Ac Hoses

[70 chevelle]

The bands for the ez-clip system are much more discrete than they look in the pictures. If your a fan of the plain black hose the hose used in the ez-clip system actually looks really good. If your still against it why not just by a manual crimper you can get one on ebay pretty cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mastercool-7...963ee5&vxp=mtr

[dontlifttoshift]

The braided hose is just terrible.

The OEM style crimped hoses work well but require some big radius bends (like the braided) and if you don't have a crimper aren't home garage guy friendly.

I very much like the EZ clip hose. Smaller dia on the hose, tighter bend radius, EZ to put together, and the permeation rate on the hose is better than the OEM style hose. The only two issues I have are

1. limited fitting selection compared to beadlock. No 135* fittings and charge ports are only available on straight and 90* fittings.

2. the bend radius on the fittings themselves are large compared to beadlock fittings.

[jwcarguy]

I just bought the Aeroquip EZ clip fittings and hoses, great to work with

cheapest that I found for fittings and hose:
http://hosewarehouse.com/A-C-Hose

Aeroquip EZ clip crimper: $19.65 shipped!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321060961914...84.m1439.l2649 (he also carries some of the fittings cheaper also)

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by 70 chevelle

The bands for the ez-clip system are much more discrete than they look in the pictures. If your a fan of the plain black hose the hose used in the ez-clip system actually looks really good. If your still against it why not just by a manual crimper you can get one on ebay pretty cheap.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mastercool-7...963ee5&vxp=mtr

Originally Posted by dontlifttoshift

The braided hose is just terrible.

The OEM style crimped hoses work well but require some big radius bends (like the braided) and if you don't have a crimper aren't home garage guy friendly.

I very much like the EZ clip hose. Smaller dia on the hose, tighter bend radius, EZ to put together, and the permeation rate on the hose is better than the OEM style hose. The only two issues I have are

1. limited fitting selection compared to beadlock. No 135* fittings and charge ports are only available on straight and 90* fittings.

2. the bend radius on the fittings themselves are large compared to beadlock fittings.

Originally Posted by jwcarguy

I just bought the Aeroquip EZ clip fittings and hoses, great to work with

cheapest that I found for fittings and hose:
http://hosewarehouse.com/A-C-Hose

Aeroquip EZ clip crimper: $19.65 shipped!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321060961914...84.m1439.l2649 (he also carries some of the fittings cheaper also)

I think based on all your input here I am going to look into the ez-clip system. My only concern was the band that will hold the ends that connect to the compressor. I think if I keep the crimps in toward the engine and then put some black heat shrink tube over the clamp bands it will make a nice clean look. I really think the ez-clip hose will work best under the dash where space is a premium. I like the permeation rate on that hose too.

Thanks for all the input.