TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone running a front radiator? What did you do for hoses?

Sat Oct 12, 2024 8:30 am

I am contemplating installing a water cooled engine in a Porsche 912 with a radiator (or two) in the front fender, behind the headlight (with an electric fan).

What would you use or do to run the coolant hoses? I imagine they would run in the rear wheel well then under the car, similar to the oil cooler hoses on the latest Porsche 911.

Are there some stainless steel hoses that could be bought and cut? and long/flexible coolant hoses? any recommendations?

thank you - just daydreaming for now.

Thu Dec 12, 2024 12:18 pm

I did a V8 swap into a 1975 914 about 20 yrs ago. Several of the companies selling swap kits for 914/V8 conversions were using rubber hose. The reccomended hose was Gates green stripe. I couldn't find the specific hose so I sourced some hose from McMaster-Carr which was described as for Boat wet exhaust systems. It is very stiff and rugged yet bends to a fairly tight radius. It is wire wound as well. I used 1 1/4"ID both for the 914 conversion, which was strictly for autocross use, and also for a street driven VW Beetle conversion. The 914 hose was on the 914 for 10 years. No issues. It comes in different sizes too.

A Link:
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/coolant-hose/flexible-coolant-hose-6/

The 914/V8

The H2oBug

Hope this helps.

Mike T

Mon Dec 16, 2024 9:51 am

SyncroChrick wrote: I am contemplating installing a water cooled engine in a Porsche 912 with a radiator (or two) in the front fender, behind the headlight (with an electric fan).

What would you use or do to run the coolant hoses? I imagine they would run in the rear wheel well then under the car, similar to the oil cooler hoses on the latest Porsche 911.

Are there some stainless steel hoses that could be bought and cut? and long/flexible coolant hoses? any recommendations?

thank you - just daydreaming for now.
giant mistake

Sun Dec 22, 2024 9:51 pm

BIGMIKEY wrote:

Hope this helps.

Mike T

Thanks - that's very helpful if I ever decide to go that route.

Wed Dec 25, 2024 2:06 pm

Teflon lined stainless steel braded hose (find a hydraulic hose shop) and why not mount the radiator under the existing air grill on the engine lid with an electric fan. You can find a high performance aluminum radiator from a number of speed shops. Or find a 912 motor and make the car worth a ton of money more.

Thu Dec 26, 2024 11:03 am

SyncroChrick wrote: I am contemplating installing a water cooled engine in a Porsche 912 with a radiator (or two) in the front fender, behind the headlight (with an electric fan).

What would you use or do to run the coolant hoses? I imagine they would run in the rear wheel well then under the car, similar to the oil cooler hoses on the latest Porsche 911.

Are there some stainless steel hoses that could be bought and cut? and long/flexible coolant hoses? any recommendations?

thank you - just daydreaming for now.

Is it really rough? Or are you making some kind of track/dragster car... Why would you want to do that to a classic 912 or is it an 912E? Even a 912E are really humming now with the 914 2.0l type engine they are both a great car.. If you don't have an engine and you are on a budget I don't know if a 1776cc might be a good fit and do a rats finish if it is a rough car but anything half decent is well worth sourcing a period correct engine. 912E included..

Tue Dec 31, 2024 12:22 am

Up front or attached to underneath the rear engine lid grill with fans should work. The latter was what I was planning to do when I got my 912. I have a Mazda rotary engine that I was going to swap. But after driving the car with the original engine for five minutes I changed my mind. I had never really paid much attention to how a car sounds but at that point I realized I wanted to keep it sounding air cooled and went with a VW type 1 engine instead. The other issue was weight. I didn't want to add any additional weight to the rear and ruin the handling. Saying that I can see the attraction of a more modern engine that is almost maintenance.