Heater hose retainer

[Tom L.]

My heater hoses on my '72 LS-5 w/ A/c are not supported by the heater hose retainer because it's not there. I bought a new one (pictured below) and can't seem to figure out how it is attached. Also, where is it supposed to be attached? There are several holes in the area that the AIM shows but I'n not sure which it is attached to. I included a picture of that as well. Thanks!!

[Rich P.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Lynn,

you are missing the metal plate that gets riveted to the fender skirt. It has a square cut out that the hose clamp is secured to by squeezing the inner clip and spreading the butterfly clip.
Original plates have a BS stamping on them. I don't think the repros do.

Rich

[Tom L.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

I just took a quick look and couldn't find the part. Is this part availible in the aftermarket?

[Rich P.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Lynn,

It has been 6-7 years since I orderd one. I'm pretty sure it was Doc Rebuild. Make sure it's for the skirt the one for the heater box is a different size.

Rich

[Joe L.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

I just took a quick look and couldn't find the part. Is this part availible in the aftermarket?

Lynn------


Dr. Rebuild has both the plate and the bracket as well as the rivets to fasten the plate to the fenderwell. Other vendors may have them, too. Setting the rivets can be interesting, though.

[Edward J.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Lynn, if your car is a big block the hoses don't run along the inner wheel well as the small block do, they drap over the top of compressor, and has a strap the ties the hoses down.AIM shows the this pic.

[Dick W.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Lynn, if your car is a big block the hoses don't run along the inner wheel well as the small block do, they drap over the top of compressor, and has a strap the ties the hoses down.AIM shows the this pic.

According to his profile, he owns a "fat" block so, by the AIM, he does not need the retainer.

[Tom L.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Edward and Dick, thanks for setting me straight. I rechecked the AIM (thinking I was right) and found that I looked at the "skinny" block page. In addition my confusion may have been enhanced by the fact that the A/C compresor and lines are not currently installed. So here's my latest inquiry...

The AIM for the "fat" block and "skinny" block shows the same style retainer is used for the refrigerant lines for both engine types. Is this retainer located in the position that I have shown in the picture above?

And Dick, "FAT" is where it's at!!"

[Mark E.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

I too have this question: What type of heater hose retainer is used on a 1970-72 LS5 AC car?

AIM page C60-A1 shows an unlabeled retainer holding the heater hoses together above the AC compressor. The only heater hose retainer I can find is the one shown in Tom's original post. It works, but it has a prong on one side that's typically used to attach to the inner fender on many Chevys. But on these cars (70-72 LS5 AC) the retainer isn't attached to anything- it's suspended above or just behind the AC compressor.

Is there another style retainer without a prong that would be "correct" for this application? Or is the retainer with the prong the correct one even though the prong isn't used?

[James B.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Mark,

As I haven't seen a response to your question, I thought I'd throw in my two cents. I too have a 1972 LS5 A/C Corvette and I'm familiar with the heater hose retainer that you're referencing. On my car, the retainer (which does include a prong) isn't attached to anything and instead is just suspended above and to the back of the A/C compressor near the A/C charging ports. As I've owned my car since 1980, I feel pretty confident that the hose retainer on my car is original. I'll try to attach a photo link of my retainer (as installed in such a way to enable you to see the prong).

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6khya9wmklio4lc/1972%20AC%20Compressor.jpg?dl=0

Jim

[Mark E.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Thanks Jim; your comments and photo are very helpful.

Previous posts suggest that LS5 AC cars didn't use this retainer at all; your car is a good data point that they probably did. I thought they did, but just wondered if they used a unique retainer without a prong. I guess not.

Also, have you noticed that the AIM shows (I think in the AC section) the heater hoses routed IN FRONT of the radiator cap, not behind it as in your photo? I tried routing the hoses as per AIM, but clearance was limited and this created some awkward bends in the hoses. Also, I've never seen one of these cars with the hoses routed as AIM suggests.

Mine are now routed in similar fashion to yours.

[James B.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Mark,

I too have only seen the heater hoses routed like mine on A/C equipped LS5 Corvettes. Perhaps this is another example where the AIM can't be taken as gospel.

Jim

[Mark E.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Mark,

I too have only seen the heater hoses routed like mine on A/C equipped LS5 Corvettes. Jim

I've seen more than a few of these cars with the return hose (3/4" hose that goes to the water pump) routed separately under the AC compressor. This allows more direct routing with fewer bends but isn't correct.

[James B.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

You've obviously seen more than I, as I've only seen that under compressor configuration in illustrations. I wonder if the under compressor heater hose configuration easily clears the exhaust manifold Air Injection Pipes (which are standard on 1972 LS5 Corvettes).

[Mark E.]

Re: Heater hose retainer

Here's a picture of a '70 454 AC car for sale on ebay with its return heater hose routed under the compressor. Again, not correct but not uncommon either.



My car's hoses were also routed this way until I studied the AIM. The photo below is my car with the hoses routed as I interpreted AIM: over the compressor ==> in front of the expansion cap ==> over and around the back of the expansion tank.

The AIM is not completely clear, so I also tried over the compressor ==> in front of the expansion tank ==> down the front then around of the bottom of the expansion tank (not pictured). Each of these looked awkward, required some sharp bends in the hoses to accomplish, and created interference with the cap and AC components.

Engine 1.jpg
I finally routed the hoses as seen in Jim's photo and most other cars, which works much better.