braided hoses

[abas]

Cloth braided hoses availability

Quite a hot topic I suppose with the infamous $104 top rad hose on ebay. I have been looking into the availability of braided hoses and the likelihood of making them myself. I realize this is probably not what some of the early car purists want to hear, but for some people remanufacture or some kind of pattern part could be the only way to achieve the original look.

What I have found is:

The internal diameters sizes that are on the car are 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm and the 2 big rad hoses are about 35mm. Most are water hoses but the original fuel tank and breather hoses are also braided.

I have been able to get cloth braid hose up to 15mm internal diameter. These are fuel grade hoses and I presume these will be OK with water too ( I’m not really sure). The colour is not the same as the original datsun hoses but you can paint them to match.

I can only find braided hoses bigger than 15mm that have a stainless braid. Again this could be painted to help it match the originals.

The braid itself is a fairly simple 4 strand cloth braid. In time, I might look at trying to weave some of this myself to apply to a set of rubber only hoses, as a cosmetic solution. I am fortunate in having a set of braided engine and heater hoses to copy.

I’d be interested to hear/swap any other member experiences in trying to obtain braided hoses.

regards

Andrew

[26th-Z]

Hi Andrew!

I met the guy who bought the $104 hose at the ZCCA / Nissan National Convention last week. I also met a guy who says he is in the midst of making the fabric. He points out that an original fabric hose is too old to expect to perform and that covered newer hoses were better for a driver than a garage queen. Regardless, we have a move afoot! I personally have no problem glueing fabric to hose for show purposes.

Fabric covered hose can be purchased in rolls from various hose suppliers. I have some 6mm and 8mm fuel hose sitting here on my desk. I bought heater hose from Goodyear. The shaped hose is what's trickey including the radiator hose. I pulled a U shaped fuel vent hose out of a 280Z in Long Beach last week. If anyone needs this thing - I'll post a picture - its not the long vent hose, unfortunately.

Hose is rated for purpose and I wouldn't recommend running a fluid other than what is specified, but water through a fuel rated hose will probably work. Water hose is rated for heat. If I ever hear from the guy with the cloth, I'll let you know.

[abas]

Hi Chris!!

Thanks for that. I too am not tremendously happy about using potentially very old hose in a car just to get the braided look. I intend to go for the 'all rubber' hose when my car gets back on the road, at least for the short term. The braided hoses I have would probably be wasted on my car and belong on a concours car.

I'd be grateful if you would let me know if the guy with cloth contacts you. I (and I am sure, many others) would be very interested.

We just need to find someone who will pay for the setup costs and jigs for the front inner wings and rear quarter wings for a z :classic:

Andrew