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If you are referring to the "double wire" style hose clamps which I believe is what your car used originally, then Fusick is likely your best choice.
The only "gripe" I've heard is the two clamps used on the thermo housing bypass hose may be slightly larger than the originals so they end up almost "closing up" completely by the time the clamp is tight. I am NOT aware of anyone making the correct/original sized bypass hose clamps....I think all the repro vendors offer this "slightly oversized" size.
DO NOT use the double wire clamp set from Inline Tube......the clamps are not formed that well and will cause problems when trying to install them. EXAMPLE - I tried installing the Inline Tube clamps on a '70 442 this past Thursday...stock car w/factory 4 row radiator, etc. TWO CLAMPS could not be installed --- one bypass hose clamp was too misformed and would not go over the bypass hose where it connects to the thermo housing. One lower radiator hose clamp would not go on down at the lower hose-to-radiator connection....too small and also misformed.
Ordered a set from Fusick on Friday. I've installed them before and they work and are formed correctly. I have originals here I compared to the Fusick and ILT clamps and YOU CAN see a difference. Just sloppy (or lack of) quality control on the part of ILT.
Not sure if the clamps from The Parts Place work and are made correctly but I checked there and didn't see a complete "kit" like Fusick offers...you had to select individual clamps but I may have used theirs in the past and don't recall any problems.
I'd just order them from Fusick and be done with it (or find nice originals - not an easy undertaking).
Hopefully you'll save yourself the swearing, sweating and general PITA-ness I experienced with the ILT clamps by getting the Fusick set.
NOTE: The Fusick set may also include some heater hose clamps....wire "Corbin" type clamps. Not sure what the '68's used on the two HEATER HOSES but these Corbin clamps (the rod/wire material type) can be a real pain to get on over the installed hose - no matter whose clamp set you use. There are special pliers made to help install these Corbin style clamps - here's what they look like:
If your car uses the flat band "pinch clamps" on the heater hoses then Fusick's "Corbin" style clamps won't be technically "correct" if that matters.
In this case you can now go right back to the place I said to avoid (ILT) and order just the pinch clamp set (4 clamps) for your heater hoses. They have them in a 4 pack and they work fine and look more original on the HEATER HOSES. Again, I'm not sure which style your year used on the two heater hoses (3/4" and 5/8" hoses). Here's a link to what I call the "flat band pinch clamps":
>Heater Hoses - uses the flat band pinch clamps (4) - I believe some earlier models used the Corbin style....like 64-67....I'm just not 100% sure on '68 cars.
About 8 years back I tried a set of clamps from Fusick,had one leaking at the heater core and one leaking at the radiator.
Tried readjusting them a few times and cleaning the surfaces of the metal parts,could not get the leaks to stop.
Put screw type hose clamps back on,no leaks.
When you say screw type, you mean just the standard ones in production now? I really like the looks of the original but do want function over looks. Thanks for the info.
Yes just a standard type modern hose clamp that uses a screw to tighten. Would it be called worm gear style?
I like the looks of the originals also,makes for a nice period correct look but I like to drive my car so I don't want antifreeze leaks.
Many guys get the older style to work but I couldn't. I'll guess the originals were made better then the modern reproductions.
Patton's analysis is spot on (as always). 68-70 use the pinch style clamps for the heater hoses. originals have square tangs while the ilt have rounded, if those **** restoration details matter.
FWIW - I've installed a few sets of the repro clamps and haven't had any leaking problems. Sure, double check once you've driven the car and heated things up ..... sometimes one or two may need to be tightened a bit further but so far, none have failed me. I could see the ILT bypass hose clamps (and possibly the rad hose clamps) causing a problem with their partially mis-formed wire parts but the Fusick (and likely Parts Place) clamps are formed ROUND....along all the parts of the wire.....so they should seal just fine.
There are A LOT of folks on this site running the repro double wire clamps.
72_408,
70 post nails it.
The problem is with the bypass hose is not the clamps. The Fusick
clamps are very nice.
The clamps are made to the old thicker hose OD. Today's hoses are thinner on the OD than the OEM. I've told Fusick about this.
Not sure if the problems been resolved or not.
I have some close-ups showing the difference. Cant find em....
I agree on the newer bypass hoses being a slightly smaller O.D. ...but.....I also believe the bypass hose clamps are slightly larger than the originals. In any case, these characteristics for each part exacerbate the problem.
I think I mentioned it on some other thread on this site in the past but I have one bypass hose here that is of a slightly larger O.D. ....slightly thicker walls. Freakin' thing even has the "ribbing" cut into the hose. Unfortunately there is no tag on it but there is a PN or part thereof. I'll grab it and post some info. I also have AC Delco and Dayco versions but they appear to be of the slightly smaller O.D. (bought more recently).
