Bought a new set of clamps and seals after de scaling the heater core. For the life of me I cannot hold the pieces together and fasten the clamp around the joint at the same time. Tricks?

 

Got them. I have a couple tricks if anyone’s interested.

 

I am just curious. Did you use de-scaler to descale like with citric on the heater core? Are these clamps and seal for the heater and fan blower housing?

 

I used 4 different steps to clean the heater core. I started with a pressure washer in both directions, catching it all in a large tub to evaluate the scale I was removing. I then soaked the unit in industrial strength degreaser. Then I soaked it in boiling water and flushed it again with the pressure washer. Finally I soaked it overnight in CLR and rinsed it thrououghly with soapy water.

The clamps connect the aluminium tubes to the heater core under the dash.

I could not squeeze the ends together and get the clamps on properly at the same time. I took two zip ties and made them into 1" loops. Using duct tape I secured these loops about 6" up the aluminum pipes away from the joint. I have a number of quick clamps (the ones with the trigger grip) which I hooked through the loops and pulled against the manifold section of the heater core. This pulled the 2 section together tightly and allowed me to take my time with a small inspection mirror to ensure the clamps went on properly. I find few things to be impossible but holding the tubes in place by hand and getting the clamps around both flanges was impossible.