'65 FI S-Tube Clamp

[Brooks G.]

Guys, I am helping a friend with his '65 FI Corvette. His S-tube was well used or should I say worse for wear. We are wondering if the end of the clamp where the bolt goes thru is as it should be or does it need to be bent or tweaked to a different shape? Hopefully the pictures will show you what I mean. Thanks in advance! Brooks Glover (2141)

[John D.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Brooks, I can see why you wondered. I am sure you will get a good answer.
Here's something you didn't ask. Sometimes the assembly line person spot welded the clamp on backwards. Meaning that when you are looking down at the clamp-standing at the fender you will see the threaded stud inside of the head of the bolt. Now this is not typical but it happened. At least in 63.
My 63 air cleaner has the clamp spot welded on backwards. I was told to leave it alone. JD

[Mike M.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

jd's errant assembly line worker was from lubbock texas. seriously, i'd re-bend the end nearest the bolt head so that is parallel with the opposite nut-containing tab.

[John D.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Dr. Mike, What's the length of that bolt please?. The one on my 63 is a whole lot longer than Brooks. Now I could measure the one on the LWC except it is covered and being used for a shelve. Merry Christmas, JD

[Mike M.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

too0 cold and way too much snow to go and check the bolt length on our midyear FI's. will do later but the one in the pic looks ok to me. did the augusta midget deduct for your bolt? mike

[Brooks G.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Guys, thanks for the replies! I really wish that we could look at a picture of what the clamp is supposed to look like where the bolt goes thru it. Thanks! Brooks Glover (2141)

[Doug F.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

here is a pic of one i've had hanging in my attic for a long time, looks a lot like yours,

[Brooks G.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Thanks Doug, a picture is definitely worth a thousand words. Brooks Glover (2141)

[Alan D.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Think this one will work for you, (MAR64 car) its just not the clearest.

As for the length of that bolt - it's total length (top of head to bottom) is 1.44" with a head of 0.25". Sorry it's on the car in the air so unable to remove today. Anyone have part number for that screw, unable to find in 64AIM.

One other word of caution; The judges dinged me a point for not having the bolted painted black. Not sure when that S tube was installed however it is a different color (dull black) than the air cleaner can (gloss black).

So if the S tube was installed before blackout the 4 small screws which hold it to the radiator support and the large bolt would have blackout on them. However the clamp would be left open in anticipation of the can being add and then the bolt would be tightened thus leaving a bare ring on that bolt.

[Dan H.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Alan, just thinking about the 'S' tube being painted, think I'll vote it being painted at St. Louis but in the parts paint booth. Otherwise we would be finding only partial blackout of the inner fender and no paint on the bottom of the 'S' tube due to the quicky blackouts done on the line.
Dan

[John H.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

The "S"-tube was installed on the Hard Trim Line, well after the Paint Shop blackout operation, and it arrived at the plant as an assembly, including the clamp and the bolt.

[Dan H.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

The "S"-tube was installed on the Hard Trim Line, well after the Paint Shop blackout operation, and it arrived at the plant as an assembly, including the clamp and the bolt.

John, did it arrive painted or raw? Was it from air cleaner vendor also?
Dan

[Alan D.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Thanks Dan & John - so would that single bolt be painted with the S Tube or just be added after the S Tube was painted. When it arrived as an assembly did it include the entire air cleaner, ie S tube and can?

If that was the assembly (all pieces) then shouldn't the entire s tube be the same gloss as the can?

And was the "Hard Trim Line" well after the wheel well undercoating treatment?

[John H.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Thanks Dan & John - so would that single bolt be painted with the S Tube or just be added after the S Tube was painted. When it arrived as an assembly did it include the entire air cleaner, ie S tube and can?

If that was the assembly (all pieces) then shouldn't the entire s tube be the same gloss as the can?

And was the "Hard Trim Line" well after the wheel well undercoating treatment?

Alan -

I don't recall if the "S"-tube was painted by the supplier or dip-primed at St. Louis, but it came to the line with the bolt already in the clamp (which is why the bolt isn't called out in the Assembly Manual). The air cleaner was a completely separate assembly, painted gloss black by AC Spark Plug.

The wheel well undercoat and blackout were both done in the Paint Shop, long before the body reached the Hard Trim Line.

[Michael H.]

Re: '65 FI S-Tube Clamp

Alan, just thinking about the 'S' tube being painted, think I'll vote it being painted at St. Louis but in the parts paint booth. Otherwise we would be finding only partial blackout of the inner fender and no paint on the bottom of the 'S' tube due to the quicky blackouts done on the line.
Dan

You are correct. The "S" tube was painted (dipped in) thinned semi gloss (or semi flat??) black. The bolt for the clamp was not included when the tube was painted. It should be zincad plated. (silver)

The "S" tube and the main section of the air cleaner are definitely NOT the same gloss level. The main section is very close to gloss black.

The air cleaner assembly was supplied by AC division. Their paint was always near full gloss. (it had an AC division part number starting with 64xxxxx)
The "S" tube was a GM vendor supplied part other than AC. The vast majority of vendor supplied parts were dipped in semi flat black.
Unfortunately, most "S" tubes are repainted gloss black during restoration.

As John Hinckley mentioned, the air cleaner assembly was installed long after wheel well undercoat and blackout so the attaching bolts and reinforcement would not have had either of those coatings.