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#1
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Tower clamps
So after I bought a new water pump correct hoses and date coded tower clamps for my 69 Conv. The tower clamps are collapsing when they get snug. What is the trick to get these things on? I have them on my 70 Judge and they went on with no issues, it was 20 years ago. Did the quality of these new towers change? Thanks, Marc.
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#2
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I had the same issue with my first set, on the second set, I sprayed lubed the clamp and used an adjustable wrench to hold the tower as I tightened the screw, I went slow and it worked well.
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#3
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Clamps.
Try soaking them in WD-40 or some other lub in a freezer bag for a while. It worked for me.
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#4
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Yeah, I believe they are thinner thus easier to ruin. I never tried the lub thing but sounds like it couldnt hurt. Good Luck
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#5
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These tower clamps are the worst. Yesterday spent about a half hour straightening the clamp that bent like a pretzel for the 5/8 hose. Today I spent 20 minutes straightening the clamp for the lower hose, soaked it with sea foam and the same thing happened. Tomorrow I am going to get the good old worm Drive clamps…
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#6
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I use Gates power grip clamps. Get the right size slip them on over the hose along with the tower clamp and then heat them up . They shrink down tight. Then I put the tower clamp on over them. Never had a leak but looks stock.
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#7
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Never heard of those power grip clamps before but just looked them up on their website, what a great idea!
__________________
My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (base OHC, 350, 400HO & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA ht’s) 1969 Custom S 2dr ht 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 ht & Judge ht) 1969 Cat (3 Cvt’s & 2dr ht) 1969 Ventura wagon 2 seat 1969 Exec 4dr post 1969 Bonnie Cvt & 2 wagons 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix 2 SJ’s 1969 2+2 2dr ht (Canadian) |
#8
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X2 great Idea!
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Jeff R 60 Jaguar Mark 2, 3.8L Automatic 67 Sprint Firebird 230 OHC-6 4-Speed A/C 78 Catlina Safari, Pontiac 400 powered 77 Astre Formula, 215 Buick V-8 T-5 73 Lemans Safari, 400 4bbl 4-speed 71 Catalina Enforcer, 455 4bbl 06 Mallet Solstice #024 LS2, Now with a Tremec 6060 6-speed! 2012 F-150 Echo Boost (My local Ford Dealer SUX!!!) 2020 Dodge Charger Scat pack (recovered) |
#9
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wow, you guys are making me happy that twenty years ago I grabbed EVERY SINGLE tower clamps I came across!
Sheesh, if these are so bad, why doesn't someone step up and make better/more accurate reproductions?
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1970 Formula 400 Carousel Red paint on Black standard interior A no-engine, no-transmission, no-wheel option car. Quite likely one of few '70 Muncie three speed Formula 400's left. 1991 Grand Am: 14.4 @ 93.7mph (DA corrected) (retired DD, stock appearing) 2009 Cobalt SS: 13.9 @ 103mph (current DD; makes something north of 300hp & 350ft/lbs) |
#10
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The Gates clamps work especially great on the heater hoses. After they shrink down no leaks. They have them for all sizes so check them out.
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#11
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Spring clamps or any constant tension clamp is supposed to be better. I've used worms for years but some say they are not a great solution because they don't expand and contract with heat. Although ... I recently checked and worms are still the standard for aircraft, although they are very nice worm clamps.
I think tower clamps were originally considered a single use item, dealerships would replace them (and charge for them) whenever they had to be removed. I've got some original OEM tower clamps .. they don't seem a whole lot better than the repops. In general I think a lot of people way over tighten clamps to solve other problems like dirty or out of round fittings, cheap hoses etc. When you realize the pressure in your household water hose is about 4 times more than your cooling system it really doesn't take a lot to seal them.
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I'm World's Best Hyperbolist !! |
#12
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Original tower clamps are way sturdier than current repos
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WWW.GLASGOPERFORMANCE.COM. Updated... Sort of! |
#13
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Well the two I was comparing were OEM examples I pulled off a donor car 40 years ago, and a set of "high end" repops I bought from Marti which are supposed to be made with the same materials as the originals, I think I read even on the same original machines. Perhaps they are better than the average repop.
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I'm World's Best Hyperbolist !! |
#14
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Sad that that tower clamps made twenty years ago are superior to ones made currently It figures like everything else made these days, subpar. I always liked the way they looked.
The Gates clamps are a great idea, never knew of a product like that until I read this. None of the suppliers offer a sturdy tower clamp?
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69 GTO convertible Warwick blue w/parchment, 400 4bbl auto trans, #'s matching, frame off resto w/ 36 options and more coming. 67 Bonneville 428 convertible one of one Verdoro green w/parchment, documented GM brass hat parade car with every option for 67, non running MAJOR future project. |
#15
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Quote:
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#16
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I forget who it was, but for a while there was a source for them that claimed they were using Wittek's old machines and their stock of materials ... probably used it all up.
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I'm World's Best Hyperbolist !! |
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