Many people have helped me out here with parts + info, so I'm going to give back a little! A little about myself first...I'm 58, I've owned more musclecars than I can count. I judge for the OCA, local Olds clubs, and many other clubs. My Olds scored 1st and BOC, 1st time out, 999 last time out. It is a 6 time OCA Nats champ, never taking less than 1st or BOC. My Buick took 1st and Senior 1st time out. I have 4 Best Musclecar awards from Hemmings, maybe 100 plus trophies overall. I do mostly my own work, I'm retired. I'm not bragging, but I've got a pretty good idea what it takes to build a high scoring car. I used to drag at NE Dragway in Epping NH, got a bunch of trophies from there, too. I've had my ladder bars, high rises, headers, gears, slicks etc. but now build mostly correct cars, even though I love them all! Anyways...I'm going to share some of what I know to help others. Any companies or products I recommend are from my own experience. If I say something is correct, it's from my own research, I can usually verify it, I've looked at many original low mile cars while judging. Others may know more... Hose clamps for a 1967 Buick GS400..what's correct? I believe Corbin type clamps are correct for the heater hoses AND the bypass hose. They were color coded for size. If they are correctly applied AND the correct size, they won't leak. In 1967 peeps would buy a Buick in MA, and DRIVE it to Disneyland in CA. Those clamps would hold up fine. The radiator hoses used date-coded Wittek or what some peeps call tower clamps. Same deal...if they are the right size, they will hold up fine. I drive my cars thousands of miles every year, I have no problems. You can also use like gasket shellac if you are a low confidence person, I never do. Naturally, your therm housing and pump fittings have to be clean and un-corroded. The lower rad hose should have a spring in it to prevent it from collapsing. I believe you can now buy that spring repro, but it's a generic spring and you can usually find them at the boneyard. Like everything, Witteks are repros and they are not as strong as originals. If you use them, always spray or put some type of lube on them before tightening. Be sure to hold the nut built in to the clamp with a wrench when tightening. The newer repros may twist if you don't do that. Clamps are a pretty inexpensive item, but they will cost you big points in judging. The real prob w/ factory style clamps is they are a pain to install initially and remove. You really shouldn't re-use the repros because they are weaker, although you can. Ames just started selling date-coded Wittek clamps for you date code freaks. They claim they are stronger than what's currently available. I haven't seen them, so I can't say. I don't know why people say they won't use factory style clamps. The bottom line is, you CAN run factory clamps on YOUR car, and it doesn't cost a lot!
There are some NOS Witteks out there. I found some. I agee thta the repros are week. I have twisted the head right off of them. I also hold the clamp with pliers or wernch and use a nut driver on them. I have used one of the smaller originals from 1970 over and over without braking it. Cannot do that with repro.
Also Frank, not sure about 67 as I know more about 70-72 but the corbin pinch clamps were used on the heater hoses in the Flint plant in 70-72 but witteks were used in GMAD plants. AC cars in Flint used a combination of both in Flint Built. What car is yours at the Olds Shows? I attend some as a friend owns a 72 W-30 conv. and a 72 Hurst we are rebuilding.
Hi Dave, I'm pretty sure about that clamp style for 67. I know...Buick is weird how they did different things at different plants. Olds did that, too...but not as much. Ny 1969 442 is Sable (dark brown) with a parchment interior + vinyl top. It's the only one that color in the Northeast I've ever seen. If you have ever seen it, you would know. I've had it about 12 years now. I used to always go to Endicott, but not for the last few years, because the Nats are the same time. I'm a member of the GMO MA olds club. Tell your friend to focus on finishing by 2015. You heard it here first...my club has just voted to take the OCA Nats in 2015. They would be in Marlboro MA, it still needs to be approved by the OCA, but it's a good chance it will happen. If you need Olds info or parts let me know, I may be able to help.
I have the Witteks on my 70 and I drive it everywhere. I have the wire pinch clamps on the heater core too. Never had an issue. I need to put the correct flat fuel line style clamps on the bypass hose
Frank, I am always at Endicott. We were at the Olds Nats in Sturbridge last year. I am sure the Plds will be done by 2015. Will look for you at future shows....Jason get the clamps on the bypass. Need some?
Jason, I found a short style 70 heater hose bracket in the junkyard this weekend! Car was buried in the woods for years and they cleared it out. I never even noticed it before. Low option Flint built 4 Dr. No AC
Jason...I don't know Gary G. I was at Sturbridge, but my car was with the seniors in a different area. There is a tail detail shot of my 442 on Fusick's catalog back cover. I just grabbed a htr hose brkt off a 70-71? Skylark last week. The one on the manifold, I don't know if it's long or short. Grabbed the engine hook and some other small widgets. Should have grabbed the VC gutter, but forgot. I never know what car I may buy next, it can't hurt to have some stuff laying around!
