Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

[D S.]

Terry, here is a big block AC manifold assembly being sold by Old Air Products on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-1970-Corvette-Hose-Muffler-Assy-w-Big-Block-/200422482186?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item2eaa1c610a

Thanks,
Scott Sims
Texas Chapter

[Ronald L.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

Looks like its done with modern day compression fittings.

[D S.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

I am told that barrier hoses are used now and that the crimps used back in the day won't suffice for crimping on the barrier hose. I don't know if it is an industry standard or what but it would sure be nice to find someone who can reproduce the crimps like on the early C-3 hoses.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

Its a combination of hose technology and the aluminum crimping following the hose.

I thought all you C3 guys were happy with those parts from China

I am surprised that old air doesn't have the old tools, or is this they don't really worry about that, they just make a generic version that fits many applications?

[Terry M.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

Well except for the crimps and the Shraeder valve caps it looks nice. I doubt there is any labeling on the hoses, but that could be DIY fixed.

As a practical matter the crimps would net one less than 4 points off I would think and maybe a lot less than that depending on what judge you got. The hex caps ought to be available in junk yards -- they were on every AC system for a jillion years (well almost).

[D S.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

I have about 40 of those brass hex nuts that I got from salvage yards. The ratio of Weatherheads (W) to blanks was about 1 in 8. For a while I was giving them away but it seems that a lot of people opted for R-134A. Not me. I have plenty of R-12 and oil.

[Terry M.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

I have about 40 of those brass hex nuts that I got from salvage yards. The ratio of Weatherheads (W) to blanks was about 1 in 8. For a while I was giving them away but it seems that a lot of people opted for R-134A. Not me. I have plenty of R-12 and oil.

I am not sure we are in a position to say that Weatherhead made ALL those Shraeder valve caps for Corvette. Just as the Weatherhead logo we saw on one of the AC hose assemblies you two brought does not necessarily mean that ALL the 1970, 1971 or 1972 AC hose assemblies were manufactured by Weatherhead. We will need a lot more data points before we can make that determination.

[D S.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

True that. I have two brass hex nuts that I removed from '60s vehicles that both have different logos than the Ws. Chrysler cars had smaller hex nuts and Ford cars had wider flat top nuts than GM cars but the Ford and GM hex nuts would interchange.

[D S.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

Well except for the crimps and the Shraeder valve caps it looks nice. I doubt there is any labeling on the hoses, but that could be DIY fixed.

As a practical matter the crimps would net one less than 4 points off I would think and maybe a lot less than that depending on what judge you got. The hex caps ought to be available in junk yards -- they were on every AC system for a jillion years (well almost).

Terry,
I got this reply from Old Air Products on my questions:

We can reproduce hoses as long as we have a master to go buy. We cannot
reproduce the original style crimp, I do not know of anybody that can. Also
do not know of anyone doing the original stampings.


Thank You,
John

JOHN PRICE
817-531-2665 ext. 122
john.p@oldairproducts.com





-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Sims [mailto:ss396t6@sbcglobal.net]
Sent: Sunday, October 30, 2011 7:37 AM
To: Chill
Subject: Inquiry from Old Air Products


I attended the NCRS Regional (Corvette) judging meet in Frisco, Texas on
Friday and Saturday. Old Air was mentioned in an advanced seminar as
possibly being able to reproduce original AC hoses and hose crimpings. Can
you also reproduce the manufacturer's logos on the hoses? I would like to
learn about this. I know that barrier hoses now replace original hoses.

Thanks

[Terry M.]

Re: Terry McManmon-Old Air Products

Nice bit of detective work Scott. Thanks for sharing.