Rear Radiator

wgamble · Dec 14, 2014

So my wife has told me now that we have a little one that she will no longer be wheeling with me so I guess that is cool. So time to rework so things on the buggy.

What is the best method and most cost effective way to relocate my radiator behind my seats. I am not going to be able to run through any of my cage so what is another option? I have access to some heavy duty hose at work and thought about running it through pipe down either side of my drivetrain and coming up through the floor where the radiator would be mounted.

Ideas with lots of pics would be appreciated.

hokie_yj · Dec 14, 2014

My last buggy had 1.5" ID hydraulic hose ran through the subframe of the chassis and then had a piece of 1.5" as a sleeve to adapt it to radiator hoses. It worked good. I've also seen people use exhaust tubing, and also aluminum conduit.

paradisepwoffrd · Dec 14, 2014

Re:

Exhaust tubing seams to work well. Main advantage for tube I'd it will help dissipate heat vs hose that insulates

karatejosh · Dec 14, 2014

Re:

I have aluminum tube running front to back with regular radiator at ends

Neal3000 · Dec 14, 2014

I used marine exhaust hose

infamous1 · Dec 15, 2014

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I have exhaust pipe but the bends look poopy. Maybe he will chime in with pics but Stuntman Autoworks used a clear reinforced pvc hose that looks sweet!! I was thinking of redoing mine and sleeving it with old fire hose for abrasion resistance.

crawlin85cj · Dec 15, 2014

I used exhaust pipe and mandrel bends in my Jimmy's buggy. We welded a bead around the ends about 1" from the end for the hose clamp to seat then shoved flexible radiator hose on it. It worked well, I never had an issue with it.

Both my buggies now have the coolant running through the chassis and I think that's the best answer. DOM is easier to weld and is the least vulnerable.

2010 Jim's Garage 4429
2012 Jim's Garage YJ
2013 Wide Open Design WFO

wgamble · Dec 15, 2014

Maybe I can run a second set of dome on the inside part of the cage. Pictures would help

LightBnDr · Dec 15, 2014

Copper tubing, some sweated joints and some flex hose in tight areas. It was cheaper than a full roll of rubber flex hose and it was in stock at all plumbing locations. Plus you can paint it to match your cage.

wgamble · Dec 15, 2014

Do I need to worry about vibrations? maybe sleeve it in a larger rubber hose?

LightBnDr · Dec 15, 2014

I secure it best I can and use small cuts of rad hose in tight areas that may rub

wgamble · Dec 15, 2014

lets see some pictures of these rigs with the radiator in the back and the plumbing.

LightBnDr · Dec 15, 2014

I tried to post a pic and the option wasn't available so I updated tapatalk and signed up for them to keep my personal info and pics in the ****in cloud. Still wouldn't let me post a pic.

Sorry man

pplblazerdude · Dec 15, 2014

hokie_yj said:
My last buggy had 1.5" ID hydraulic hose ran through the subframe of the chassis and then had a piece of 1.5" as a sleeve to adapt it to radiator hoses. It worked good. I've also seen people use exhaust tubing, and also aluminum conduit.

The hydro hose worked great but it started to develop cracks after being on that buggy for 10 or so years lol. I went back with EMT conduit and chucked it up in the bender and made it work. For the ends I just used regular old radiator hose and just clamped it down. So far so good.

offroadr1 · Dec 24, 2014

Recently built a buggy with front mount radiator and rear engine. Used 1.5" aluminum tube from msc, bead rolled the ends, then used radiator hose to connect the motor and radiator to the tubes. I was able to ben the tube with my bender, but had to with very slow motion to not kink it.