[dsraven]

as a heavy duty mechanic I can say that a lot of equipment uses steel tubing with rubber connectors on each end (or special connections/housings that use "O" rings) for rad hose. that way there are maybe more connections but possibly less lineal feet of rubber to cause problems. maybe an idea like that could be used. I suggest to fab the part and fit it and then epoxy the inside of the tubing so as not to rust. I have used endura epoxy before to spray the outside of steel water lines used in residential water supply, it is what the city spec'd, so I assume it must be good stuff for that. it is also used a lot in the aircraft realm. aluminum or stainless tubing could also be used but steel wouldbe cheaper and easier to work with. also, remember to keep the hose/tube in an upward swing the whole length so as not to encourage places where bubbles or air pockets can form.