Cooling System Hose Sizes

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
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Rambo

Cooling System Hose Sizes

Post by Rambo »

Does anyone know the particular size of the hoses for the cooling system? Id like to by some cheap tubing of that size so that i can hook it up to the cooling system to route the coolant to a bucket to make flushing the cooling system less messy and espicially with my dogs and cats running around.

Thanks
vandor
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Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Cooling System Hose Sizes

Post by vandor »

1.25" should work, but double check. You can check ID of the hose at the coolant tee.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
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Re: Cooling System Hose Sizes

Post by RRoller123 »

Rambo: I am faced with the same dilemma, having to work in the garage with no drain available and 2 cats and a dog running around. I have been struggling to come up with a clean and safe way to flush the entire system. How do you plan to do it with the hose? Thanks.

Pete
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
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2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
Rambo

Re: Cooling System Hose Sizes

Post by Rambo »

vandor wrote:1.25" should work, but double check. You can check ID of the hose at the coolant tee.
Thanks Csaba I'll be sure to check.
RRoller123 wrote:Rambo: I am faced with the same dilemma, having to work in the garage with no drain available and 2 cats and a dog running around. I have been struggling to come up with a clean and safe way to flush the entire system. How do you plan to do it with the hose? Thanks.

Pete
What i plan to do is drain the radiator first then it hook the tubing up to the upper radiator hose using a coupler. I'll probaly run it to a large bucket. Then I'll back flush the system with a garden hose at my flush and fill tee.
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joelittel
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Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: Cooling System Hose Sizes

Post by joelittel »

I have the same problem, two dogs.

For additional peace of mind I have a large, and low profile, plastic tub that sits underneath everything when I flush the system. Any fluids that splash into the "safety tub" can be easily poured into the 5 gallon bucket I use for transportation to the disposal location.

The safety tub is actually quite large, when under the car it spans over half of the engine bay. I'd guess it's close to 48" wide by 24" deep with a wall height of 4 or more inches.

The only issue is getting it under the car. The oil pan and spoiler are too low to simply slide the tub in place. When working in the garage I forcefully manipulate the tub into position. When I'm able to do the work in the alley behind my garage I've found a perfect depression the tub sits in allowing me to push the car over it and into position.

I highly recommend the tub for splash and drip control.
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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
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Re: Cooling System Hose Sizes

Post by RRoller123 »

Thanks, good ideas, both. I have the car up on 4 jack stands, so there is enough height as it sits in the garage.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle
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