1971 eldorado heater hose clamps.

[NORTHPORTGUY]

Aloha-

  Trying to have my 71's engine bay look authentic or close to ...  i recently replaced the screw type clamps  what I assumed wa authentic tower type clamps. Thet just don't "look right" and am thinking the wire clip type of clamp common in other GM cars of that era may be what's needed.     can some sagacious caddy man advise what are the proper clamps for the heater hoses for my 1971 Eldorado     Thanks

Ken Wiebke  23103 

[79 Eldorado]

Ken,
I used the constant tension clamps on my '79 Cadillac Eldorado heater hoses. I think they look factory (to me) but I don't know if they actually were. I also used them on my '71 Chevelle because again I thought they looked factory. It will be interesting to hear what others say. I suspected the towers were correct for '71 but they may have been discontinued by then. The wire version of the constant tension I think is the wire one you are referring to. I decided to reply here because those constant tension clamps are sized based on a certain compression of the hose OD. I'm including a photo which shows the ID of the sizes I used for 5/8" and 3/4" hoses. Every "available" size is often hard to find actually available. The ones I used seemed to fit well. If you select the wire version I guess the ID would need to be very similar (hose walls also vary some but there do seem to be some standards).

There is also a special tool if you want to avoid scratching the finish but the tool takes some getting comfortable with. I used channel locks but you can see some scratches in the photo.

Scott

[Greg C]

71 heater hoses were the single wire spring type, I forget the technical name.
rad were tower, thermostat housing double band type
72 heater hoses were tower
tower hose clamp is a trigger word around here

[J. Skelly]

Ken,

refer to photos in the '71 Chassis Service Manual

[NORTHPORTGUY]

  Thank you all for the assistance (especially Mr Skelly's which of course I should have done first....)

Ken Wiebke
23013   

[gkhashem]

Heater hoses were Corbin clamps I think.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Corbin-Self-Tightening-Hose-Clamp-/181335747620

The issue with the tower clamps is that they need to be on entirely square or then will not tighten properly so you end up tossing some of them since they are ruined easily. It may be the new ones are junk.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

And a Buy-it-now price of $9.00.   Boy, I toss these away every time I see one.

Bruce.

[gkhashem]

I really wasn't looking at the price you can buy them for not such a ridiculous price.

Maybe you are throwing away money?  Better save them.

Some for less, but I never had have one not do it's job. Tower clamps are a different story.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Authentic-Corbin-Self-Tightening-Hose-Clamp-/181335747620

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I throw those away as well.   Ever since I got caught on one and damaged myself.   I rely on the stainless steel worm drive screw clamps now.

Bruce.