70 lt-1 rad hose clamps

[Rick H.]

I recall somewhere that there were other than tower clamps installed on the rad hoses.does anyone know which one

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 lt-1 rad hose clamps

Rad hose clamps have nothing to do with LT1. In late 1969 - about September or so - worm type clamps began to be used for the radiator hoses on Corvettes (ALL engines). Wittek(sp?) Sure-Tite, #28 for small blocks IIRC. If my memory has gone the way of NCRS, others will correct me I am sure.
This is detailed in the 1970-1972 Technical Information Manual & Judging Guide.

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 lt-1 rad hose clamps

Terry-----

My 1969 convertible was built in mid-September, 1969. It had a combination of tower and worm screw clamps on the radiator hoses, heater hoses, and AIR system hoses. My recollection is that radiator hoses had tower clamps with the possible exception of the lower radiator hose at the radiator.

The heater hose clamps were definitely worm-type at the heater core connections. I don't recall if they were worm or tower at the engine connections. The AIR hoses were tower style at the diverter valve. However, at the check valves, the left side was tower and the right side was worm.

All that I can figure is that at that time the clamp types were mixed in the various bins and the line-person installed whatever clamp they grabbed out of the bin.

[Rick H.]

Re: 70 lt-1 rad hose clamps

Thanks guys for the quick response as I wanted to make sure it was a one stop
fix.

[Terry M.]

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 lt-1 rad hose clamps

Terry-----

Actually, in my case, I long ago changed all of the worm clamps (except 1) to the tower style. It's "messy" to have a mixture of worm and tower clamps regardless of how the car was originally built. So, at the same time as I made my car "original", I made it non-original. But, I like it better that way.

I didn't change the one AIR system clamp that was worm-style, though. For some reason, and I don't know what it was, I just couldn't bring myself to change that one. It's such a "prominent" clamp, too. The whole thing will be going into storage soon, though, as the "ZL-1" takes over. It'll have all tower clamps on the AIR and cooling system.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 lt-1 rad hose clamps

Along the lines of "The more things change - the more they are the same"
My recently acquired 2001 Camaro with LS1 has an electric powered secondary AIR pump. One of the rubber hoses has a worm style clamp holding it to the check valve, the other side has no clamp, and from the looks of the hose it never has had a clamp on it. Since I didn't buy the car new, I can't be sure...and the maintenance records do show that Chevrolet paid to replace the AIR pump. But I would still wager the hose is original and never had a clamp on it.