Water hose leak

[Wizard]

Well it finally happened. I have a defective hose clamp on the upper radiator hose.

Too darn cold to try to replace today, maybe will try tomorrow. Leaving for Florida next week.

I have heard of this happening several times. Anybody with any tips or suggestions, please join in.

[LVJ58]

Radiator hose clamp failure was fairly common on the Ford f53 I replaced mine with the slotted metal band clamps that use a screwdriver to tighten them. Some have a head where you can use either a small socket and ratchet or screwdriver to tighten.

Good luck

[Wanabee FTer]

It sounds like you have a spring clamp and want to replace it with a worm gear clamp? You will need to remove the upper radiator hose to remove the old clamp. Be careful removing the upper hose at the radiator end. I have seen radiator fittings broken and damaged from improper removal of the hose. Use a 90 degree pick tool or hose removal tool to separate the hose from the radiator, then pull it off. If the hose is more then a couple years old, now would be a good time to replace it.
Good luck

[Topflite51]

If push comes to shove, you do not have to remove old clamp from hose. Collapse the spring clamp and simply move it , then install new clamp. It ain't pretty, but it sure beats wrestling with the hose at the radiator.

[Wizard]

Well I changed both of them yesterday.
- Removed doghouse for the upper, disconnected air pipe from throttle body, put down a thick blanket on top of the engine so I could lay on top of it to reach the clamp on the radiator.
- The lower one was much easier, except that like most things it was not an exact fit but close enough. The heater hose pipes on the new one was 2' long, had to cut them and the original hoses and use couplings to connect.
- New hoses and SS clamps came from NAPA and cost about $100. I'm sure glad this happened at home and not on a trip