Im trying to finish up my 5.0 motor swap into my 2g rx7 and im having problems with my radiator hose set up. I was curious if it is possible to bend some custom piping out of stainless steel in order to make all of the custom bends, then use couplers to attach them to the water pump and radiator and so fourth. I can get piping that is stainless and wont rust but i am worried about if the pipe will get too hot or not disperse heat or will cause over heating or whatever. I have seen stainless steel hose kits online that i could buy but they would still be difficult to use in order to make all of the custom bends that are required for my application.

 

Sure, properly bent and terminated* tube will work fine.

*"terminated"= a rolled lip/bead like the stock outlet on your rad for the hose to seal against.

 

i think typically people use aluminum piping, lightweight and wont rust....somebody correct me if im wrong though. -mike

 

Metal piping is easy and fun:











Generally I use cast tubing bends and then cut and weld appropriately. The long mandrel bends might not be tight enough to get where you need them, and even the best mendrel bends become slightly oval in the midsection so they are hard to cut to fit. Those pipes don't show any beads on the end but I've since modified them. Even without the beads I didn't have any problem sealing.

 

Yeah, well with those nice big honkin t-clamps on there it'd be surprising if you did.
But you added a lip anyway...better safe than sorry, eh?