'72 repro main hose crimping

[Tom L.]

Since the original hoses on my car are long gone I had nochoice but to order the repro's. The main hose requires the suction end on the POA valve to be crimped. Anyone gone through this? Did you bring the hose to an a/c shop on or off the car? Anything that might come as a surprise doing this? Thanks!!

[Edward J.]

Re: '72 repro main hose crimping

Tom. I am not sure about this but there are some places that make hydraulic hoses and have a machine to do crimping of the hoses, But generally the fittings and pipe are steel, It would not hurt to ask. sometimes Auto parts stores do this. Look up in the phone book or on line to find someone local.

[Bill C.]

Re: '72 repro main hose crimping

Tom,

The crimp will not look anything like the original.... modern crimping tool leaves 3 ring marks, and I think the original hose assembly had aluminum ends that were compressed over the hose w/o marks.
The new hose will have steel ends.

from what I know - since you will be crimping the rubber hose to the aluminum pipe/assembly for the POA valve, you should just be able to take it to an AC shop.
If there is a reason to set the hose orientation to the pipe assembly, do a mock loose assemble and mark the two parts accordingly.

when my hose assembly cracked, I just bit the bullet and spend $400 for a NOS one. they look exact and the muffler assembly that is welded to the compressor head manifold block is done at the correct angle.
most repros angle/push the muffler to far down and angle it to close to the inner fender. It makes stuffing the hose in the tight quarters all the more difficult.

bill

[Michael C.]

Re: '72 repro main hose crimping

Since the original hoses on my car are long gone I had nochoice but to order the repro's. The main hose requires the suction end on the POA valve to be crimped. Anyone gone through this? Did you bring the hose to an a/c shop on or off the car? Anything that might come as a surprise doing this? Thanks!!

What did did you end up doing with the end that neede crimping?

[Tom L.]

Re: '72 repro main hose crimping

Connected each end, marked the hoses, cut them, assembled them and marked the clocking with a sharpie on the hose and the fitting. Went to a friend that owns an A/C and radiator shop and had the hoses crimped. A modern/leak free crimp but not factory. Never got a god description of routing of the low side hose so I did it my way. Probably not correct routing for an LS-5 with a/c but it's crowded down there. If this is your dilemma feel free to inquire more. Have fun!!