Topic: installing A/C line rubber straps

[Big Al]

Anyone have a suggestion on installing the A/C lines rubber straps (70 351W 2 Bl) which hold the lines in place to the firewall to shock towers?  Is there a "trick" to popping the brad through the hole in the strap?  I have wrestled with these and no luck.  I have soaped the "pointed brad, but that just makes the strap slippery also.  I am considering enlarging the holes to get it done.   Thoughts, comments, prayers?
Big Al

[Big Al]

add "Firewall to Shock Tower supports"
Big Al

[Bob Gaines]

Anyone have a suggestion on installing the A/C lines rubber straps (70 351W 2 Bl) which hold the lines in place to the firewall to shock towers?  Is there a "trick" to popping the brad through the hole in the strap?  I have wrestled with these and no luck.  I have soaped the "pointed brad, but that just makes the strap slippery also.  I am considering enlarging the holes to get it done.   Thoughts, comments, prayers?
Big Al

I enlarge the hole some.Keep extras on hand the repros easily break after a short period of time.

[J_Speegle]

Wonder if some carefully placed weather strip adhesive would help keep these things in place as we often find them apart

Just a thought - but I've got no cars currently that need these to test in person

[Big Al]

Followup
I heated an old Phillips screwdriver end (I had sharpened to a point), for about 20 seconds, with a torch, then gentle probed it thru the selected hole on the strap (for the fastener pointed end), turning over the strap over and repeating this a couple of times until I could see the hole enlarged some, but not too much.  This made a big difference in the pointy fastener "brad" going thru the hole.  Be careful as you can enlarge it too much.
Hope this helps someone else.
Al.

[67gtasanjose]

I just installed some and though a struggle...they do pop in (with no modifications).

[67350#1242]

Keep extras on hand the repros easily break after a short period of time.

What is it with modern rubber? I had 3 of 4 break apart within 1 year - car sitting in garage.

[RoyceP]

I put a block of wood 5/8" by 1 1/2" by 3" on the shock tower to cowl brace to support the steel rivet. This makes it easy.

[ruppstang]

A Velcro cord strap used around the lines when not showing or transporting helps keep them from breaking. I would use red ones, so you do not forget to take them off at the show.

[jwc66k]

Out of curiosity, what is/are the country of origin? And "who" did you buy them from? A bit of pressure, and feedback, is often beneficial.
Jim

[67350#1242]

Is there a "trick" to popping the brad through the hole in the strap?

Try a nut driver of appropriate size to fit over the cone and use it to press the rubber on.

[RoyceP]

Out of curiosity, what is/are the country of origin? And "who" did you buy them from? A bit of pressure, and feedback, is often beneficial.
Jim

I buy a pack of ten at a time from AMK. Not sure where they come from. Assuming originals were better.

[J_Speegle]

I buy a pack of ten at a time from AMK. Not sure where they come from. Assuming originals were better.

Not sure of that since few examples have any or all of them even on cars I bought and saw in the 70's

[Bob Gaines]

Originals lasted longer . Back in the early 80's it was not uncommon to find them still intact on the big Fords in junk yards I mostly found them on.  However taking them apart intact was too much to expect and seldom was I successful. They were 20 years old or more by then . You are lucky to get a couple years out of the AMK versions before they start to fall apart.

[J_Speegle]

Originals lasted longer . Back in the early 80's it was not uncommon to find them still intact on the big Fords in junk yards I mostly found them on....................

Must have been different yards than I visited   But then again in the 70-early 80's not really something I was packing home