[John V.]

Looking to replate my hose bracket.

But looking at it, it looks like it might twisted at the very end.

Before I attempt to straighten it, I figured I should ask first if this twist is correct.

Hopefully the pix tell the story.

It looks straight except for the very end.

Should this be straight or twisted on the end?

[Old Man Taylor]

Yes, it is twisted - and it is bent out more than it should be. This is the best picture I could find of mine. It is available from Ames, part number P132F. It's on page 249 of catalog G33.

[John V.]

Or access for valve cover removal?

Don't think I'm gonna deduct any points though, I'm guessing your engine compartment looks plenty nice despite the curvy leg, no pun intended

[John V.]

The hardware I'm asking about is to attach the non-A/C Hose Bracket to the stud on the head.

See Post #32.

Thanks again.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by John V.

Looking to replate my hose bracket.

But looking at it, it looks like it might twisted at the very end.

Before I attempt to straighten it, I figured I should ask first if this twist is correct.

Hopefully the pix tell the story.

It looks straight except for the very end.

Should this be straight or twisted on the end?

The two sides of the bracket (that hold the heater hose) should be parallel top to bottom When looking from the passengers fender, and parallel vertically looking from the front of the vehicle. No twist anywhere.

Tom V.

[John V.]

Thanks guys, just needed to be sure.

[Old Man Taylor]

Here is one on eBay that shows the shape of the bracket.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Res...FY55Ss&vxp=mtr

[Andre]

Yours looks to be twisted in 2 dimensions. Did you get the email with the chrome bolts that I sent you?

[John V.]

Andre, just replied to you on the bolts.

Jim, that one has a curve in it that I just noticed for yours, in the "leg" portion..

That doesn't look right to me.

Anyway, I got the twist out of mine, pretty easy to do. But don't think mine ever had the curve, the leg looks perfectly straight.

The reproductions are stainless steel from what I saw which would be okay I guess, but no curve in the leg on them, either. So I wonder what the story is for that curve.

As easy as the hook section was to reshape, I'm wondering if the curve in the leg was done by "reshaping" the part, at the factory for some reason or in the years since.

[Tom Vaught]

Here are 3 pictures from my collection:

First picture clearly shows the two sides of the heater bracket "loop" being parallel with each other.
The bracket really never traps completely the lower hose. The "kick-out" allows "rolling the lower hose into the bracket.
Upper hose being the one to the cross-over naturally.

Second picture shows even better how the rwo sides are parallel looking across the engine, no twist.

Third Picture shows the Radius in the edges and the valley that helps the bracket from cutting the heater hoses.
You can see the slightly higher edges of the bracket in your first picture, John.

I think you just need a bit of heating and rebending to get it back in shape again.

Tom V.

[Old Man Taylor]

I can't confirm that mine came with that arch in it. Stuff happens over the years.

[johns]

My bracket looks exactly like the one on E-bay, post #5 from Old Man Taylor. I clear zinced mine and looks pretty good.
John

[Tom Vaught]

Do not remember the lower arch at all on my bracket, straight like John's just not twisted.

Tom V.

[Andre]

My memory has been jogged, and I recollect I have at least 2 variances of this bracket not including the reproduction which would be the third. If I have time to dig them up for pictures, I will do so.

[Tom Vaught]

Thanks Andre.

Tom V.

[MikeNoun]

Here's an original 1964 photo. It appears Pontiac used the same length heater hose for both hoses. You can also see the "W" wax mark on the firewall for Nocturne Blue. My old '65 GTO had a big "B" on the firewall (Blue Charcoal), and I painted over it back in the day when the engine was pulled. Still have a few original pics though.



Hope that helps,

Mike

[bill ryder]

Looks like an auto tri power car with the vac linkage removed. Early build with the heater box seal on the outside.. "Bill"!

[John V.]

HALFWAY, that is compelling evidence of original engine color paint on that hose bracket.

Do you know the Time Built code for the Lemans?

Gotta wonder if the Engine Assembly Plant started including the hose bracket as part of the engine assemblies as a running change resulting in them getting painted?

I'm doubting that if only because they would have to be removed for an A/C build.

Maybe they chopped a few cents off the cost by eliminating the plating and painting them instead, also as a running change?

Yours looks to have the same deep groove as Rich has, the one that is painted on his engine. So maybe his is correct after all.

The variations that are popping up here make it seem impossible to pin down what was correct when and where. Possibly different vendors for different Plants. Possibly the vendor was given the option of painting them Pontiac Engine Blue or plating them.

Wonder what original evidence the '64 big car guys would have? They were assembled at many more Plants.

Here is one on ebay right now, claims to be original with original "natural" finish.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GM-...item25d3dc8a39

Only one pic so can't tell if it has a deep, shallow, or no groove.

Posting the pic here to preserve the evidence.

[HALFWAY]

Originally Posted by John V.

HALFWAY, that is compelling evidence of original engine color paint on that hose bracket.

Do you know the Time Built code for the Lemans?

Gotta wonder if the Engine Assembly Plant started including the hose bracket as part of the engine assemblies as a running change resulting in them getting painted?

I'm doubting that if only because they would have to be removed for an A/C build.

Maybe they chopped a few cents off the cost by eliminating the plating and painting them instead, also as a running change?

Yours looks to have the same deep groove as Rich has, the one that is painted on his engine. So maybe his is correct after all.

The variations that are popping up here make it seem impossible to pin down what was correct when and where. Possibly different vendors for different Plants. Possibly the vendor was given the option of painting them Pontiac Engine Blue or plating them.

Wonder what original evidence the '64 big car guys would have? They were assembled at many more Plants.

Here is one on ebay right now, claims to be original with original "natural" finish.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GM-...item25d3dc8a39

Only one pic so can't tell if it has a deep, shallow, or no groove.

Posting the pic here to preserve the evidence.

Tom, the Lemans was built in KS 3rd week of July 64.

I believe it was painted originally but I may have painted it again when I have the engine out almost 15 years ago. If I remember correctly I tried to keep the brackets the same color or bare metal look.

[HALFWAY]

Originally Posted by John V.

HALFWAY, that is compelling evidence of original engine color paint on that hose bracket.

Do you know the Time Built code for the Lemans?

Gotta wonder if the Engine Assembly Plant started including the hose bracket as part of the engine assemblies as a running change resulting in them getting painted?

I'm doubting that if only because they would have to be removed for an A/C build.

Maybe they chopped a few cents off the cost by eliminating the plating and painting them instead, also as a running change?

Yours looks to have the same deep groove as Rich has, the one that is painted on his engine. So maybe his is correct after all.

The variations that are popping up here make it seem impossible to pin down what was correct when and where. Possibly different vendors for different Plants. Possibly the vendor was given the option of painting them Pontiac Engine Blue or plating them.

Wonder what original evidence the '64 big car guys would have? They were assembled at many more Plants.

Here is one on ebay right now, claims to be original with original "natural" finish.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-GM-...item25d3dc8a39

Only one pic so can't tell if it has a deep, shallow, or no groove.

Posting the pic here to preserve the evidence.

John the Lemans is a KC build 3rd week of July 64, probably close to the end of that years production.