upper radiator hose will not pressure up

[Got JOB]

I have a '74 challenger with a '71 340 built a couple of years now. No leaks of antifreeze, no mix in the oil,no oil in the radiator, no steam showing anytime. Running temp. is 175-180. Has a/c, 26in. radiator, new hoses, new cap. The top hose is soft almost all the time at operating temp. Once in a while the top hose will pressure up. Any help?

[4Cruizn]

I don't think I'd worry about it too much if my engine is running at normal temp.       

Not sure it's suppose to have much pressure though . . . mine doesn't and is usually pretty limp also.   

[MEK-Dangerfield]

By "pressure up", do you mean expand beyond reason? Your operating temp. is fine. Does the radiator have an overflow outlet of some sort?

  Mike

[Got JOB]

The hose does not get hard . It can actually be pinched together while running at temp. My vert. with an alum. radiator at temp., the top hose is hard. I have the factory overflow bottle on the '74 and it works fine as for as moving water back and forth as the engine either heats up or cools down. On my T/A the upper hose gets hard at temp. It only has the overflow tube.

[Mopar73340]

Sounds as though your radiator cap my be bad.  I would try changing the cap and make sure the gasket is installed.