Wittek tower clamps?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Wittek manufacturing company made the original tower clamps under our hoods.

I found three in my 71. Two for the air cleaner extension to PCV valve, and one for the power steering reservoir. Pretty sure they're original. All three are marked Wittek MFG. Co. 1 1/4 DCM. The hoses are 3/4" ID.

My 72 may have two, both for the power steering. No sign of "Wittek" on the outside of the bands. They're marked 1 3/16 4/71...............On a side note, IMO 1 3/16 is a little snug for a 3/4" ID hose.

Anyway, few questions for the "all" knowing.

1. They make reproductions and some if not all of them are trash. Not just reproductions, but they may have the Wittek name and markings. How can you tell one from another?

2. What hoses used a Wittek clamp from factory?

3. What sizes where used for what hoses? I suspect the 3/4" ID hose uses a 1 1/4". The 5/8" ID used a 1 1/8 or 1 3/16.


All input/history appreciated, thank you

[LongBox]

Can't be sure this applies to our trucks, but my 1972 Buick Skylark V8 had tower clamps on the top and bottom rad hoses and the heater hoses. Sorry that I never took note of the sizes.

[OregonNed]

I purchased reproductions as I replaced hoses. The look I do like.

[davepl]

I bought mine from Eckler's Corvette, figuring the NCRS guys are picky enough that they're probably real. They say Wittek on them and have the right coated look, and held up well... didn't strip out like the Chinese junk.

[71 super]

To prevent the bend that some pictured show, spray the whole band with a spray Lube of some type, it helps prevent the bend. The hoses that received towers are as follow, heater before and aft the water shut off, the upper and lower rad hoses, the reservoir hose could have either tower or a band type- not parts store but smooth side screw as does the by pass from water pump to manifold. The pcv and brake booster get spring type clamps.

[FirstOwner69]

Types of clamps used in the various locations may have varied by year.

Heater hoses...
I remember struggling to remove Corbin clamps http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...orbin%20clamps from the heater hoses on my 69 when it was a couple years old. The service manuals show Corbin clamps in the 69 and earlier versions and tower clamps starting in 1970.

Radiator hoses and breather hose from right valve cover...
Tower clamps (Wittek) for all years. http://www.classicindustries.com/pro.../*r085678.html

PCV and where GM used rubber fuel hose...
Pinch clamps.
http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...parts/?q=k0051
http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...parts/?q=K0050
http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...parts/?q=K0052

Power steering return hose...
Not sure what they are called. http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...parts/23c.html

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by 71 super

To prevent the bend that some pictured show, spray the whole band with a spray Lube of some type, it helps prevent the bend. The hoses that received towers are as follow, heater before and aft the water shut off, the upper and lower rad hoses, the reservoir hose could have either tower or a band type- not parts store but smooth side screw as does the by pass from water pump to manifold. The pcv and brake booster get spring type clamps.

Thank you. By "heater before and aft the water shut off", do you mean for the water shut off only? In other words, the heater core nor the return line from the radiator have one?

Happen to know what size was commonly used for the radiator hoses? Edit: Per classic industries they're:
Two 2-1/16" upper radiator hose clamps
Two 2-5/16" lower radiator hose clamps

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Types of clamps used in the various locations may have varied by year.

Heater hoses...
I remember struggling to remove Corbin clamps http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...orbin%20clamps from the heater hoses on my 69 when it was a couple years old. The service manuals show Corbin clamps in the 69 and earlier versions and tower clamps starting in 1970.

Radiator hoses and breather hose from right valve cover...
Tower clamps (Wittek) for all years. http://www.classicindustries.com/pro.../*r085678.html

PCV and where GM used rubber fuel hose...
Pinch clamps.
http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...parts/?q=k0051
http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...parts/?q=K0050
http://www.classicindustries.com/sho...parts/?q=K0052

Power steering return hose...
Not sure what they are called. http://www.classicindustries.com/pro...parts/23c.html

Thanks Jim. I forgot I had a service manual, I need to use it. Like you say, it shows for the breather and heater hose. Didn't see any radiator hoses, but they're probably there someplace.

[71 super]

Sorry, I just saw your reply. The heater tower clamps are at all locations, heater core outlet, water shut off for and aft, water pump and at intake. Ecklers clamps seem to work well and look correct. Many times I use corvette camaro or Impala sources for detail items like these. Often times those guys are more detail oriented than the common suppliers for our trucks. Examples include the correct white stripe vac. Lines, the thin wall rad overflow hose and the correct washer hoses.

[DeadheadNM]

Definitely says Wittek on the power steering hose clamps. The Wittek tower clamps can be replated and turn out great. When done in a batch with other items to be clear zinc coated it's not too costly. The clamps are rather pricey but can be had new - not sure if the new ones are date coded like the originals were.

[DeadheadNM]

Here are a few examples I've recently had replated. More pics hereof an earlier batch: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&postcount=208

[bozo71]

Best way to identify a true 71c-10 Cheyenne super?

[davepl]

Originally Posted by bozo71

Best way to identify a true 71c-10 Cheyenne super?

...by its genuine Wittek tower clamps!

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Definitely says Wittek on the power steering hose clamps. The Wittek tower clamps can be replated and turn out great. When done in a batch with other items to be clear zinc coated it's not too costly. The clamps are rather pricey but can be had new - not sure if the new ones are date coded like the originals were.

I have 3 breather hose setups which have the original 6 Wittek clamps. The 4 I can get at to read say "Wittek Mfg. Co., Chicago, USA" They also include the size (1-1/4 in this case) and have the letters "DCM" following the size. No date codes I can see. I know one setup is the original to my 69. Not sure what year trucks the others came from.

The tower clamps I bought from Classic Industries, which I linked in my post above, also say Wittek Mfg. Co. Chicago, USA" and include the size but no date. It's tough to read what it says on the Classic Ind. power steering clamps since they are hard to get at.

[davepl]

The Eckler's ones I mentioned above can be ordered date coded if you're hardcore, I believe.