63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

[Loren L.]

My source is the Sixth Edition, 1st Printing, from 2012, page 107 - I'm hoping for a reference to a revision or guidance from 63-4 Mechanical Judges on "how" they use this section. The quotes are from the manual, with Capitalization supplied for emphasis:

"Original hoses MAY have 'GM' and a square box" "...and MAY have either ribs or grooves..." "GENERALLY, the 5/8' hose is NOT ribbed and contains 'GM' and a square box
symbol..." "The 3/4' hose is NORMALLY ribbed with NO 'GM' identification."

The above is followed by the last sentence in the paragraph "Original hoses HAVE a SMOOTH texture WITH ribs or grooves that vary in width."

I'm trying to provide assistance to a local restorer on a one-family Black/Black SWC with FI and he WANTS to do it right. Thanks in advance.

[Loren L.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

Interesting. Apparently there have been NO '63/4 cars judged and NO '63/4 Mechanical Judges in the last seven years.

[Mike M.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

u have a PM.. mike

[Loren L.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

Due to the overwhelming response to this question, I took a little tour - of the late Noland Adams Corvette Volume II. Noland's book has pictures, lotsa pictures, including heater hoses. Now I could have missed it, but the first picture I found of a white ink "GM" was on page 355 and was date captioned with a date of November 1965. Interesting picture on the same page was from August 1966 and it was bare (at least on the visible side) of "GM" in white. By the way, page 355 is in the 1966 section of the book. Comments?

[Edward J.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

I remember Mike Hanson talking about this here a number of year back and he said he said 63 /64 heater hoses may or may not of had any GM markings on either hoses. there were more than one supplier of these hoses.

[Joe R.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

Loren,

Here's the facts, that GM specified a minimum standard for the products they used and those standards were sent to a lot of suppliers. If they met the minimum GM did not care if they had yellow and blue boxes or lines on their hoses. Then it was all up to price and volume. Ordering for the manufacturing meant GM ordered for numerous suppliers and still do.
Problem is: "My Corvette is Original because I bought it from the original owner".
Do you think hoses, belts, and other rubber things have lasted for 63+ years?????
I think not!!!!!!!!
Have a nice day.

JR

[Brian M.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

When it comes to hoses I always see the Dr. Dr Rebuild.

[Gene M.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

Loren,

........................
Do you think hoses, belts, and other rubber things have lasted for 63+ years?????
I think not!!!!!!!!
Have a nice day.

JR

Can’t say that. I seen originals on original cars. Not very common but does happen. I got all the original smog, belts, hoses, dated clamps, and spark plugs & wires in a box from original owner when I got my 68 way back in 1971. They were super great shape and are on the car today minus the wires and spark plugs.

[Perry M.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

My 63 still wears all of it's original rubber parts that appear to be in good shape although I wouldn't go on a road trip without bringing spares with me.

[Loren L.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

When I bought my first SWC in 1964 (just out of the army), two things I remember - NO bluish/gray shocks and NO "GM" on heater hoses. The shocks battle was won in the '80s. Could the source that's now in print be an old 1966 manual? Or a vendor who expanded the market from "66/7" to "63/7" with two strokes of a computer key?
Thanks for the comments.

[Joe R.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

Gene,

The reason for this answer was not to say there were no original rubber things on cars but to say there were several suppliers for all parts that were expendable.
Drive your 68 a couple hundred miles a day and report on how good those rubber parts have held up.

JR

[Loren L.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

I've been advised that the black Convertible ZO6 that was unearthed some years ago after having been parked in '64/5 with 7K miles was/is equipped with with 5/8" and 3/4" hoses with ribs and NO "GM" logos. The source of the various colors "GM" logos information was ...........

[Michael J.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

I saw that one at the Hampton National, I think you are correct.......

[Gene M.]

Re: 63-4 Heater Hoses - Judging

Gene,

The reason for this answer was not to say there were no original rubber things on cars but to say there were several suppliers for all parts that were expendable.
Drive your 68 a couple hundred miles a day and report on how good those rubber parts have held up.

JR

I don’t even drive my truck a couple hundred miles a day unless on a trip. But the ‘68 gets a couple hundred a season going to cruise and ice cream. At that rate they will be in service a lot of years. Unless they start showing cracks or leaks they can stay in play. On the other hand the ‘65 can get thousands of miles a year, but everything is replaced and kept updated.
Hopefully the weather will give us an early spring so driving them can commence