Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

[Geoff C.]

That is a broad declaration I would like to address – as I have some knowledge of these items.

Repro vacuum hoses certainly are different than 34 to 48 year original assembly line 68-82 vacuum hose. There are many differences; many due to the aging process in rubber.

Rubber shrinks when aging; hoses become hard, the surface become more taut, less irregular, smoother & shiny. A 40 year old shrunken rubber hose will certainly look different than a repro that is fresh rubber: soft with a somewhat matte finished surface & an ID & OD that has not yet shrunken. A repro hose does not attempt to have the patina of a 30-40 year old rubber part. You cannot have it both ways.

Someone stated that repro hose has the wrong wall thickness. Not any of those marketed by me. They match what GM specified – but time will change those ID, OD & wall thickness parameters also. TIP: aging rubber shrinks.

There are other vendors which supply a similar product, however I purchase nothing from them & have no current knowledge of their product. I do know of another source whose hoses exhibited oversize problems that are well documented on various chat rooms & even magazine articles.

When you study your craft - it really is oosoez ...

[Brian M.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

My only rubber source. Thank You.

[Joe L.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

That is a broad declaration I would like to address – as I have some knowledge of these items.

Repro vacuum hoses certainly are different than 34 to 48 year original assembly line 68-82 vacuum hose. There are many differences; many due to the aging process in rubber.

Rubber shrinks when aging; hoses become hard, the surface become more taut, less irregular, smoother & shiny. A 40 year old shrunken rubber hose will certainly look different than a repro that is fresh rubber: soft with a somewhat matte finished surface & an ID & OD that has not yet shrunken. A repro hose does not attempt to have the patina of a 30-40 year old rubber part. You cannot have it both ways.

Someone stated that repro hose has the wrong wall thickness. Not any of those marketed by me. They match what GM specified – but time will change those ID, OD & wall thickness parameters also. TIP: aging rubber shrinks.

There are other vendors which supply a similar product, however I purchase nothing from them & have no current knowledge of their product. I do know of another source whose hoses exhibited oversize problems that are well documented on various chat rooms & even magazine articles.

When you study your craft - it really is oosoez ...

Geoff------


I agree. It's also true for many other parts of these cars, especially ORGANIC material parts-------the way they appear today is often not the way they appeared when they were new. Organic material inexorably degrades and changes over time. The best example is US. Haven't we degraded and changed a bit over the last 50 years?

[Edward J.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Geoff, I think you can add one item more item into the mix, re-guard less of the inside dia. the outside dia. may slightly differ from each manufacturer.

[Geoff C.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Edward: I’m not sure of what suppliers your statement refers to – i.e. other manufacturers’ having different OD’s - Outside Diameters.

If you are referring to different REPRODUCTION suppliers manufacturers’ – I agree. In particular, there is one vendor who was even duped into copying the wrong OD as well as the wrong pattern of raised ribs on the surface.

If however, you are referring to different OEM assembly line suppliers manufacturers’ – I disagree. In my encounter, there was one OEM with one pattern of raised ribs on the surface. As many know, the rib patterns designate a particular manufacturer. There may have been another limited or small OEM supplier – but I have not seen such.

If other credible evidence is presented – I will revise that view.
NOTE: this involves the Large & Medium sizes of 1968-1982 Headlamp & Wiper Door Vacuum hoses.

Now with reference to my friend Joe: that some of us have deteriorated: however - I will submit that today I repeatedly climbed an Aluminum ladder to clean the leaves from the gutters of my 2 story domicile – front, rear, 1 side plus 1 story detached 4 car garage front & rear.

[Joe L.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Edward: I’m not sure of what suppliers your statement refers to – i.e. other manufacturers’ having different OD’s - Outside Diameters.

If you are referring to different REPRODUCTION suppliers manufacturers’ – I agree. In particular, there is one vendor who was even duped into copying the wrong OD as well as the wrong pattern of raised ribs on the surface.

If however, you are referring to different OEM assembly line suppliers manufacturers’ – I disagree. In my encounter, there was one OEM with one pattern of raised ribs on the surface. As many know, the rib patterns designate a particular manufacturer. There may have been another limited or small OEM supplier – but I have not seen such.

If other credible evidence is presented – I will revise that view.
NOTE: this involves the Large & Medium sizes of 1968-1982 Headlamp & Wiper Door Vacuum hoses.

Now with reference to my friend Joe: that some of us have deteriorated: however - I will submit that today I repeatedly climbed an Aluminum ladder to clean the leaves from the gutters of my 2 story domicile – front, rear, 1 side plus 1 story detached 4 car garage front & rear.

Geoff------


You're a braver man than I (or you're less deteriorated). I need my gutters cleaned, too, but I'm not getting up on a ladder to do it. I'll be getting some "younger fellows" in here to do it for me. I did it myself several years ago but, since then, the years have taken a toll.

But, PLEASE: BE CAREFUL ON THOSE LADDERS. I lost a cousin about 2 years ago that fell off a ladder and he was about 15 years younger than I.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Geoff------

But, PLEASE: BE CAREFUL ON THOSE LADDERS. I lost a cousin about 2 years ago that fell off a ladder and he was about 15 years younger than I.

Joe's got an extremely good point.


I see waaaay too many accidents of patients who thought they were still "good enough" to climb a ladder...but weren't. One lost her life a few months ago, and she was otherwise an energetic, healthy lady.

[Bill L.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Joe's got an extremely good point.


I see waaaay too many accidents of patients who thought they were still "good enough" to climb a ladder...but weren't. One lost her life a few months ago, and she was otherwise an energetic, healthy lady.

My Dad did not lose his life but did pulverize his right foot falling from a ladder. They had him on Morphine for a couple days due to the pain. To this day he has at best partial use of that foot and no discernible ankle.


Please be careful!

Bill

[Geoff C.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Gentlemen - you are right. There is a risk.
I try to ameliorate it as follows:
I make sure the ladder is vertical at the proper angle, not diagonal with the feet dug in the lawn.
A spotter to assist at the base - standing on the bottom step of the ladder.
I wear my Herman Survivor boots & lock the heel in on each step ascending & descending.
Slow.
But - next year I probably will not - as in 45 minutes I will complete my 72nd journey around the Sun as in Sir Arthur C. Clarke's parlance.
THANKS for the concern.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

But - next year I probably will not - as in 45 minutes I will complete my 72nd journey around the Sun as in Sir Arthur C. Clarke's parlance.
THANKS for the concern.

Happy Birthday Geoff!

[Graeme B.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Happy birthday Geoff , you're still a pup.
Cheers from Deb and Graeme, (Down under).

[Geoff C.]

Re: Repro vacuum hoses are a different size than original ...

Thank you Deb & Graeme, Pat too.
Next time you are up from Oz or on the East Coast come stay at our Lake House. June to August is best. Our Deb’s can go shopping in New Preston & we can ogle the other “scenery”. Plus Corvettes to drive also.
Thanks again. Are you still racing your C*bra?

[Geoff C.]