I've been extremely frustrated by the performance of Corbin clamps. Had one
come off after a test drive and had hot (thankfully not scalding) water fall
all over me since I was under the car. That was on a '58 Impala. We
restored 2 of those, and also a '57 300C Convertible, and they all went out
with Corbin clamps on them, but after the above mentioned incident, I've
worried about them.
When we did the '56 DeSoto, I found out about Gates having the equivalent of
a shrink tubing hose clamp, and we installed them on the large diameter
radiator hoses, and then put the Corbin Clamp right up against the edge of
the shrink clamp, and it's virtually un-noticeable unless it's pointed out.
The car has won Best of Show at the National DeSoto Club, has it's AACA
Senior 1st, and also won Best of Class at the Keels and Wheels Concourse
De'Elegance (Houston), and at the Geneva, IL Concourse De'Elegance.
Nobody's noticed the shrink clamp yet. And boy, do those things squeeze!
I'm satisfied with the "look" of authenticity, and the confidence that the
hose isn't going to come off. I haven't had any problems with the smaller
diameter Corbin clamps (yet).
If you go to www.nytimes.com/carcontest , you can see "the princess" as a
finalist of their "Collector Car of the Year". The owner submitted several
photos, one of them is an engine shot and you can notice the shrink clamp on
the upper radiator hose. It is a darker/shinier black than the actual
radiator hose, so now that I've told you it's there, it'll be plain as day.
Feel free to register to vote for your favorite listed car. (but, as true
blue FWLD look enthusiasts, the DeSoto is the obvious choice) OK; that
was a shameless plug.......... but vote! You can vote once a day!
Tim Bowers
Stellar Antique Auto Restorations
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eastern Sierra Adjustment Services" <esierraadj@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 8:05 PM
Subject: Re: [FWDLK] Gettng hosed, & wired!
To each is own originality; I've had my car's Corbin's (didn't know that
they had a formal name--before I got my
special wrenches, I just called them 'muthers'.) ....installed for many
trouble-free decades.
Now : I call them NICE, to remove & maneuver, as necessary.
I think that Gary Goers sells them.
We've all got our war-stories, but if the Corbins were all that bad, then
they would be just another defamation,
like our car's interiors' durability, and their bodies' fitment &
rustability.
If no one beats me to it, I'll post a pic of the Corbin's special
ratchet-wrench, in operation, manana.
Neil Vedder
Wayne Graefen wrote:
Multiple Corbin clamp problems and my solution:
* Corbin clamps are not readily available over the counter at
almost all parts houses.
* Corbin clamps are supposed to be single time use. Never reused.
* We home mechanics can't keep quantities on hand.
* The parts house Corbin hose clamp tools will not squeeze the
Corbin clamp tightly enough to remove it over a swollen hose. I
keep my air grinder handy for Corbin removal! The professional
grade Corbin tools are better than the cheapies but not ideal.
* There is no visual way of knowing a Corbin is properly sized to
the need at hand. They are not labeled and they come in a
variety of color finishes today with no code explanation of what
they are intended to fit. Once out of the packaging they are
all guesses as to what they will hold tight.
* When John Lazenby and I stocked some Corbins and advertised them
to the 300 clubs, we received one order in several years.
My solution once was to use quality screw down hose clamps always
available at the parts houses. Those available in name brands today have
slipped in quality compared to what they were over the years. And the
cheaper ones are absolute junk.
Norma /Torro hose clamps are used in all high end production cars built
in the world from Audi to Mercedes, BMW, Rolls, Jaguar, Ferrari, Lambo,
etc., etc. The only US car I'm aware of using them from the factory is
the Holden-based Pontiac GTO. Read fully about them here:
http://www.abaofamerica.com/PDF/NORMA-Torro.pdf
They say "Norma" and have a millimeter sizing range on them. In my mind
Norma clamps are vastly superior to our common screw drive or Corbin
clamps. I have never had one strip or fail and that includes occasional
extremely abusive non-automotive applications. Yes, they cost a little
more. What is an engine worth?
My 300F Special lost a Corbin heater hose when it was two years old
probably because it had been off and reinstalled. That destroyed the
car's original cylinder heads and caused a partial motor rebuild. I can
be an absolute stickler for 100% authenticity and appreciate those who
adhere to that standard but I have NO Corbin clamps on any vehicle I own.
Wayne
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