I've been looking for a spring to stick in my lower hose but can't find it separately from buying a hose....

Thanks

Maybe you can find a used spring at an auto repair shop trash can or Pick A Part junkyard?

Ideally, you buy a new hose, if the old spring rotted away, the hose is probably soft or cracked inside and should be replaced. Hoses can look Ok on the outside, but be nearing failure on the inside.

That said, I removed the spring from a lower hose on my '74 W200 while servicing the system, de-rusted the spring, cleaned, primered, and painted the used spring before I reinstalled it in the used hose.

Make your own. Wind some 1/16" stainless steel tig welding rod around the appropriate sized pipe.

I went to the local auto parts store. Bought a new universal corrugated hose with a spring in it for 10.00. Pulled it with a pair of pliers and inserted it into my hose. Cut to shorten it if necessary. Done...

will this work: http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=RH52+01

Stainless too.

http://www.virginiaclassicmustang.com/LO...LOCK-P1415.aspx

as said go to a welding shop & get a piece of something stainless. Form it around a broom handle to shape it then turn the ends inward toward the center so they will never contact the hose wall

yeah USUALLY when I replace a lower hose I pull the spring and transfer it to the new hose. evidently I did not when I replaced the original-from-1978 hoses on my Sport Fury. I looked at every local parts store plus looked online at Goodyear Gates and Dayco, NONE show a listing for a lower hose for a 78 fury that still contains a spring. Something about "improved materials" For what that spring cost them (what/ a penny or 2?) they should still include them. on all hoses not just my application.
ran into the same BS on my Dakota and Wrangler those do have their original spring installed into the replacement hoses....

I went the Mustang route too, they have 2 separate sizes available, so check which 1 you need.

Nice thing about all the Mustang suppliers is shipping is always free

http://www.cjponyparts.com/lower-radiator-hose-spring-stainless-steel-small-block-1965-1973/p/HW769/

Why not wrap any wire around a broom stick, it don't have to be stainless. Sure stainless sounds good but it don't have to be. I have used coat hanger wire from my work uniforms at least twice that I can think of. If the anti freeze is maintained then the steel will outlast the rubber hose.

Why spend any time going to a junk yard or any money on buying anything. Any wire will work, I've done it like 6 times in my life.
'

Thanks for the ideas all!

I would think a broomstick is too small; if the spring is too small in diameter it can be sucked into the water pump housing. The spring should fit the ID of the hose snuggly.

I bent a piece of coat hanger around a steel bar and shoved it in the hose.

Problem solved.

Antifreeze contains rust inhibitor so I didn't worry about that.

I bought SS spring wire and did the broom handle trick. Worked great.

I want to save a buck as much as anyone, but why run around searching for the right wire (or cutting coat hangers) and winding it the right diameter, when you can have a SS Spring delivered to your mailbox for $6.

Only because I want to get my projects done, right away and am too impatient to wait on a silly part like that.

It's not the money it's the time.

I made one for a friend...went to home depot and bought a 48" Brass rod...malleable..I curled it around a stainless 1" pipe that I use to extend my breaker bar .... rolled it into the pipe....works great.

Thanks all. I grabbed a "reshaping coil" that I will place inside of the hose rather than outside for $6 at a local parts store. The cheap flex hose with a spring inside was $15 so I went the spring only route. I believe it says 1.30 diameter on it which I may need to compress a little.

I definitely agree & the last one I did I forgot what material it was but after forming it around the broom handle then when removed it it sprung back to where it was (now) a snug fit when I coiled it into the hose

Broomstick is correct if you use spring wire........