Fuel and brake line clamps

[Wallington]

Has anyone ever checked or cataloged the original colours of their fuel and brake line clamps? 20+ years ago I had mine all off and nicely painted silver, now I have them off again as getting a batch of replating done. After cleaning and paintstripping, I've recorded that so far every one of them was silver zinc plated, and then some, depending on the size, were coated black or an orange.

I've seen references to blue, and possibly a pic or two of original vehicles that look blue, but so far none of mine have been. And the coating is a type of anodising also. The black is still very clear while the orange is more of a tint and not an old gold, neither of which came off with the paint stripper. But all will come off when I treat the metal prior to plating.

I only have a few left in the engine bay still to check, a couple I have swapped positions with due to running extra brake line across the crossmember instead of fuel only, most can only go certain locations anyway due to the pipe amount, pipe sizes, then the addition of armour sprial sleeve on one or both. Or all 3, as I think one or two locations have.

Of course, none of this type seems to match the reproduction early versions being offered, they look cheaper, thinner and probably don't have stamped sizes either.

[firebirdparts]

I have a car with 45,000 miles on it that might have some identifiable color, but I'll just have to try to remember to look the next time it's on the lift.  It's hard to get to it where it normally hibernates.

[Wallington]

All good, now fully replated and recoloured where required. I won't bore with pics or which ones are colour-coded.

[roadking77]

Just now seeing this thread, there was hints of blue paint on the ones I took off of my 79 Tenth.

[Wallington]

Freshly plated originals, a few yet to add further colours to.

Firebird replated fuel and brake line clamps (5) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird replated fuel and brake line clamps (1) by Ben, on Flickr

[Wallington]

Just now seeing this thread, there was hints of blue paint on the ones I took off of my 79 Tenth.

Thanks Kerry. I had cleaned these all up with a wire brush on a drill 20 years ago before painting the lot silver. So many finer details or surface plating was lost. But after stripping the paint off recently any that were different colours were still tinted or had patches visible.

One thing clear was that regardless, all were plated silver first. I had a few of the same type that had a strong orange tint, mainly inside where protected. While it seemed a little brighter than old gold plating that's what I did to them anyway. And I had a few others that were black. None were obviously blue but the reproduction types and even one of the Assembly manuals does reference a blue. Blue over black or blue over silver plating, not sure. I've found a few photos of other vehicle at same time that showed black clips. There were also several variations in sizes in my lot so may have been more long worn away.

I took photos of every clamp before, during and after, locations and details of each so they go back in the same spot. Obsessive, yes. Here's one after paint stripping that shows the black, inside and out, also the bare metal vs the brighter and lighter plating. Any that were black were all the same type and size.

Firebird RH Rear fuel brake line clips removed R-F 1st not removed Black 2 (3) by Ben, on Flickr

I have a few saved pics of original or low-mileage cars but few show anything clearly. This one is 79 Formula W72, and clearly shows the same type of black clip but wearing around the edges.

79 400 Formula original low miles (4) diff exhaust brakes by Ben, on Flickr

Some of the reproduction clips in blue, originally aimed at 68-72 era vehicles, are almost how we know blue anodising as, clear over silver plating. I found a few repro sets that do theirs as a flat paint/teflon coating. Possibly the same brand, it appears they do the smallest, single line clamp as blue. I'll have to check my pics and the diagram that mentioned it.

https://www.inlinetube.com/products/ccb208

https://cdn2.bigcommerce.com/server2400/nqdzgu/products/982/images/1055/%252521Bn51mQw%252521mk~%252524%252528KGrHqMOKi8EtlYz2MYIBLlWj16Pg~~_1_884_1__61199.1353280169.380.380.JPG?c=2


I'm not sure what to make of this one, lousy pic of a low-mileage 79 Formula. Appears to be more of an inspection dab of sky blue paint,  over clip and bolt, even the leafspring cradle bolt. But a very different blue if you were seeing remains like that.

79 400 W72 unrestored fuel lines evap and return by Ben, on Flickr


Same again for a few that showed hints of a dark orange plating, mainly inside. Far more obvious than the plain type and lost somewhat with the flash. They showed up coppery from different angles. The light grey here under it is the silver plating, bare metal around edges where I've scratched off. There were 3 of this type. Prior to being sent I'd soaked them in chemicals to take right down to bare metal even though the plating guy does also.

Firebird centre fuel line clips orange gold (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Here's a pic of an original 'museum' 78. The clamp appears to be a dull and faded gold plating. I'll have to check if that's also where one of mine was.

1978 TA unrestored brake fuel lines2 by Ben, on Flickr

[Wallington]

As much as I liked all the fresh and clean plating, I decided to paint a few anyway or I'd have nothing at all to do. Perhaps install the silly things? These were also baked in the oven, the blue only half as didn't want them going green.

These 3/8" fuel return lines were blue. Mine couldn't be seen by now but it adds some colour. Glossy isn't accurate, don't care.

Firebird GM 3-8 fuel return clamp plated and painted Teal Blue (2) by Ben, on Flickr

There's 4 of these 3/8" + 1/4" black clamps on the RH side.

Firebird fuel brake line clamps plated and painted 3-8 3-8 + 1-4 (2) by Ben, on Flickr

And a pretty selection of the clamp finishes.

Firebird brake fuel line clamps painted and plated (1) by Ben, on Flickr

[Wallington]

Anyone able to stick their head under their car to check something for me?

After reinstalling all the brake/fuel line clamps I still have the very first clamp missing on the LH side. I knew it was missing, it was a project for another day going on years. The problem is that there's a clamp location on the chassis rail opposite but my fuel/brake line is already running down under the side sill and doesn't appear to have been bent straight, or I've done a good job straightening it 20 years ago. It has been modified but I can't see where or how it originally went and needs a forward clamp in place. In this pic the lines actually bend down to go under the front wheelhouse, and is hanging down. It is a long way from the chassis rail.

Firebird LH centre missing fuel clamp location  (1) by Ben, on Flickr


Edit....

Ok seems I have several saved pics showing this area on other Firebirds. Seems the fuel/brake line runs right between both side sill and chassis rail in a weird setup that sees the clamp attached to the floor pan. It attaches right in the centre of where the lines bend across and back.

Can someone take a pic of this point, is it a small bracket welded to the floor pack that the clamp bolts to? As shown in my pic above, not there. I'll have to have a closer look if removed, wasn't looking there at all. I'll have to make something now I know roughly how it sat. Brackets circled in red on sample pics.

Another trivial detail, the drain holes with plugs on the 79's below, where on my 78 is still a pressed shape only.

79 TATA 403 low miles original suspension diff valve cover label (3) 1 by Ben, on Flickr

79 Formula 403 dual exhaust brake lines chassis 1 by Ben, on Flickr

[wheels78ta]

Here is the underside of mine.

And mine has drain plugs like the 79's.

[Wallington]

Excellent, thank you! Appreciate the pics and removal of lines to see clearly. Now to think of someway to recreate similar, and attach it.

Now I'm wondering if my front floor panels were actually replaced prior in the 90's but at the time the pressings were closed up, and that bracket wasn't part of them, or replaced from old. I was just looking at pics inside and underneath, all stripped back and primed and now under dynamat and no signs of obvious seams or welds, unlike the toepanel...

[Wallington]

I had a local US wrecker send some used brake/fuel line clamps up to me. It looks like they came off a vehicle pulled from a swamp with the crud on them.

Either way, my suspicions on the larger 11/32" + 15/32" clamps being orange were correct, here's 3 more. This was over a faded gold plating, which in turn is over a silver plating.

Firebird fuel brake line clamps orange gold used 11-32 + 15-32 (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird fuel brake line clamps orange gold used 11-32 + 15-32 (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird fuel brake line clamps orange gold used 11-32 + 15-32 (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird fuel brake line clamps orange gold used 11-32 + 15-32 (4) by Ben, on Flickr

I didn't request them, but they also sent, and charged for, a handful of fuel return 3/8" clamps. As noted prior these are a light blue over silver plating. Interestingly, in a non-interesting way, both the types with tabs and without were the same colour, barely visible around the edges and vague tint.

Firebird fuel line retainer clips 3-8 light blue used (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird fuel line retainer clips 3-8 light blue used (2) by Ben, on Flickr

[Wallington]

Orange clips

https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/rkm/1/2766/176385/1920x1440/w/1977-pontiac-firebird-trans-am-se.webp

[Wallington]

A quick follow-up, finally got around to doing this bracket. I tried a couple of times in steel strip and wasn't happy with the bends, even when heated with a torch. I ended up using thicker aluminium strip and didn't worry so much in copying since it was still an estimate and would need to be bolted in place.

Firebird LH floorpan fuel brake line saddle bracket bare aluminium and satin black (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Oven-baked black.

Firebird LH floorpan fuel brake line saddle bracket bare aluminium and satin black (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Test fit minus the lines. Horrible looking floor!

Firebird LH floor pan fuel brake line bracket only (2) by Ben, on Flickr

I had to cut a patch out of the Dynamat insulation to install flat-head bolts. Mastic sealing washers were used to compress when tightened.

Firebird LH floor pan fuel brake line bracket before after bolt seals (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Finished setup. Thanks to Willie for the pics to base some ideas from.

Firebird LH floor pan fuel brake line bracket installed (6) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird LH floor pan fuel brake line bracket installed ( by Ben, on Flickr

[roadking77]

Looks good to me!

[wheels78ta]

Nice job Ben. 

What type of oven are you baking these in?

[Wallington]

Thanks. It didn't come out how I'd originally planned but will work just fine and many times better than simply hanging there like the previous 30 years.
I had to rebend one end when it was found my replacement floor was much flatter than original and with a slight twist. I might lose points when the judges notice. Good chance I won't own it much longer, everything has to go.

Just the oven in the Kitchen. Car parts smell like Banana cake, Roast dinners smell like epoxy.

And for anyone that cares, the mastic sealing washers were by AMK, I found that NPD were good for stocking much of their range. I have about 4 sizes that were commonly used by GM on these cars, between trunk and spoiler parts, behind bumper brackets to trunk, marker lights and brake lights to trunk etc.

https://www.amkproducts.com/bulk-fasteners-listing/?codeforlookup=8430

[wheels78ta]

Hmmmmmm..........if I can convince the wife......Nah....she won't go for it.

But on the other hand.....I've read where it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission. 

[Wallington]

Luckily, I've not had to share a thing in 19 years.

[Wallington]

For sake of chat, here's a few more items I got back from a small batch of plating. Not many are that interesting so I'll post a couple that may be something different to what is commonly seen.

I had my original 1978 door striker replated. These were originally a very pale and thin gold over the silver zinc base, with variations of paint overspray on top. Unfortunately my second striker was hacked up and also an 80's GM replacement with part number and no collar so didn't bother. Need another now, hard to find in condition worth saving. I do have new repros too but this is nice. It was nice that the hardened collar wasn't affected.

Firebird GM original replated door striker 1978 (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird GM original replated door striker 1978 (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Random AC condenser pipe clamps and similar. Harness bracket and pipe ground clamp. Have seen the harness brackets in painted, blackened and plated. Easier to change if needed than plate. All spares, throw them in, might be useful for something.

Firebird GM replated AC pipe clamps harness retainers by Ben, on Flickr


Deluxe bucket seat brackets. These were already a nice set compared to the heavily rusted ones that show up for sale. I cleaned them up to bare metal and straightened before also plating gold to match my existing bucket seats and trim. Custom, but a little nice than rusty. Probably an easy part to reproduce, but you'd need a nice and straight set to copy, most are a mess.

Firebird deluxe seat back brackets bare metal straightened 9695948 RH 9695949 LH  (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird deluxe seat back brackets bare metal straightened 9695948 RH 9695949 LH  (4) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird deluxe seat brackets replated gold (1) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird deluxe seat brackets replated gold (2) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird deluxe seat brackets replated gold (3) by Ben, on Flickr

[b3nny]

For what its worth mine are black. 1980 TA

[Wallington]

Thanks Benny, was hoping someone had an interest. Are you referring to the bucket seat back brackets being black? I've noticed they were black on 80-81 models, and also having black seat frames where earlier models were bare but still had black dipped areas where visible such as the latch handle. Same as foot pedals, top bare metal/surface rust, half way down dipped in black. But along with the black paint dip, the latch handles also had a rubber coating dip, often long missing by now.

I've seen some that have the coating just on the handles and some that are dipped as far as to have the latch also covered. Whatever they felt like that day. Also have pics of later original black frames that still have bare surface rusty brackets added. Mine now match my plated frames and trim, wasn't meant to be stock. I had a lot more pics to post but the general lack of interest said to spend the time and effort on something else.

Firebird bucket seat RH with replated bracket and spacer washer behind bush (3) by Ben, on Flickr

Firebird bucket seat LH with replated bracket and spacer washer behind bush (7) by Ben, on Flickr

[b3nny]

Actually i meant my brake /fuel clamps attaching to the frame are black. But now that you mention it i think my seat brackets are also.

[Wallington]

Aaah yes, half of these are black too, depending on the size. Cars with underbody protection probably have black everything.

[nas t eh]

I wire wheeled my early unpainted deluxe seat brackets as well as the seat frames when i rebuilt the seats. I did end up painting the frames black even though they were unpainted from the factory but I think the brackets got left unpainted. No matter as they will out last me unless I can live 30-40 more years.