Why do hoses keep slipping off?!

Every now and then you get a vehicle in with a recuring issue, usually predated with several attempts at resolution.

This Z32 was receiving our Engine-Bay Restoration service with Motor Upgrades (cause with the VG30DETT out, why wouldn’t you?) & 1 particular note before the commencement of the works was the lower radiator hose has popped off several times in the client’s ownership.

There was evidence of previous attempts to resolve included bonding the hose to the outlet with gasket sealer, a double hose-clamp job & even sprung for a thermostat replacement with no success.

The client had anticipated replacing the unit but having an eye for the fine details & decades experiences in diagnosis makes looking at these sort of issues very straightforward.

Simple enough, the outlet pipe in question hasn’t had a decent lip rolled into it at the manufacturing stage – there are tool marks where the lip was meant to be but barely had any edge to keep the hose secured & on several occasions the hose made it past the goalie & previous mechanics to date.

Now this radiator doesn’t appear to be of reputable brand but the vehicle never overheated nor had issues maintaining temperature so with this is mind, we investigated before spending upgrade funds on an replacement.

Here @ConceptAutoInd we have a wide range of specialist tools for building custom fluid hardline systems & we achieved a neat solution with a specialty bead tool, some heat & a few hand rotations. With not replacing the radiator, the client had some spare upgrade$ for full set of silicone radiator & heater hoses supplied inhouse for a future proof cooling system.