Champion radiator

I put the cc526 in my 68 Dart. I don't know why they mount the core so far back. They could easily mount it closer to the radiator support. I was going to try and use a Taurus fan but it wasn't even close. I'm using thicker billet pulleys so a clutch fan wouldn't even work. I've seen posts that showed the clutch rubbing the fins with only 1/2" clearance so I didn't want to chance it. I ended up making a shroud out of aluminum and it turned out nice. I also ended up buying some aluminum 1/4-20 rivnuts to replace the metric ones that came installed on the radiator.

Does it take a special lower rad hose? I've got the lower hose that Advance Auto says is correct for a 70 Dart. It looks too long to fit in my 68.(I'm using the 70+ water pump)