Finn's Inn Express gets an engine upgrade

[iamflagman]

Swung the radiator on my FC late this afternoon, I did a feel test on the belts and they felt tight, but in the morning I'll be checking tension on the new belts and also replace the plastic radiator hose splices that we installed with the engine upgrade with new aluminum ones purchased from http://www.jagsthatrun.com/Pages/Parts_TPI-TBI_HoseSplice.html#kits the plastic ones were leaking even after tightening them a couple of times, it was suggested that I just add two additional hose clamp on each of them, but in order to get to both splices I had to swing the radiator, so I have decided to just replace them and use 4 constant torque hose clamps on each of the two splices.

I have a few more items to check out before I button things back up, I will try to get it all done before we start having the rain move in tomorrow afternoon.

[iamflagman]

I removed the LASCO PVC hose splice in both the upper and lower radiator hoses, this is similar to what they looked like when first installed.

I also went to LASCO's website http://lascofittings.sitewrench.com/products/1429-005 and found out that these type of PVC spacer are only recommended for cold water use, so it answers why they were deformed when I removed them and there was no way that I could have gotten them to stop leaking, so beware of companies that are selling these to be used in hot coolant hoses.

The aluminum spacers that I used were not long enough to be able to use 4 constant torque hose clamps as I had intended to use, so I will just have to use 2 of them on each hose splice.

After changing them out I ran the engine up to operating temperature with the pressure cap in place and there were no noticeable leaks like before, but I will do the same test tomorrow before I swing the radiator back into place.

[Rick]

Think you got it John. Looks good.

[Bearmtnmartin]

I think my hoses are both a single length with no splice. Just replaced the bottom one.

[Rick]

Originally Posted by Bearmtnmartin

I think my hoses are both a single length with no splice. Just replaced the bottom one.

Need the extra length for the swing radiator.

[Crit Bliss]

John, I tried pvc splices on my hot water heater 2nd back when I changed it at RATS and they were egg shaped and leaking within a couple hundred miles. The plastic just won't hold up.

[Birdshot]

I got steel splices at the local hydraulic supply that are similar to the plastic for about 8$ each. Space to double clamp.

[iamflagman]

I would like to mention that Mike H. did offer to warranty the hose splices by refunding me any money that I had spent for the aluminum splices and my labor, but I declined. The cost of the replacement parts was minimal and I was going to swing the radiator anyway so that I could check the Gates Fleetrunner belt tensions after the initial use, which they did indeed need to be tightened, but if they react the way my set on the old NA engine did, I shouldn't have to readjust them again for a long time. The biggest time consumer that I had getting this done today was working around the thunderstorms and lightening, which was very intense today preventing me from doing the last adjustment, I'll get that done tomorrow...........unless the thunderstorms and lightening hang around here.

[Bearmtnmartin]

I have the swing radiator but I think they are both one piece. I will have a look.

[iamflagman]

Originally Posted by Bearmtnmartin

I have the swing radiator but I think they are both one piece. I will have a look.

That is a possibility, but using two hoses allows the radiator to swing wider giving more access to the front of the engine.