As the subject title states this thread is provided to collect and discuss the change over from the band earlier style radiator hose clamps to the wire style clamps. Due to an inquire I noticed that though the subject was brought up we never focused on when the change may have been implemented.
It appears (well so far) that Ford choose to to try out a new style hose clamp after using the band style for many years. The new style was designed with two wire loops that were attached to the hose at each end with a series of staples. Its though that the staples held the clamp stay in place and in the designed orientation as planned. The test of design was not carried over to the 6 cylinder engines that year and in later years San Jose did return to the band clamps on some small block applications.
The V8 wire clamps were also accompanied by a change in the upper and lower radiator hoses and markings changed to include the wording Pat Pending in the design
Examples of the
band style clamp The fact that this picture also shows that the radiator ID tag is the soldered on style helps provide us with some additional information about when that car was built. It's been identified as 6S59x
And the
wire style Picture from 1966
Fifty year old hose is swelled allot from age and likely internal damage and deterioration. Car is 6S188x
And earlier related thread
http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=9180.0