Congratulations on the successful end to your quest.
You are fortunate to have pick a parts so close to your home.
The nearest one is 20 miles and the major concentration is closer to 40
miles away. For me to go pickaparting is to shoot a whole Saturday. I only
go for big or lots of items.
In my work, McMaster is a life saver, and I use it extensively for personal
stuff too. The tightest item in my budget is time. So finding something in
one single book, making one phone call and having the UPS man deliver to
work the next day is worth an enormous amount. I gladly pay McMasters
premium because it saves me time.
Erich
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Witt" <wittsend@jps.net>
To: <tigers@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 11:06 PM
Subject: Results - Steering rack cover clamp search
> I want to thank everyone for their input on my search for steering rack
> cover clamps to replace the (leaking) pull ties that came with the
replacement
> covers. Unfourtunately, most proved to elude my procurement. Some ideas
might
> have eventually worked, but at a cost of time, expense relating to the
value
> of the item and frankly I wanted it in my hand to see if it would work for
> sure.
> I have included all the ideas I got not to insult all or any, but just
to
> bring the point home as to how hard it is to find (with reasonable
time/cost
> relating to the item) something so simple as a 3/8" by 2-1/2" hose clamp
> regardless of a wealth of valuable knowledge to draw from.
> I actually did find what I needed. I will tell you how at the end.
>
> Bob Palmer: Actually there was no gap from the tight ties as you thought
might
> have happened. Sorry, but $100 for concours ties are a bit out of my
budget (I
> did save the original ties though - hummm.. might be worth something on
> Ebay)!
>
> John Webber: John you were on the right track, but frustrated (see below)
I
> took a different course from the VW dealer.
>
> David Sosna: I saw the illustration at the Moss Motors web site, but
without
> exact sizes listed I was a bit concern. I also tried the Subaru/Mazda
dealer
> with a resounding "No." As you said "the quest is more satisfying."
>
> Joe S.: I tried the local Honda motorcycle shop, but they said "no have."
Not
> that the 18 year old kid that took 10 minutes to wait on my seemed very
> interested in looking much.
>
> Erich: McMaster's is lots of McMoney. A very extensive, but expensive
route.
> Yes, even for hose clamps on my limited budget (it's a stubborn money
> principle thing with me). Also as with Moss Motors I didn't want to wait
and I
> did want to see firsthand what I was getting just to be sure.
>
> Bob: In a pinch I would have used multiple small clamps, but I was hoping
for
> a more correct replacement.
>
> Peter S.: I did see some of the 80's Toyota clamps, and at this moment I
can't
> remember why they wouldn't work, but I think they were too small.
>
> Bob Lerch: My concern with the CV boot clamps is finding the right size.
Too
> often these store want application only, and are unwilling to sift through
> boxes to find them by size. Some places showed me their boot clamps, but
most
> were about 3"-4" and they would be too large.
>
> Steve Laifman: O.K. Steve you didn't reply to the matter, but I just know
you
> were probably thinking "Luky's." I did drive into Burbank and go there,
but
> they only had very large and wide clamps.
>
> O.K. John Webber was on the right track (VW dealer). However, after a
> number of other dealers and a lot of "No's" I was fed up and just decided
to
> go with my original alternative - Pick A Part. There are three Pick A
Part
> type yards all located within a mile of each other in the San Fernando
Valley.
> There are likely THOUSANDS of cars at these yards, BUT after a thorough
search
> there were only two cars that had the clamps that would work. The Mid
1980's
> Audi 5000 Turbo (with intercooler only), and the Mid 1980's Volvo Turbo (I
> think they all were intercooled). It was the air cleaner - intercooler -
turbo
> clamps that did the job. And not all of them either, some were a bit too
large
> (make sure you get the right ones).
> Both of these clamps are 3/8" and leave only about 1/2" excess after
> tightened. They also are slightly curved up at the edges (unlike regular
> straight cut - read that sharp - clamps) and should be easy on the
> "accordian-ing" covers.
> I think I got the cars correct:
> Mid 1980's Audi 5000 Turbo (with intercooler only) says: Norma 50-70 on
the
> band.
> Mid 1980's Volvo Turbo Intercooled says: Awar on the screw cover and
50-65 on
> the band.
>
> Thanks again to everyone. In my original post I stated:
> >>>Sadly I feel I'm headed for my 1001st "search for three days, drive
100
> miles ordeals."<<<
> Hey it was only 1-1/2 days and 70 miles I guess I should be thankful.
>
> Tom Witt B9470101 (a former 1986 Audi 5000 (intercooled) Turbo owner who
> should have remembered)
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