well my top radiator hose busted on me the other night and left me stranded for about 30 minutes with no heat or anything in -10 degree weather (including the wind chill) and needless to say i was freezin!! i fix the top one..it had a cut about 4 inches long in it and sounded like a gun firing when it happened...i fixed it and replaced the heater core..now i have heat and all the good stuff...anyway..i bought the bottom radiater hose too and i couldnt get the old one off..any tips?? also the thermostat has about 2 hoses leading off besides the radiater hose and i didnt want to mess with taking it off at the time..on goes to the heater core and on goes somewhere else...i plan on replacing the thermostat and bottom hose at school monday and i was just seein if there was any tips i could use to my advantage...its an 86 f-150 351w...and also would i gain anything by taking off the smog pump? what would i have to do to the hoses when i take it off? thanks

 

The best way to remove a rad hose is with a small razor, cut it at three points different from each other, although a sharp knife will also work but would likely dull the edge, on an 86 f150 the middle waterpump hose can sometimes be a bear to replace, but if you soak it in hot water first before putting it on, it would be easier to go on the fitting, this little tip also works on those stubborn tight lower hose's that seem to tight to fit. on the thermostat if the holes are not already placed on the thermostat itself, drill three small air holes like in a triangle pattern in it. This would keep fluid from keeping the engine from starving for antifreeze/water mixure after starting. You'll likely discovered that the engine would heat up quicker and there would be small air pockets...to cause thr engine to overheat. This little trick works all the time in any engine, lastly after you cheched all the hose connections and its cooled down some, just retighten the hose clamps a few clicks and your water problems are then contained. THe smog pump is threre to get a fresh warm supply of clean air going to the air snorkle on the breather assy, so you would have a problem with ice forming inside the carb inlet and to push warm air to the exhaust cat converter from running too richly over time.

 

Just replaced my lower hose and t-stat last weekend in my 1984 F-150 351W 2WD 92,000 orig mi. Kinda like you, I had to do the upper and lower hoses at different times except I was just doing it for routine maint. and didn't blow any hoses. After I had the system drained and finished the upper and went to change the lower, I discovered the previous owner had installed a narrower (left to right) radiator so the lower hose I had bought did not fit. That was about a month ago, so I finally finished the lower last weekend and decided to change the stat also. Anyway, for your questions....to get it off, cut, twist, pry it off w/o breaking anything I used wd-40 and a screwdriver. The 2 hoses, one goes to the heater core and the short one that does a "tight U-turn" is called a bypass. I had to replace my bypass hose a few months back, and instead of trying to make one out of heater hose I bought one at a parts store, because that is one tight turn it makes. As for the smog(air) pump, do a search on here and you'll get a lot of info. Also, the original stat I removed did not look like any I've seen, it had a plastic cover over the engine side, anyone know if thats what ford used back then?

 

key has a good idea about the cutting of the hose. On my 86 351W I noticed that the new hose had to be trimmed so that it would not rub on the steering box. I know the feeling of winter repairs... had to do a soft plug once on my 79 laying in the snow in zero weather...not fun at all

 

thanks guys..ill do it all moday at school..im glad im in auto shop...lol...uh also my electric choke on the carb doesnt work right...the thing will not start with it connected but if i disconnect it and start it then put it back on it will run fine ....i dont get it ..any help with that

 

Replacing it would be a good idea, its going to open circuit....doens't matter after you remove it and then plugged it in, the circuit is already open...it uses the starting circuit to work.

 

Another tip:

You can get radiator hose grease, and smear a thin film on the inside of the hose. It will help in installation, and keep the hose from sticking to the metal to alow, easier removal too. They sell it at AZ amongst others...

 

alrighty...im not really sure about doing alot of this stuff till after x-mas...not alot of money till after...but the thermostat and bottom rad hose are defintely getting replaced monday...thats a positive...after i get some modey saved up i plan on these things:

basic tune up "plugs wires etc", holley 600cfm electric choke, 2 1/2" dual exhaust from headers with 3 1/2" tips at 45* behind the tires, rims and tires, paint job, lighted visor, diamond plate bed rail liner and diamond plate tool box, cd player and speakers, ...so far thats it..it should look and run pretty good after all that..right now it looks like crap and runs ok, o and new interior...holes in the floorboard right now..lol..not to big but big enough to see as your getting in...thanks for the tips guys