for looks, using a torch to warm 
the end of the tube and a long chunk of pipe. The only reason hand-flairing 
works is the tubing is seamless so it doesn't split while you're brutalizing it, 
and it's fairly soft. The operating pressures involved are ridiculously low 
compared to what AN fittings are designed for so even a bootleg single-flair 
will hold. 

Or, good Gates Green-stripe hose & 2 clamps per hose end also works for most 
of us. Good luck- J DeRyke



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