79 Bronco; I have just installed the 3rd lower radiator hose in less than 50 miles on a 351M now 408 engine. The fan belt hits the hose and rubs a hole in it. SOMETIMES. There is about 5/8" space between the belt and the hose in the closest area. The belt is tightened with 1/2" deflection and the pulleys are running true, even at high RPM. Revving the engine does not affect the clearance. Motor mounts were changed before re-installing engine. The hose is put in in the correct position (one side is longer than the other.) There are no add-on accessories or A/C. Replaced with O'Reillys MasterPro and NAPA hoses, correct numbers for application. Just to rule out parts I changed the radiator also and it has rubbed a hole with old and new radiators. Problem does not associate itself with pumps or radiators.

The hole in the hose each time is the same place and is directly next to the belt (like the hose blew up and started to rub.) Not above the belt or below the belt but directly next to it.

As it does not happen every time I drive it I am suspicious it may have something to do with horsing it (engine torquing over????) but as I said previously the hole is not in a lower portion of the hose so this kind of rules this out.

As this is on the suction side of the pump I think I can rule out ballooning.

 

Only 5/8" is awful close for a V-belt to be running next to a hose, isn't it? Especially when its radial out from the belt, rather than axial spacing.

Are you running the proper molded lower radiator hose? Have you substituted in a different bigger radiator, etc. that changed the spacing?

I grew up with V-belts (glad that's over ), I never remember a belt that close to a hose... just asking for trouble.

 

My 78 Bronco lower hose is close to the belt also. Havent had a problem with it hitting. If I did however I would buy a piece of tubing and extend the hose away from the belt.

 

Could you make a hose guard out of some sheet metal, shape it to fit the hose and hose clamp it in place?

 

I thought about doing that but I pulled the hose back with tie wraps to gain another 1/4". Hate having to rig it to make it work. Kind of bugs me that this is an issue, probably has something to do with "replacement" parts that are supposedly made to OEM specs. Had 2 hoses from different manufacturers that made them to OEM specs. One quite a bit shorter on the long end. Hmmmmm! Wonder who couldn't read the tape measure??

 

Same issue with my 95 upper radiator hose, using zip ties and a hose clamp to hold it up. I'll take a pic tomorrow