[Shop-talk] alternate use for PEX fittings

[john niolon]

I'm trying to install heater lines to my vintage air a/c unit in my truck project. I'm hampered by access because I filled in the ash tray and the glove box. And my bulkhead plate and fittings are not where vintage air routes their stuff so their pre-bent tubes don't go where I need them to.

First I tried 5/8" hose and it was too thick to get thru the space I have... then 1/2 tube with the same result.. Last try was 1/2" SS tubing bent in desired shape with tubing on each end to attaching fittings, which is gonna work with one exception... I'm having to reduce from 5/8" tube to 1/2" and add an adapter. That's not a problem but all the clamping is the problem. Typical screw clamps take up a lot of room and are hindering my route. I’m having to go around the end of the a/c unit next to the kick panel and it's tight over there. There is no room for the clamps where I need them.  I started researching other clamping solutions and came up with two ideas..

#1 is pex type clamps... either single or double crimp... they work for plumbing at higher pressure than radiator hose and I've used them for air lines with good success..

#2 option is using wire clamps from a clamptite tool. this tool is easy to fabricate (and not spend 60 bucks) and from what I've seen at the car shows they do make a nice tight secure clamp on the hoses... using stainless steel wire .062 ..

so a question for the plumbers/pipefitters that have worked with PEX... if I use standard barbed fittings do you think the Pex crimp type clamps will hold and be leak proof... this will be in an non-accessible place when complete so I’m looking for foolproof.  

I’m looking at the Oeitker clamps since they seem more robust than the standard single crimp Home Depot variety
oetiker link

the other option is the Crimptite wire clamps

clamp tite example

these will also clamp down tightly as you can see by the examples online. And, using SS wire should make it even better....

experience ?? opinion ?? guesses ?? all welcome

thanks
john




https://jniolon.classicpickup.com/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk/attachments/20190909/702b8bbe/attachment.html>