queston about Fuel Lines

[Montehall]

last time I drove my vette it kept dying on me.
I finally got around to looking, thinking the fuel filter was clogged, I decided to start there... I'm 100% positive it's not the fuel filter.

notice anything missing?
(yes, I am aware the crossfire is missing).
and further down the line, it does this:


nice, right?

I refuse to let the car and DSPO beat me, so I guess it's time to get some fuel lines

question: the current fuel line is 1/4 inch... do I keep the same diameter, or can I go bigger. I also think I'm going to go with the steel-braided stuff vs. the hydraulic lines, and just replace all the way to the tank.

[Uncle Pervey]

Get some steel hard line and a tubing bender and a flaring tool and do it right. I don't like braided lines.

[Montehall]

steel lines seems to be the consensus among the "other" forums as well.
I think I have a tube bender out in the garage somewhere... no flaring tool though

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Montehall

question: the current fuel line is 1/4 inch... do I keep the same diameter, or can I go bigger. I also think I'm going to go with the steel-braided stuff vs. the hydraulic lines, and just replace all the way to the tank.

Your fuel lines are collapsing left and right. I'd go steel braided. Every race car you can find has steel braided lines.

[Montehall]

race car? this is an 84 corvette with 205hp at the most.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Montehall

race car? this is an 84 corvette with 205hp at the most.

I was implying that they're safe and durable.

Most people use Earl's products. JEGS carries just about everything you could need.

Earl's Performance Products UK - Performance Braided Hose and Fittings for Motorsport

[Uncle Pervey]

Braided steel lines are great in race applications, it is far cheaper to jack the car up and replace the lines with steel lines. Now my C3 has a mechanical pump, so I do use braided steel line from the pump to the carb. On fuel injected engines I think steel is the way to go for the fuel injected engines.
You used to be able to buy the steel line at any autoparts store very cheaply.

[Montehall]

one explanation I've heard for the fuel line being in the current condition is that since it was fuel injected, and is now carburated, the PO may have crimped them to bring down the pressure.
I am fairly certain that the stock pump is not being used, since all the wires for it are cut.
Any truth to this?
There are tool marks on the line.

[Rotorhead]

I have a flaring tool. PM me if you need it.

[Montehall]

Originally Posted by Rotorhead

I have a flaring tool. PM me if you need it.

Thanks!

Would this work?
Double Tube Flaring Tool Kit

[Petew1971]

your shit is fked up

[Montehall]

Originally Posted by Petew1971

your shit is fked up

Thank you for that... obviously, your powers of observation are quite astute.

[Petew1971]

Originally Posted by Montehall

Thank you for that... obviously, your powers of observation are quite astute.

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Montehall

Thanks!

Would this work?
Double Tube Flaring Tool Kit

That one will work, but it's a major pain in the ass. Buy a lot of extra line.

A friend of mine has one like this. I know he wouldn't pay that much for a flaring tool so there must be a cheaper place. However, I can't find it for less than 275. Buying extra line with the cheaper tool is the cheaper way out if you aren't using it a lot.

[Rotorhead]

Originally Posted by Drew M

That one will work, but it's a major pain in the ass. Buy a lot of extra line.

and practice a bunch. Mine is aircraft quality and I paid some loot for it.

[Montehall]

what's a good, albeit inexpensive, one?
would a plumbing line flaring tool work?

[Nemesis]

Originally Posted by Montehall

what's a good, albeit inexpensive, one?
would a plumbing line flaring tool work?

I must have been editing my post while you were posting yours. That one I posted is 1000x easier. It keeps the line straight.

[Montehall]

$386

$15... you know what they say: practice makes perfect


afterthought: I wonder if I can rent one from Autozone.
Nevermind, they rent the same one the HF sells.

[Rotorhead]

Originally Posted by Montehall

what's a good, albeit inexpensive, one?
would a plumbing line flaring tool work?

It should have a 37* flare to it if I remember correctly. I looked on a few aircraft sites and can find nothing of any quality under $100.

[Uncle Pervey]

Originally Posted by Montehall

what's a good, albeit inexpensive, one?
would a plumbing line flaring tool work?

The one from Horror Freight will work just fine, I have used one like it many, many times. Drew is right practice, tubing is cheap.
The only fittings that need double flares are brake lines, fuel pressure on a carburetor engine is way, way lower pressure and a single plumbing type flare will work fine most of the time.