During the restoration of my 74 Dart, I tried to keep the engine compartment as stock as possible. I installed new radiator hoses using the spring style Corbin clamp. The problem is when I've added radiator fluid, it leaked out the bottom radiator hose. My son got frustrated with the leak, so he replaced the corbin clamps with the screw style clamps.

Is there a trick to installing the Corbin clamp? I am hardheaded and really want the corbin clamps on the radiator and the heater hoses. My son says they are crap. I don't think the factory used sealant around the hoses. What should I do?

You have to start with good quality, new Corbin clamps. They hold marginally when new, not at all once they've taken a set (or if they're just Corbin-clamp-shaped toys never actually intended for working service).

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The clamps are brand new. Never been used before. They came from a reputable restoration vendor.

You say "marginally when new". I value your opinion. Should I trash them or try to seat them until the leak stops?

Quiet little secret is that pretty much all of these resto suppliers get things like hose clamps out of China. They are specced based on appearance, not performance or durability or clamping ability or anything else. They're really not intended for vehicles in service, but for show vehicles. Whether to keep trying to use them or go with screw clamps depends on whether you want to spend time under the hood or behind the wheel.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Just one other thing comes to mind,is the rad new? Possible ding or flat spot in rad nipple keeping the corbin clamp from a perfect round seal maybe? Just an idle thought,good luck.

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83 B-150 slant 6,4 speed. 79 B-300 360 pathfinder 4x4. 74 W-300 318 4x4 git-r-done 80 B-100 sl6,4speed

The radiator is brand new. Yesterday was the first time fluid was put in it. It leaked big time, even with brand new corbin clamps. I bought The Right Stuff from Mr. Gasket. I plan to put the hoses on with this sealant and try the corbin clamps again. I'll post my results.

Oh god, no, stop, don't glue the hoses on! If you do, you will hate yourself when it comes time to remove them; you'll stand a better-than-even chance of mangling at least one hose fitting and/or causing hard-part leaks in the removal effort, and you will almost certainly lose skin in the effort. And cleaning up the hose fitting to install the new hose will be dang near impossible.

If the hoses leak with the clamps you're using, it's your signal that the clamps you're using are inadequate, not that you need to use paste.

When was your car built, by the way? It looks like there was a change from Corbin to screw clamps in 10/73. My '74 FPC shows 6-digit (really old) part numbers for hose clamps used through 10/73, and lists seven different sizes of "Clamp, hose, S/Steel Screw Type" below that. 'Zat good enough for you to go with real hose clamps and call it good...?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Manufacture date - May 1974 at St Louis. The car was purchased brand new 6/6/74 when I was seventeen. I can't say with certainty they had corbin clamps. (Too many years ago.)

The gasket material isn't on yet. When I was told this was a possible solution, I was skeptical. I bought The Right Stuff twenty-four hours ago and have waited to get Slant Six feedback.

Thanks Dan. I plan to put the screw style clamps on the radiator hoses. The heater hoses going into the firewall/heater core also have corbin clamps although smaller and tighter than the larger radiator hose clamps. I'll let you know if the leaks stop.

hi, make sure the mopar rad cap has a "hanging valve disc " and does not snap/spring back to the rad cap seal like most aftermarket caps do.

Just a comment - I've found the most common failure mode of my factory Corbin clamps was to fracture clean through 180degrees from the crossing area - one day, I'd find a leak and the clamp would be in 2 pieces. Eventually almost all the clamps did that and I went to the screw type clamps.

I tried some Harbor Frieght screw type clamps and had them fail; I would strongly suggest you avoid those made-in-China ones.

I've been considering getting some factory-correct clamps from Year One for my show car - any knowledge on their quality?

When I replaced the original radiator and hoses on my '74 dart it had screw type clamps and I think they were original, Use the screw type, drive the car. Have fun with it not frustration.

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Grandpa's 1974 Dart Custom 4 door 225 auto, Aluminum Radiator, 1920 Holley.

Without commenting specifically on any particular hose clamps or any particular restoration parts vendor, keep in mind that buying from a "big name" supplier doesn't guarantee the part's necessarily going to be any different or better than the same part purchased elsewhere, and doesn't necessarily mean it's going to have come from someplace better than China.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.