Radiator hoses for SBC 5.7 engine swap
PistolDave
Active Jeeper
- Posts
- 437
- Media
- 7
- Thanks
- 1
- Location
- Lubbock, Texas
- Vehicle(s)
- 1977 CJ-7 SBC 5.7 TBI, TH400, D300, D44 front, D44 rear, 4.56's Detroit / Truetrac, SOA, 35" MTR-K's,
------------86 CJ-7 258 - T5 - AMC20/D30 3.30 open f/r - Dana 300 - 2" BDS wrangler springs - 31x10.5 BFG
************* 83 CJ7 3.8L, T19 5.1:1, D300, D30/AMC20, 4.11's, Chevy TBI, OX lockers, OME 2.5" lift YJ springs, 33x10.50/15 KM3's, Lots of rust and zip ties.
Thought I would post this here in case anyone else ever runs into this, maybe it will save someone some time. Here is the setup:
1977 CJ7 , GM TBI 5.7 (87-91 version) in M.O.R.E. motor mounts, CGJ/Brice Thomas JP3009 Radiator for SBC swaps. This radiator has a 1.5" inlet (upper) and 1.75" outlet (lower). This is different than the factory Chevy radiator, which has a 1.25" inlet and 1.5" oulet i believe. In other words my radiators ports match the port sizes of the the intake water neck (1.5") and water pump inlet (1.75"), instead of dropping down 1/4" like the factory stuff. I bent some "gauges" out of brake line tubing and took them to the local auto parts store where they let me go back to their hose collection and rummage around to see if I could find something that fit. I managed to find some hoses that actually fit very well, Gates 22437 for the upper, and Gates 23227 for the lower.
Here are some exciting action shots.


1977 CJ7 , GM TBI 5.7 (87-91 version) in M.O.R.E. motor mounts, CGJ/Brice Thomas JP3009 Radiator for SBC swaps. This radiator has a 1.5" inlet (upper) and 1.75" outlet (lower). This is different than the factory Chevy radiator, which has a 1.25" inlet and 1.5" oulet i believe. In other words my radiators ports match the port sizes of the the intake water neck (1.5") and water pump inlet (1.75"), instead of dropping down 1/4" like the factory stuff. I bent some "gauges" out of brake line tubing and took them to the local auto parts store where they let me go back to their hose collection and rummage around to see if I could find something that fit. I managed to find some hoses that actually fit very well, Gates 22437 for the upper, and Gates 23227 for the lower.
Here are some exciting action shots.

