Need a very flexible oil hose.

I'm trying to find out what Maserati used for the two oil cooler hoses on my track car a Ghibli Open cup.
Not because of originality but because it is extremely flexible and thus allows for tight installations.

I have a new oil-to-water cooler that I'm fitting and I'm having installation problems because the oil fitting on the cooler and the one on the engine block are too close to each other.
Relocation for a larger distance is not possible. I'm also trying to avoid any enormous long looping runs of hose or special fabrications if possible.

I have as yet not been able to find a suitable hose here in the USA that will bend as well as those found on the Maserati. I need a 1.5 - 2.0" bend radius for a dash 10 or 12 size and typically what I'm finding is 3 to 4 or more inches. XRP advertises that their HS79 hose does this but when I sampled some at a local shop it wasn't even close to that bend radius.

The original hoses on the car do bend like this and have a cloth braided cover with diagonal stripes that look much like the XRP hose but it's a LOT more flexible and seems to work
quite well on those cars with no issues. These hoses are not nearly as stiff walled as the XRP or other hoses. This hose could easily make the connection with the proper allowances for flexibility required. The other stuff I've seen is very difficult in this situation.

Here's a look at the original installation hoses.

http://www.eurospares.co.uk/userImages/037/Large/037_009_1.gif

Any ideas?

Bob S.

 

Bob,

Try this link: http://www.holley.com/index.asp?division=Earls

and look at the Ultraflex 650. It looks like it has the bend radius you need.



Regards,
David

 

Check out Goodridge convoluted Teflon

http://www.goodridge.co.uk/index.htm
and
http://www.goodridge.net/usa/index.htm

Min. bend radius is 40 mm

I use the 710-12 in race cars for oil lines, been in place over five years with no problems.

I bought the hose and fittings, dry assembled, and marked how the fitting (elbows) were clocked, sent everything back to Goodridge, and they crimped the ends on.

 

This looks interesting I'll have to contact my local distributor and check it out.
Thanks guys!

Bob S.

 

Be prepared, its pricey, several times the cost of stainless braided hose, but it’s light, flexible, and does the job.

 

Well I was quoted $3.25 an inch for the XRP and honestly I can't figure out why it's supposed to be so great.
It did appear to be quite strong but no where near as flexible as advertised.
The required piece only needs to be about 12" long. The other hoses could be made out of something more vanilla like push-lock.

It would appear that the goodridge 910 with re-usable fittings might be a good match and the 710 is even more flexible.
The 710 looks like what I have on the car now. After inspecting it more closely I can see that it's a convoluted cloth covered hose but not a smooth bore
so that matches the 710.

Thanks you really helped me out of a jam.

Bob S.

 

Yes I was thinking of doing exactly that but could I ask why you didn't use their re-usable fittings on the 710?

Bob S.

 

Because I did not want to chance screwing it up, but real reason was that the crimp on fittings are more compact, and I had space considerations to deal with.

 

I understand that. I spoke with them this morning and the re-usable fittings are NLA so basically it's a you spec it and they send it operation now.
Thanks again Dave.

Bob S.

 

There's no way to use a hard line for the bend part, like a 180 or whatever end fitting?
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Hi Mark,

Well I could use a hard line from the cooler (just like yours) but then I have to afix the cooler to the engine which is possible but not particularly desireable in this (the only) location.
From the photos you may be able see the water lines on the left and right. Also I'm locating the oil filter on the far right out of the view of these pictures. Moving the water lines substantially
to accomodate a different orientation, like vertical is not possible

One of the water hoses is nice and long with a great bend in it but the one on the other side is a rather short connection with a 90 degree turn and lift. I'm uncomfortable with the amount flex allowed with that connection so I've decided to secure the cooler to chassis and let the oil lines as well as the other long water line do the flexing.

Bob S.
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It very much looks like the best option is to put a 90 on the engine and send the hoe straight up with a service loop come staight down into the cooler. My second choice would be a 90 on both the cooler and engine and the service loop parallel to the cooler. It will be much more durable with a little length in the hose. My last choice would be a 45 on the engine and a 90 or 120 on the cooler with a short little piece of hose in between

 

Yeah I'm going for the first option, a 90 on the engine with a "hoe" straight up and then in a loop down onto the top fitting. This puts the loop away from the engine via the sweep 90 fitting and then it uses about a foot of the $2/inch hose which makes for what is probably my easiest option. The other hoses I'll probably do in much more reasonable push-lock which I can cut and install perfectly myself. That first loop has to be fabricated by Goodrich with swedged aluminum fittings. It works out to $91 so it's no big deal. There will be plenty of flexibility in all directions so it should be just fine. BTW, lifetime warranty on the hose no matter what. But not the damage to engine in case of failure. ;>))

 

A good hoe will fix most anything that bothering you

 

If you can fit them use swept 90s instead of low profile 90s

Much less pressure drop across the fitting
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or cause you other concerns

 

Yes I was planning on that. The actual hose lengths are going to be fairly short as well. A total of 4.5 FT maximum with the remote oil filter mount included.
No thermostat is needed now and that helps things too.

Bob S.

 

So Mark, besides being an engineer and car nut you're also an enthusiastic farmer or gardener. Or did I get that wrong ...