[1stgenbird]

What year did Pontiac stop using tower clamps? I'm using tower clamps on my '67 Firebird but I'm about to swap in a Cold Case radiator and may not be able to reuse the existing clamps. I recall when I installed new radiator hoses, I had difficulty finding tower clamps that were decent as the first set I bought were made so cheaply, the clamps just twisted when installing.
I like originality but would rather use worm clamps.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

The tower clamps I got from Ames are pretty decent, and I swapped my radiator to a CC as well.

Just don't use them on smaller diameter stuff, especially the 5/8" heater hose. They won't seal.

[1stgenbird]

The problem with the tower clamps on Ames is that they don't have the correct sizes. They have 1.5" and 1.75" which say fit bottom and top radiator hoses but they are both too small for that application. It's been that way for awhile.

[burd]

My 78 had towers. Get th3m from another source. Ones that fit.

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

Originally Posted by 1stgenbird

The problem with the tower clamps on Ames is that they don't have the correct sizes. They have 1.5" and 1.75" which say fit bottom and top radiator hoses but they are both too small for that application. It's been that way for awhile.

Do 1st gen birds had larger radiator fittings than 2nd gen? Because they fit my car just fine.

I just hung them fully loosened on the radiator inlet/outlets past the fitting bead and then put the hose on through the clamp that is already in place to tighten down past the fitting bead to make a seal. I don't think they're meant to be be able to fit over the inlet/outlet fitting beads while on the hose, since they just barely slide on the hose pretty snug even when fully loosened (which might be why you're saying they're too small).

[rwfisher]

You can use a clamptite wire clamp kit which you can then slide a tower clamp over for an OEM look with much better sealing…

[400 4spd.]

To prevent the common twist problem that tower clamps have, hold the portion with the threaded nut using channel locks while tightening the clamp bolt. Sucks, but sometimes does the job.

[1stgenbird]

No one has answered my initial question. What year did Pontiac stop using tower clamps?

[burd]

Look in the assembly manuals. It shows them. For sure through 78

[nUcLeArEnVoY]

^^^ Yeah, my '79 still has a few of its original tower clamps.

[unruhjonny]

my guess is 1980's

it seems like they went from tower clamps straight to spring clamps.

[1stgenbird]

Thanks for the responses. I had read somewhere that 1965 was the last year Pontiac used them, but apparently not true.