Steve Cooper

I hate the generic hose clamps with thread perforations through the band that most autoparts shops here in the US sell. They're cheap and cheap looking. The German NORMA clamps on our Porsches are nice, but they seem to be a little delicate and hard to find, especially in the big sizes, like on my guru snorkel intake. or even mid-sized clamps as found on the intercooler pipe to throttle body hose in my 951.

In my long search for the perfect hose clamps, I've come to trust one place. They've never let me down. And they have the best range of sizes.

Where might you ask is this cornucopia of clamps? West Marine.

They sell stainless marine grade hose and hi-temp exhaust clamps. Gemi from Germany. AWAB from the US. Embossed threads. Stainless bands with sweet little raised edges that keep from cutting the hose. Largish diameter hex heads for tightening with a socket. And in sizes ranging form teeny vaccum hose sized to big six inch diameter clamps. Even exhaust clamps that would really hold an exhaust together.

So why am I waxing about clamps tonight?

They're having their annual summer sale, and clamps are discounted. Time to stock up, or replace those crappy clamps you bought at Kragen, or at the Walmart down the street from Thunderhill the day your IC hoses and old Norma clamps blew off from too much boost. Just a word to hose clamp wise. The good clamps aren't cheap. Or cheap looking. But they're cheaper this week.

Closing note- Coast Guard approved fuel injection hosing is the bomb for building your own pressurized fuel lines, coupled with the right clamps. That's on sale too.

Anyway, back to my Pilsner. And I have no relationship with West Marine, other than buying my hose clamps and hose there.
Nice... I left an opening for Campeck to insert a wise aleck reply.

Jakerx

haha and what makes you think i wouldn't make a smart aleck reply ..haha i'll let campeck have the honors...

but thanks for the clamp info though... i have to replace a lof on mine in my engine bay...

Campeck

hehe...ok

whats so bad about these clamps huh!?!?!
I bet those arent YELLOW ZINC PLATED....yeah you heard me!!
YELLOW ZINC PLATED!!

notice j boot clamps and antifreeze hose!!


edit--put on sunglasses before scrolling down!

horsepowerfarm

This is the kind of info that is worth staying up late and having one more bourbon before hitting the sack. Marine stuff is always cool.

Thanks Steve.

Mike Murcia

Actually, the Norma clamps can be ordered zinc plated:
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/eagleday/normaclamps.html

Dmitry S.

Hey Steve, buy out the whole store, I might want to purchase some from you at the meet.

Campeck

horsepowerfarm

I like stainless, kind of goes with my car.

Mike Murcia

I'm partial to the stainless T-bolts clamps like these:
http://www.breezeclamps.com/tbolt.htm

SeaCay

Best clamps are the Oetiker stepless screwclamps. Get them from Aircraft Spruce. They are stainless, safety wire capable, do not allow any cold flow of hose material through serations like other aftermarket clamps, and are truly a work of art.

hosrom_951

How do you people get to make your engine shine? any secret?

Steve Cooper

Dmitry, West Marine is close to where we've been talking about having lunch.

SeaCay- Thanks for the name. I had been told that name a few years back, they're used in a bunch of Humvee applications and aviation.

Mike, the t-bolt clamps are also available at West, nice to see them on a rack to pick what you need. I prefer the stainless look as well. The gold zinc doesn't look as industrial to my eye, dsoesn't hold up to tools or wear very well either.

HPF- Cheers! A bourbon and rennlist. Sounds good!

Campeck- true to form.

Peckster

Too much time.

Steve Cooper

Alternatively, clean every part when you have to rebuild the engine and have all the parts out. Obsess over it. Get all the right factory bits and pieces. Put it all back together and then don't drive it.

ERAU-944

hey campeck -

you're a moron

cadmium plating