If you really want one it's not hard to wind your own - people have even used coat hangers for this! Stainless wire is probably a better option. Find a suitable diameter cylinder as a former and manually wind the wire around it.

Although it's being referred to here as a spring, it is not performing the function of one, so does not need to be from spring steel etc.

I also got 1 from CJ Pony, cheap and easy and it works.

Same here BDW...

JOe

So did I. Around $7 bucks if I remember right.

I've seen the springs at local parts stores to add to the lower hose. When I replace the hose I always swap the spring from the old hose to the new one.

be sure to turn the ends inward toward the center.

Never needed one!!

That's what I did when I pulled the old spring out and it was rusted as #$%^

Is the small block one from CJ pony parts, what we need for a BB Mopar? I see a small and big block option.

My brand new lower hose on my Power Powagon collapsed while idling in traffic on hot day here in Florida. First time I've had this happen. I noticed when temp gauge shot up and I popped hood and no leaks anywhere. New radiator, milodon water pump, thermostat....everthing is new in cooling system so I figured it might be that.

Also, I've noticed our Charger police cars have spring in upper hoses (reverse flow I guess?), so that kind of defeats the theory they were for factory fill purposes.

Go back and think about what you just said.

Not very helpful. If I missed something, excuse me! Can you just clear it up for me? Admittedly, I'm not a genius and might have missed something. But, I believe someone wrote they DON'T use springs anymore because they have a different method for factory fill, and that's what the springs were originally for, and NOT for eliminating collapsing hoses during consumer use.

My Power Wagon runs very cool otherwise. Engine runs great, and it will cruise all day long on the highway at 70mph, and will run in traffic for hours no problem. But that one time on a very hot day, bam, temp shot up and the lower hose was sunk in.

I've done a ton of work on this engine. Just about everything but piston rings. It's had complete valve job, new cam and lifters, radiator, freeze plugs, timing chain, water pump, thermostat, hoses, belts, plugs, wires, ignition, timing set, headers, dual exhausts. It's squared away. I've since bypassed heater since core is at rad shop right now being repaired.

It did not overheat in traffic that time because of something else. I'm going to get a spring for lower hose (or wire if you want to be technical). Thank you to those with helpful answers.

My truck is '79 with Max Cooling and HUGE lower hose.

Here’s my non-scientific pragmatic approach to it......

I’ve seen numerous vehicles through the years suffer from the “bottom hose sucked shut/engine runs hot” scenario........ where adding the “spring” fixed it.

It’s a cheap and easy thing to try........ if it doesn’t help, you’re not out much time or money.
If it does...... it was a simple cost effect solution.

If you’re having issues with the lower hose getting sucked shut..... it certainly can’t hurt anything to try adding the spring.

I agree ^

Going to try it.

You can also put a little tension into the hose when you install it to sort of "pre load" it. Just make sure you twist it opposite of the way the motor rocks when under load. I've had the same issue with some long top hoses that needed a little tweak.

No springs here and no problems either.