73 coolant resevoir clamps

[William M.]

Should the hoses that go to the coolant resevoir have clamps? My '73 LS4 has a clamp on one and none on the other. If so, what style clamp and where do you get them?

[Joe L.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

Should the hoses that go to the coolant resevoir have clamps? My '73 LS4 has a clamp on one and none on the other. If so, what style clamp and where do you get them?

William----

The coolant recovery tank-to-radiator hose used clamps on both ends. These were the flat-type, spring clamps similar to those used on fuel lines. I believe that Dr. Rebuild carries them.

[Tom R.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

Should the hoses that go to the coolant resevoir have clamps? My '73 LS4 has a clamp on one and none on the other. If so, what style clamp and where do you get them?

Color is important as well...I believe the coolant resevoir used the black which are a slightly larger than the green. I found some black ones from a vendor at Carlisle called Smart Parts.

Dr Rebuild does show "flat spring steel style" clamps which I believe are the same as spring clamps and shows it for the "tank to radiator" at $1.50. I would be curious what you get when you order that clamp.

[William M.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

Color is important as well...I believe the coolant resevoir used the black which are a slightly larger than the green. I found some black ones from a vendor at Carlisle called Smart Parts.

Interesting. Pictures I've found of engine compartments all appear to have shiny clamps vs. black ones. Does anyone know for sure what should be on a '73?

[Robert S.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

I recently looked into this issue for my 74'. Dr. rebuild says the clamps are the flat spring type, 3 prong, and are green in color. I have both of the originals on my car but the color is quite faded but I would say they are a dark green. You can purchase these types clamps at most auto supply stores. I purchased an assortment and installed the green one on the radiator end which was the one leaking on my car (otherwise I would have left the original installed). I suppose, in part, which color clamp you use is a function of the OD of the rubber tube. The green seemed right for what I think is an original hose size and was close in color to the one I removed but slighly lighter in color more like olive drab.
I would think a 73' would be the same.

[Tom R.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

I recently looked into this issue for my 74'. Dr. rebuild says the clamps are the flat spring type, 3 prong, and are green in color. I have both of the originals on my car but the color is quite faded but I would say they are a dark green. You can purchase these types clamps at most auto supply stores. I purchased an assortment and installed the green one on the radiator end which was the one leaking on my car (otherwise I would have left the original installed). I suppose, in part, which color clamp you use is a function of the OD of the rubber tube. The green seemed right for what I think is an original hose size and was close in color to the one I removed but slighly lighter in color more like olive drab.
I would think a 73' would be the same.

Robert...interesting. I've studied clamp colors and concluded 78-82 were the green color types. I've got some photos at the house and can post later...didn't realize you could get them at auto supply store. Is an auto supply store different than a retail place like Autozone?

[Terry M.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

Tom,
I have seen them in the FLAPS (AutoZone, Pep Boys, Murray's, Advance, SKM, etc) on the bubble pack that has the red background and says HELP! The problem is these clamps, while often the correct color, have the rounded (safety) ears that are sooo0 unlike the OEM clamps from the early C3s. I can't speak for 1973 for sure, but I would think they would have the square (cut your hands) ears just like 1968-1972.

[Robert S.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

In response to the question asked about my response, yes an auto supply store would be like an Autozone. I guess I should also say that the two green clamps on my 74' are what I believe to be original. But since I am not the original owner of the car I cannot say for sure they were not replaced at some point in the past by someone. As I indicated the color (as least to me) of what I think are original clamps is a very dark green. I had assumed the clamps, when new ,were probably more of the olive drab green of the recent replacement and they just darkened with age.

[Tom R.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

Tom,
I have seen them in the FLAPS (AutoZone, Pep Boys, Murray's, Advance, SKM, etc) on the bubble pack that has the red background and says HELP! The problem is these clamps, while often the correct color, have the rounded (safety) ears that are sooo0 unlike the OEM clamps from the early C3s. I can't speak for 1973 for sure, but I would think they would have the square (cut your hands) ears just like 1968-1972.

Terry

By the later 70's, engineers figured out the "worker safety" issues with those spring clamps and rounded the edges. I did a survey while at Carlisle and learned that some had both flat and round edges but by the end of the 70's...all were rounded. Checked out Ed Foss's green original 70 LT1 that had (what I concluded) was a nice, green flat eared spring clamp on the fuel line...of which there was only one.

[Terry M.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

I figured the later '70s was the time of the safety clamps, but I don't know enough about those years to put my opinions out for all to see.

Strangely I saw a Bowtie 196X (1965 I think, IIRC) with rounded clamp ears on the power brake vacuum line. When I asked, I was told they were correct for the car. Hmmm. Beats me what that means in terms of worker safety and when Chevrolet knew about it.

[Michael W.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

Interesting. Pictures I've found of engine compartments all appear to have shiny clamps vs. black ones. Does anyone know for sure what should be on a '73?

Mine were green. Note that the overflow hose from the tank to the ground has NO clamp at all.

[Robert S.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

I would agree with the last post that the bigger diameter overflow to ground hose has no clamp based upon how my 74' is configured.

[Harmon C.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

On 73's I have seen two types of clamps on hose from the radiator to the tank and the overflow hose with or without a clamp. I have pictures of an L82 and a 454 both with 4000 miles and the clamps are a band type with the screw on the side in all three places. They are like the ones seen on automatic lines at the radiator. I have a picture of a 38,000 mile original owner car with a black spring clamps with square ends on both ends of the hose to the radiator and a side screw band clamp on the overflow hose. I would not take a deduction for either style clamp on a 73 as I have seen both styles used at random on original cars.

[Ralph S.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

my 4/2/73 L48 car that i have owned since new has the sharp edged spring clamps from the coolant tank cap to radiator on both ends of the hose. also the overflow hose from the tank cap to the ground has a wittek screw clamp (not the tower type)

[Roger S.]

Re: 73 coolant resevoir clamps

My 73 coolant overflow tank has a greenish tinted spring clamp on the hose from the radiator. The overflow hose has no clamp. The clamp at the radiator has some corrosion and I can not see any greenish color, if anything it is blackish.
Roger