[Tigers] Where to find parts, shifter...

[Thomas Witt]

I would caution that using an insert spring, while a good (even necessary)
idea, can potentially cause a problem.  Years ago I had a friend who used such
on his 289 Pinto conversion. Somehow the spring worked its way up the water
pump inlet.  The hose started collapsing and his water pump was damaged when
the spring wound around the impeller.  Bending the spring end is such a way
that it abuts the thickness of the inlet (perhaps small triangles???) would be
good preventative measure.
   There isn't a spring in it like there used to be to keep it from
collapsing. I went to O'Reilly and found one with a spring. I cannibalized the
spring from the hose and cut the extra length off, and installed it into my
lower hose. Took care of that issue.