MotorHead

So anyway I have a pinhole leak in the brake line close to the proportioning block. I guess I have to replace the line going to rear from the block.

Is this a tough job ? What's involved and were do I get the line ? Any info, tips and gotcha's are appreciated

XLAR8R

you can get complete kits front to back or you can get just from the block back from all the vendors vbandp, mid-america, etc. not a bad job at all. my hardest part was getting the old ones loose. may just want to cut it if its too rusted.

7t2vette

Wayne, here are a couple of places you can get the line from, as well as the major vette parts vendors:

http://www.classictube.com/

http://www.finelinesinc.com/

http://www.inlinetube.com/

I'm not sure if you can actually replace that line in one piece with the body on though. Another option is to just install a new section onto the existing line with a coupling.

I'm Batman

It can be done and quite a few of us have. The key is to lift the whole car high enough to get under it with room to work.

MotorHead

So I cut a piece out and put in a new piece with a coupler ?

I'm Batman

I wouldn't. It's not that terrible to replace the front-to-rear line with the body down. Not the hardest, not the easiest. Cut the lines off right at the fitting and use a regular 6-point socket to twist them free. I'd seriously consider replacing all of the hard lines since one has rusted through, and replace the flex lines if they aren't very new. That way you only have to bleed the system once.

mrvette

Batty is essentilly correct, that's what I did, I just bought two ~5' lines and a coupler at the local parts house....it was a bit frustrating, but it's in there fine, been that way for some 5 years now...

stingraymaniac

i replaced mine last year,its bolted to the side of the frame,not so difficult
to do.hardest job is to get it over the frame at the back wheels and into the distribution block,but it is possible

7t2vette

Ya, I couldn't remember if it was the left side brake line or the right side fuel line that can't be replaced without removing the body, so it must be the fuel line. I did a body-off resto, so it was easy for me to run the new lines!

Yep, you can do just that if you want, you just need a double flaring tool, a tubing bender, a coupling, and a piece of line to get it done........BUT if the line has a leak in one spot, how long before it leaks in another if it is the factory original 27 year old line? I tend to agree that if possible replace the whole line, but if you choose to fix it, I have the required tools that I can lend you Wayne.

stingr69

I like bending them up myself. You could pay for the cost of the tools with this one job if you do it yourself. Just a thought.

-Mark.

I'm Batman

Thing is, if you have one spot rotted out, it's likely that the rest of that line (and the rest of the hard lines) are suspect. Replace it once, do it right. Brakes aren't a good place to take shortcuts.