Soft Fuel Line Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
Soft Fuel Line Question
Been getting way too much contamination (rust) in my fuel filter and fuel line so I've decided to drop and replace my tank. After dropping it, I looked at the hard line that goes from the tank to the pump. Man, there's all kinds of rust and crap in there so guess what, one more thing to replace.
My question is, can you run a good quality stainless covered hose (like Aeroquip) in place of the original hard line? I have the stock type mechanical fuel pump (a chrome holley).
Has anyone tried this and had any problems.
I really don't want to have to lift the body to put in hard lines :confused:
Thanks
P.S. - Are the original steel lines 3/8 inch?
[Modified by tshort, 4:24 PM 3/11/2002]
My question is, can you run a good quality stainless covered hose (like Aeroquip) in place of the original hard line? I have the stock type mechanical fuel pump (a chrome holley).
Has anyone tried this and had any problems.
I really don't want to have to lift the body to put in hard lines :confused:
Thanks
P.S. - Are the original steel lines 3/8 inch?
[Modified by tshort, 4:24 PM 3/11/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
Steve did it on his project. I personally don't like flex lines. I ran 1/2 stainless all the way back to front. Summit also sells 25 foot coils of aluminum tubing for gas lines. If you need to splice solid lines compression fitting work great.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (norvalwilhelm)
Any particular reason you don't like flex lines? I wouldn't think with a mechanical, low pressure pump there would be many problems with a flex line but then again I never really heard any issues about it either way.
Anyone else with experience trying this????
If not, I can't see how you could possibly replace using hard lines without lifting the body. Especially near the front of the rear wheel-well area.
Anyone else with experience trying this????
If not, I can't see how you could possibly replace using hard lines without lifting the body. Especially near the front of the rear wheel-well area.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 487
Likes: 1
From: Aloha, OR, USA
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
Two options you might want to consider.
I put in the aluminum line since my pump is at the tank. It is really quite easy to put in but requires patience and two people to get the line over the frame at the back wheel. I wire tied it to the original lines in several places. I have the fixed cross member, so where the cross member hits the main frame, I pushed the tubing through the hole in the cross member.
You could put in plastic line. It is quite strong, and is easy to bend without kinking. It will handle plenty of pressure so that won't be an issue even if you someday decide to go with fuel injection and put a pump at the tank. You would want to make sure there was nothing rubbing it (but you need to do that with aluminum or steel too).
Good luck.
I put in the aluminum line since my pump is at the tank. It is really quite easy to put in but requires patience and two people to get the line over the frame at the back wheel. I wire tied it to the original lines in several places. I have the fixed cross member, so where the cross member hits the main frame, I pushed the tubing through the hole in the cross member.
You could put in plastic line. It is quite strong, and is easy to bend without kinking. It will handle plenty of pressure so that won't be an issue even if you someday decide to go with fuel injection and put a pump at the tank. You would want to make sure there was nothing rubbing it (but you need to do that with aluminum or steel too).
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
I have no reason not to like flex lines but it is strickly personal preference to like rigid gas lines. I have many short flex lines with Russel fittings in my system but try to keep them to a minimum length.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 779
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis MN
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (norvalwilhelm)
Some people don't like soft lines because there IS a pressure drop in them. There is more internal surface friction. However, it's negligible IMHO, and can easily be overcome if you have a decent pump. I'll definitely replace my lines with -8 braided...the only downside IMHO is the extra cost, it's a lot more expensive.
Norval or anyone else - How long of a piece would I need to run from an electric fuel pump at the back, up to a regulator? Any rough estimate? Exact number? :D
[Modified by ddn, 3:08 PM 3/11/2002]
Norval or anyone else - How long of a piece would I need to run from an electric fuel pump at the back, up to a regulator? Any rough estimate? Exact number? :D
[Modified by ddn, 3:08 PM 3/11/2002]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (ddn)
So would you guys say it's a bad idea to run a -6AN line from tank to holley machanical fuel pump?
If yes, what's this plastic line? How do you bend it to fit around corners, who makes it, and where do you get it? What kind of fittings does it use?
Thanks.
If yes, what's this plastic line? How do you bend it to fit around corners, who makes it, and where do you get it? What kind of fittings does it use?
Thanks.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
From: Glacier County mt
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
I am running AeroQuip blue lines for my BBC / Commander 950 EFI setup.
No problems after 2 years... "knock on wood"
:cheers: :cool: :cheers:
[Modified by shawn_cake, 2:27 AM 3/12/2002]
No problems after 2 years... "knock on wood"
:cheers: :cool: :cheers:
[Modified by shawn_cake, 2:27 AM 3/12/2002]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (shawn_cake)
Thanks Shawn_cake, but I'm looking for someone that has done this on the suction side (mechanical pump). I assume you are talking about the pressure side of an electrical pump.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
thsort, copper, plastic and aluminum are fire hazards over time do not use those materials...the airoquip is fine, if you can find a safe route for it....
keep in mind, there are 3 lines, one for fuel vent charcoal canister on driver's side frame...two on the pass side frame...one is the 3/8 supply the other is the return 1/4 inch overpressure from fuel pump return to tank....
but with an electric pump, the 1/4 inch return is not needed and should be plugged at pass side top of tank....
size of supply depends on power requirements/fuel consumptionof engine....
but that 3/8 oine can support anything up to about 500 hp.....
GENE
keep in mind, there are 3 lines, one for fuel vent charcoal canister on driver's side frame...two on the pass side frame...one is the 3/8 supply the other is the return 1/4 inch overpressure from fuel pump return to tank....
but with an electric pump, the 1/4 inch return is not needed and should be plugged at pass side top of tank....
size of supply depends on power requirements/fuel consumptionof engine....
but that 3/8 oine can support anything up to about 500 hp.....
GENE
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 18,126
Likes: 174
From: WI
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
tshort,
You can use a piece of --8 Aeroquip from front to back (i do). I think the Winston Cup guys use --10 and they run a mechanical fuel pump with 700+ hp. BUT unlike the picture above, don`t run your filters so close to your hot mufflers, fuel likes to be cooool and don`t run it under your spring, one good "off road" experience and you could be a rolling fireball.You might want to find a way to put a piece of --8 rubber hose inside your tank as a pickup. A bulkhead fitting works great. ...redvetracr
[Modified by redvetracr, 11:09 PM 3/11/2002]
You can use a piece of --8 Aeroquip from front to back (i do). I think the Winston Cup guys use --10 and they run a mechanical fuel pump with 700+ hp. BUT unlike the picture above, don`t run your filters so close to your hot mufflers, fuel likes to be cooool and don`t run it under your spring, one good "off road" experience and you could be a rolling fireball.You might want to find a way to put a piece of --8 rubber hose inside your tank as a pickup. A bulkhead fitting works great. ...redvetracr
[Modified by redvetracr, 11:09 PM 3/11/2002]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,659
Likes: 7
From: Katy (Houston) TX
CI 7-8 Veteran
Re: Soft Fuel Line Question (tshort)
Will a -6AN hose fit correctly over my 3/8" sending unit tube/outlet? If not, how do you connect the two?
And someone on my other post mentioned upgrading to a larger size, i.e. -8AN. How could an -8AN line connect to the tank sending unit outlet?
Thanks
And someone on my other post mentioned upgrading to a larger size, i.e. -8AN. How could an -8AN line connect to the tank sending unit outlet?
Thanks
