*** NEW ITEM ***
NOS 1963-1966 Front Brake Hoses - Single Crimp
*** NEW ITEM ***
For sale is a pair of front brake hoses, made by Delco Moraine, which are 14-1/16” long, end to end. These hoses are one of those elusive items for the meticulous restoration of your 1963-1966 Corvette. The length of these NOS hoses is about 1/16” longer than the production line hoses that came on 1963-1966 Corvettes. But that small difference is impossible to detect when installed on the car. Note that the metal ends on these hoses are attached to the rubber portion with single, not double, crimps.
My understanding is that in 1975, new federal DOT regulations mandated that all rubber brake hoses must have double crimped ends. Why? Supposedly for safety reasons. But how often have you heard of the junction on a brake hose leaking or separating? If you’re like me, the answer is never. These hoses show no signs of deterioration. My guess is these hoses are at least 50 years old. You are now fully informed of their history, and you have to make the final decision about their suitability for a trailer queen or a gently used classic car.
Single crimped ends are the singular, hallmark feature that judges look for when assessing true originality, say on a Bowtie car, or on a Top Flight or Duntov judged car that is aiming for that 99 or 100 pt score. These Delco Moraine hoses are close to dead ringers for GM #3770240 brake hoses, which were used on the production line for 1963-1966 Corvette. The next image, from the NCRS 1966 Technical Information and Judging Guide, shows the caliper end of an original, 1966 front brake hose.
The next photo shows the caliper end of the Delco Moraine hoses might be subtly different than in the photo in the JG, but the single crimp feature on both is obvious, and that is what the judges will focus on.
I purchased these hoses about twenty years ago from an NCRS National chassis judge who was in the 400-pt judging category. Meaning he knew his stuff. I planned to use these hoses for the restoration of my ‘66, but after looking for 20 years I finally found a pair of GM 3770240 hoses. The reason it took so long to find the GM version is because they were discontinued from service by GM in 1966. Meaning the last time they were sold at the GM parts counter was nearly 58 years ago! The odds of finding any more examples are close to nil.
The end of the Delco Moraine hose that connects to the hard brake line at a frame bracket is slightly different from the production line brake hose. Here is a photo showing the frame end of the Delco Moraine hoses.
Next is a photo showing the frame end of a GM #3770240 hose. The production line example has a retainer clip next to the hex flats that the Delco Moraine version lacks. But again, the single crimp feature is going to be what the judges look for. The flange is non-essential.
Also, you can see in one of the above photos that the Delco Moraine hoses have a “tracer line” running the length of the rubber. That tracer line is also called out in the NCRS ‘66 Judging Guide. The tracer line serves as a visual check that the hose is not twisted when installed. The judges expect to see the tracer line.
Based on my experience, I think you would have a very hard time to find a set of hoses that will judge better than these Delco Moraine hoses. Now you might have heard that the NCRS “does not judge brake hoses”. That is categorically incorrect. Judges can and do deduct for other deviations in design or appearance compared to original hoses.
A pair of hoses sells for $150, including shipping. For a near unobtainable part, that is a bargain. This is the last set of front hoses I have, so grab them while they are available.