Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on 68?

[Terry F.]

Hi, just wondering if the original rubber hoses that went to the wiper door were molded at 90 degree angles on the ends? Just wondering because I see them advertisedd that way the last couple years. Any body know? Thanks, Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

Terry-----

In general, if not exclusively, I don't think that the vacuum hoses for the wiper door actuator had molded ends. I know, for certain, that the original hoses on my 1969 were not molded.

[Geoff C.]

[Joe L.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

Geoffrey----

I believe that I have seen some of these hoses that did have the molded ends ("90 degree angle"). However, the hoses on my mid-September, 1969 car do not evidence the molded ends. Both the green stripe (front) hose and the red stripe (rear) hose have "straight", unmolded ends. I am 100% sure that they're original as I've owned the car since new and I've never changed them. The car has always been garaged since day one and I don't think that I've been a victim of "vacuum hose changers". Although we've had a problem for the last 10 years, or so, with those insidious characters sneaking into garages and surreptiously swapping out vacuum hoses to confound owners, I've been vigilant and set up "traps" to ensnare these elf-like hooligans.

By the way, my car has the wiper solenoid valve mounted on the firewall.

At the same time, I know that I've seen these molded-end hoses on cars that I believe to be original.

One thing that did happen, of course, is that not too long after my car was built, the vacuum actuator changed to the "dual pie pan" configuration. I think that initial versions of this actuator had "straight" vacuum nipples. Sometime after 1969 these changed to "curved". The straight nipple, "dual pie pan" actuators may have received the molded ends. Or, the molded ends may have been used "randomly" earlier and/or later.

One more thing just to be accurate here: it's POSSIBLE that, at some point, I may have cut off the molded end from the FRONT hose (possibly due to a loose fit). I don't really recall doing this, but I won't 100% rule out the possibility. However, I am 100% sure that I never cut the rear hose. As I say, this one is "straight", too.

[Terry F.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

I suspect they should be straight for 68. I suspect later cars may have had the angled configuration. I suspect Chevrolet may have sold replacement parts with the angled ends for some reason. We need to find a virgin 68 to look at. But, I can imagine people cutting the ends off of them to increase the rubber hoses tension on the canister nipple.

Thanks for the discussion. Terry

[Geoff C.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

OTC GM never sold this product except for plain Black hose in 25 ft rolls

[Terry F.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

So when people needed to replace their vaccum lines they just replaced it with regular vaccum tubing? The color coded stuff was just for the factory? Weird that there would be two styles of the same part being made. Need to find that virgin 68. Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

Terry-----

Geoffrey's said it the way it is; GM never sold this hose in SERVICE except as "bulk tubing". It didn't come "cut-to-length". It didn't come with molded ends. It didn't come in car-set kits. In fact, it didn't even come with color-coded stripes, either.

Many other GM parts were this way, too. Fuel lines and brake lines were never supplied in pre-cut, pre-assembled form from GM. You had to purchase bulk tubing, cut it, bend it and flare the ends, youself.

The same was true for most heater hoses. Bulk only from GM. If molded heater hoses were used in PRODUCTION, they often weren't available in SERVICE. You had to make do as best you could with bulk tubing (C4 molded hose were/are available, though).

Some PRODUCTION rubber fuel lines (e.g. those from the frame line to the fuel pump) were also molded as used in PRODUCTION. For the most part, these were not available in SERVICE. Once again, you had to do the best you could with the bulk tubing.

[Terry F.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

Did your 69 have molded heater hoses coming out of the heater core? I suspect the answer is No. Terry

[Mark #28455]

cut ends off hoses

The hoses do stretch out where they go over the vacuum fitting nipples. Once they harden, they tend to leak if disturbed. Back in the late 70's to early 80's I commonly saw the last 1/2" or so cut off to "freshen up" the seal as many owners didn't want to pay for new hoses to cure the vacuum leak.
Mark

[Terry F.]

Re: cut ends off hoses

I wonder if I look in my overhaul manul or maintance manual that discusses the wiper door actuator if I would see the molded rubber ends? On some old original cars I have seen small spring clamps on the hoses to the acutator. I am surprised they didn't have that as a service bulletin or something. I guess not original though???

Later, Terry

[Joe L.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

Terry-----

No, the original heater hoses were not molded in any way.

[Jim T.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

I have a original owner 68 and it has the original vacuum hoses. They are not molded and after all these years they are hard, but do the job. The wiper door raises and closes very well.

[Terry M.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

I think the heater hoses for C-60 Corvettes from 1969-1972 (more or less) had one end molded.

[Terry F.]

Re: Molded rubber hoses to wiper door actuator on

Thanks Jim, thats good information. I am leaning towards them not being molded. Thanks, Terry