FI Air Cleaner Straps

[Larry M.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

The plot thickens.

Attached is a picture of an original clamp that Dan Holstein sent. Dan I would appreciate your posting a description of the other two clamps in your pic....what is their origin...and, the lines which are apparent in your pic...do they shape the strap or are they just marks in the finish.. Here is why I'm asking.

John DeGregory said there is only ONE repro. This is likely not correct. The ones I bought from Paragon, which I've described above, do not have the stamping on them. But if you go to the LIC web they show clear pics of their repro. It is stamped and the brackets are shaped like the ones on my "originals". I'm going to buy a set; I have to know if they are better.

Of course this brings into question my assumption that what I had are originals. It is possible that they are LIC repros whcih got rusted and replated.....possible but not likely.

Another interesting aside: the pic I posted above of an installed clamp shows the tag end bent under. The post I got it from says this is correct. Dan's pic is the same. But the LIC web also shows and installed pic which has the tag ends on the outside. I sure hope that is not correct.

[Larry M.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Another pic from Dan. I've asked him to tell us where the repro came from and to send a side view of the original.

[Dan H.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Larry, the repro came from LICS and is stamped as per the original. Main difference is part where screw threads down thru is larger than original, the side shot should show this. Color is way off on repro.

[Larry M.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Another pic from Dan....the side shot he references above.

So Dan, one final question I think. When you tighten the screw on the LIC repro does the strap slide through the slot with reasonable force, even with the tag end looped through the slot?

Again, as an aside, Paragon got back to me. They get their part from Corvette Central.

[Dan H.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

With the screw loose and the strap snug around the hose, the tab is bent about 3 1/2 inches on the inside, depending on the thickness of rubber hose, it will pull up tightly. My repro and orig strap details are the same.

[Larry M.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Dan, again thanks. I hope I don't wear you out on this. I sent you another question via email which maybe you could answer here about the kick up/offset in the slot. But now another question. I could answer this one myself if I bought the LIC part. In your side view it appears that the bending of the strap to make the multilayer peice that is attached to the screw is different on the repro from original. If I blow up the pic on my PC it looks like the strap sweeps up on the back of this multilayer section whereas on the original it is routed to the other side. Am I seeing this correctly?

[Dan H.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Yes they're both different. I checked and have at least three different repro clamps, all different in minor ways. Some have too large of a screw head, others have thin 'U' shaped pieces where the screw cinches all together. NONE are exactly like the original one in construction, color, etc. The LIC stamped one works really great but has the attachment wrong on the top strap to the 'U' shaped piece. Sent you a photo of this.
Dan

[Larry M.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Here is one more pic from Dan. He takes great close up shots and this one tells a lot. On the LIC repro the strap sweeps up from the back and is bent down into the a thinner than original U reinforcement peice. When this one is tightened all of the screw force is carried by a single thickness of strap. On an original, and the ones I bought from Paragon, the strap wraps up the front of a thick U reinforcement and is bent down in. This is much stronger besides being correct.

As he says above, all repros have some issue. But he's given enough facts for me to consider my options. Thanks Dan.

[Chuck B.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

These are the straps from my '60. Still pretty shiny after 54 years.

[John D.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Larry, Nice comparison that you, Dan and others did here. The screw in the repro is definitely an issue isn't it. You said you thought the repro screw was bigger. I assume you mean the head of the screw. Actually I have seen repros with a smaller OD slotted head. But lets forget about the repros for the moment.
Nothing like the originals is their folks.
So when you go looking at the pretty show cars and see these gorgeous plated clamps then sharpen your pencils.
Charley, Those are very nice original clamps. Great pics too. Dan sure is good with the camera also.
So we learned these clamps are a science unto themselves haven't we.
Now lets skip back to the last ones Chevy sold. I bought quite heavily from Chevy in the late 70's At that time the hose clamps had the recessed hex bolts. They had the same color or plating. But no scratch or roller marks on them.
Jorjorian and I discussed this and he said he has never seen the recessed hex clamps have the scrathies. I have a some here and agree that they are just some clamp that fits all but not even close to be correct.
Now some fellows are very good at taking those recessed hex clamps and changine the bolt to a pan head. Well his is a wonderful thing except the clamps don't have the roller marks.
Zincad plating absolutely ruins the original clamps. Try getting them tin plated instead. But there are issues with having that done.
I don't think tin plating is that popular. I am sure if my plater even does tin.
Robershaw controls used to do a lot of tin plating for their components in the old days. That's where I got my tin plating done. I can say that now as they left New Stanton PA an eon ago. John

[Bob J.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

John, thats exactly right.
NO repo comes close in construction or appearance to the real clamps.
This is why used ones are very expensive and NOS clamp prices are obscene. Bob J

[John D.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Define obscene please. I am short a pair of clamps for one of my 63's. LOL

[Michael G.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Now that I see Dan's pic in post #23, I understand how these things are supposed to work. None of my clamps are remotely constructed like the original. I'll never understand why someone would go to all the trouble to make a repro and then change the way it functions. Jeeeez.

I second John's comment: Define obscene, I might be willing to pay it

[Larry M.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

I've attached another pic of one of my original Whittek 20 clamps, and I'm sure they are original, all be it replated. This one was cracked and finally broke yesterday so I took it apart. Some commentary:

1. The bracket propped on the clippers. You can see the indentions at the ends of the slot where the material is pushed up about 0.030. This allows the strap to feed at less angle. This same feature is evident on the LIC repro in Dan's pic of the orig and repro side by side.

2. I just showed the screw to prop the U reinforcement for display. It is not tall whereas the one on the LIC unit is. The screw is 1/4-28.

3. The tab end which is broken off has been reduced in width. I don't see that this does anyhthing functional and is probably to eliminate sharp corners for the mechanics fingers....but it is what it is. The two repros I've seen don't do this. Once you know what you are looking for you can see this fairly will in one of Charlie's pics and somewhat in Dan's close up.

4. Replated strap shows original stamping

My clamps are not terribly stripped...more the screws. If I can fashion a screw I can rebuild my originals. They'll wind up about 3/4 shorter which is fine. I also may use new straps from LIC for the rebuild as my old ones have been bent a time or two and may not hold up. Of course, plating is in order.

Just further further analysis. I can now see that the clamp in post 7 above is likely LIC due to the tab end of the top strap sticking out due to the issue discussed in post 23. It just doesn't look right. If my rebuild plan doesn't pan out then I may buy a set of LIC but take them apart and correct this issue.

I know there are only a few guys who are interested in this so I apologize to those who are worn out on this.

[Dan H.]

Re: FI Air Cleaner Straps

Larry, I have NOS clamps with the hex head screw, otherwise the mechanism is the same as orig. In the old days, we used to machine pan head screws down to match original screws, the replace the hex one and bingo, a slightly more original looking clamp. If someone handy could fab up some screws, they'd look good on the service clamps! Then all we need to do figure out correct coloration and 'striping' stuff.
Dan