BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Tygaboy's '75 LS3, It seemed a good idea at the time... Options

[tygaboy]

First, I fabbed up this prototype (fancy word for "practice piece" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) ) to zero in on the critical dimensions.

[tygaboy]

Once I worked out the needed dimensions, I figured I may as well add some style points so it's off to the CAD/plasma system.

[tygaboy]

Next, using a piece of scrap tube that's happily the same size as the radiator hose, I used the brake to bend the part to this radius, then added a 90-ish for the mounting area.

[tygaboy]

Here's the part I think works better than the plumbers clamp:
The length I used wraps around far enough that the end is trapped by the ramp in the floor channel. That should serve as a support and help prevent it from unfolding.
At least I think so... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[tygaboy]

And with the hose in place.
The other thing I like about this "single bolt attachment point" design, as well as the plumber design, is that if I run over anything that grabs the clamp, it's highly likely it would bend open. A fastener on both sides would mean the clamp would have to break/rip or else other areas of the floor would suffer damage.

I'll noodle on this a while and if I convince myself the design "works", it's off to make the rest of them.

Worst case, if the 90 seems too weak, I can weld in a small triangle support at that location. We'll see.

[914forme]

@Tygaboy - Chris if you have the clearance I would dip these in a rubber coating. Plasta-dip or similar to help reduce the possibility to chaff the rubber hose. Or even a rubber pad glued to it after you make it. I know long shot, but it is just the engineer in me saying I see a potential issue.

BTW, I like the style points.

If using pasta-Dip "lol love auto-correct" style coating adding a few holes down each side will help allow it to bond to the part better.

[tygaboy]

@914forme Stephen - Funny, as I was working with the first one, I thought, "Hmmm, I should dip these in that plier handle liquid stuff..."
Great minds...

And I figured I'd forge ahead into full production!

[Andyrew]

Looks nice! Curious Chris why you didnt hard mount say a stainless piece of pipe bent to fit?

[tygaboy]

Looks nice! Curious Chris why you didnt hard mount say a stainless piece of pipe bent to fit?

@Andyrew Andrew - If you mean stainless instead of the Gates rubber hose, I didn't want to risk something that could be crushed closed if I ran over something.
As I understand it, these hoses can take a tremendous amount of abuse before they fail.
Plus, I plan to make and carry a "patch kit": a short length of AL tube, like I made for the radiator hard lines, and a couple suitable hose clamps. If I suffer a cut line, I can cut out the damaged hose, replace it with the AL tube and at least remain drive-able.

[djway]

So what is the price for a set? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) LS in waiting

[tygaboy]

So what is the price for a set? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) LS in waiting

@djway - Hold on, I don't even know if these will work! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

But I did go ahead and complete the set I'll be using. Those on each end have been primed.

[djway]

I find the design most logical

[tygaboy]

I'm mounting the clamps using Rivnuts and after trial mounting the first clamp, I didn't like the way the top of the Rivnut caused the clamp to sit a tiny bit proud of of the surface of the floor.
So I used a couple of different sized washers as a quick and dirty male/female die set then employed the trusty press to create a depression that just clears the top part of the Rivnut.

[tygaboy]

The first two done!
And you can see that the left one's "Rivnut clearance dome" is sorta messy. That was the first one I did and the washer set I used created too deep a depression.
So I did the best I could to hammer it back to flat, then gave it a do-over.

Not the prettiest, but as Edd says, "with a lick of paint", it should do just fine.

To quote @bbrock "if anyone says anything about it, I'll call them a dick..."

And best of all, the hose seems well supported so I'm feeling good about this approach. Onward to the rest of them!

[tygaboy]

And.... done! Well, almost. I'm going to relocate the Rivnut for the upper, left clamp. I wrongly mounted it on the small peak in that area of the floor. The clamps mount noticeably firmer when they are on a full flat.

Anyway, here are things with the front of the hoses connected to the hard lines, too.

I think this clamp design is going to work.

[djway]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

[Cairo94507]

Looking great Chris. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[tygaboy]

With my current focus seemingly "all things radiator", I went back to thinking about venting. I really don't want to open up the fenders so I figured I'd better prove out the hood vent, one way or the other.

No offense to the approach of "cut the front and sides then bend down the flap to create the vent". I just wanted something different from that so it was back to CAD to see what I could come up with.

The first pic is a piece I made just to get a REALLY rough idea of what things might look like.

The CAD drawing is what I'm going to cut later today. Note the vents remain attached to the frame via those small-ish connections on each side. The vents will be twisted at those points and set to the proper angle.

The small notches at the front edge of the vents is where a piece will fit in that locks them to the desired angle and adds stability.

The whole contraption will attach to the underside of the hood.

Let's see how this works out.

[Mueller]

Those hose clamps are next level parts. I dig.

I'll be following your hood mod and radiator install for sure. Every time I look at the holes I cut in my fender wells I cry a little. (I did keep the sheet metal so I could more easily reverse my decision)

[tygaboy]

Those hose clamps are next level parts. I dig.

I'll be following your hood mod and radiator install for sure. Every time I look at the holes I cut in my fender wells I cry a little. (I did keep the sheet metal so I could more easily reverse my decision)

@Mueller - Mike, if the hood vent works out, I think it'll be a part I can easily make for others.
Cost of materials and you buy me lunch!