A clamp rod assembly apparatus, comprising: a cylindrical housing having a first end, a second end, and a raised cylindrical portion; a first round bushing having a longitudinal octagonal bore and received in the first end of the cylindrical housing; a second round bushing having a longitudinal octagonal bore and received in the second end of cylindrical housing; a ram having an attachment end portion and an octagonal shaft end portion which slides in the longitudinal octagonal bore of the first round bushing and the longitudinal octagonal bore of the second round bushing; a nose portion having a clamp pad stem, a nose piece, and a lock nut, the clamp pad stem threadably attached to the ram to allow the length of the clamp pad stem to be adjusted, and the nosepiece attached to the clamp pad stem.