The ones I got from CARS suck. I can't get them tight enough to stop the leaking, and when I tighten them as tight as the need to be, they break!!!! Is there a better source for these?? I want this leaky 60 Buick out of my garage, and I can't do it with leaking water hoses everywhere. :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant: :rant:
I don't want to hear that Adam because I just bought new tower clamps from CARS last summer at the BCA meet and I have not had a chance to use them yet ou: The original manufacturer of those clamps was Wittek. Do a search under that name and there seems to be quite a few places to get them. I do have a few currently on my car that have not leaked and I think I got them from year one (about 5 years ago)
CARS sells the Wittek ones. I guess I'll just pull the hoses off and run a thin coat of RTV on the indies of the hoses where they seal. What a bunch of crap! Ruined my spotless engine compartment because of this. Almost every fitting leaks.
Gee whiz Adam, do ya suppose that tower clamps may be the reason that the screw clamp was invented??? Besides if your going for concours restoration arent at least a couple of them supposed to leak. You know when you start fooling with them old cars things are supposed to go wrong. ou: Dave B
The towers everyone sells are repros. Wittek was located in Chicago and burned down about 10 years ago. I think they are gone for good. I have lots of problems with these as well leaking and breaking. The ones for the small water fitting on the intake have a wider band than the original and this is why this leaks the worst as it is to wide for the fitting. I have one of these small original ones with a 70 date code on it and it seems to be invincible. The trick I use to tightn all of these is to grab the tower part with a pair of channel locks over a rag or piece of rubber to keep it from twisting while you tighten it with a 3/8 nut driver. I have tried a ratchet but have twisted the head right off the screw. I abandoned the idea of using these on my lower radiator hose at the radiator because it was so difficult to seal and way to critical. Anyway this one is hard to see so I use a worm clamp here. Also If you check Hemmings maybe in the Buick parts for sale and also maybe Chevy there is a guy that advertizes these saying we know all your sizes!.. I think he claims they are original. Good luck, lots of nightmares here as I agree the repros suck!
I got them from the add in Hemmings and had good luck so far with them in my Wildcat convertibles. He is in Indiana if I remember right! Ted :beer
Adam, Keep us posted if you get them, I don't know if I want to use the clamps I bought from CARS last year. ou:
When I replaced my heater core last summer, I ordered all the Wittek clamps from CARS, too. What I noticed, was that you have to order SMALLER clamps than what they group together for the kits. DON'T but the 'Kit.' o No: After figuring out that the kit clamps were too, big, I ended up using 2" clamps for the radiator hoses, and 1" clamps for the thermostat hose. I used the 15/16" and 1" Corbin clamps for the heater hoses. I had a couple of leaks on the radiator hose at the water pump, but a just tightened it up a bit more. Hope this helps.
The only reason those stupid tower clamps are on my car is that they are original. And Im starting to re think my decision. My uncle's old trick was to use some Indian Head gasket shellac on the inside of the hose. Stick the hose on and tighten the clamp. Never leaked for him. My best advice- Use worm clamps and take the small hit in judging. You'll be more relaxed when your cruising on the interstate at 65+
