Braided fuel lines?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 8
From: Drag racing junkie Va.
Braided fuel lines?
Anyone install braided fuel lines? I've searched the archives with no luck, I know I've read about it here sometime in the past. I have the fuel rail fittings for -6 AN lines, but what do you use on the other end? I planned to hook up at the fuel filter and the union on the return, but aren't they metric tube sizes?
Thanks in advance, Dave :thumbs:
Thanks in advance, Dave :thumbs:
Racer
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 420
Likes: 1
From: SAN DIEGO CA
Re: Braided fuel lines? (hookedup)
I'll be replacing my line pretty soon with braided lines because the factory lines are begining to crack. Lots of people use braided lines. I use Earls Performance shop in SD to make my lines for me. Not sure of the metric stuff. My car has both metric and Standard sizes. Just take your lines off and take them to the shop. They should be able to size em up nicely. While your at it change the fuel filter.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Re: Braided fuel lines? (hookedup)
Earls and Russels both make hose ends to fit your -6 hose. They also can provide adapters to go to the fuel filter. You can do both. There is a trick to putting the ends on the hoses and that is cutting the hose square without frayed wires, but aside from that, it's not tough at all. We just finished plumbing the fuel system on our 1970 Charger drag car and had the entire system done in under an hour and a half.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Braided fuel lines? (Tom Meehan)
I run them... -8AN feed line from the tank (custom 1/2" pickup and external Aeromotive pump). I use Aeroquip fittings and line, it's a little more expensive than the Russell and Earl's stuff but the quality is much higher (Aeroquip is THE AN mfg'r for the aerospace industry). No trouble to do really, what do you want to know? My return line is -6 from the rails down to the OEM hardline, I didn't feel it necessary to convert the entire return to bigger braided line like I did my feed line.
-Jeb
-Jeb
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 8
From: Drag racing junkie Va.
Re: Braided fuel lines? (jburnett)
Thanks guys. :yesnod:
Sorry, I'd love to run over to Earls in San Diego but I'm in Virginia!
Jeb,
How did you join the -6 to the return line? I see a union near the fuel filter, if there's a male or female fitting available that will thread in there with a -6 male on the other end I'm good to go. I guess I could reflare the line with an SAE fitting to a -6 if I can come close. I do plan to install -8 feed when I go to an aftermarket pump in the future. How's that single plane EFI coming??
Thanks Dave :flag
Sorry, I'd love to run over to Earls in San Diego but I'm in Virginia!
Jeb,
How did you join the -6 to the return line? I see a union near the fuel filter, if there's a male or female fitting available that will thread in there with a -6 male on the other end I'm good to go. I guess I could reflare the line with an SAE fitting to a -6 if I can come close. I do plan to install -8 feed when I go to an aftermarket pump in the future. How's that single plane EFI coming??
Thanks Dave :flag
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,597
Likes: 237
From: Bartlett Illinois
Re: Braided fuel lines? (hookedup)
Accel makes an Adapter.. Gm Saginaw Male to -6AN Male..
Accel # 74730
on 3/8 and one 5/16 saginaw
I believe TPIS sells them as well
EDIT TPIS PN..
500-612 3/8 to -6an $16
500-611 5/16 to -6an $16
[Modified by -=Jeff=-, 10:16 AM 9/23/2003]
Accel # 74730
on 3/8 and one 5/16 saginaw
I believe TPIS sells them as well
EDIT TPIS PN..
500-612 3/8 to -6an $16
500-611 5/16 to -6an $16
[Modified by -=Jeff=-, 10:16 AM 9/23/2003]
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,629
Likes: 8
From: Drag racing junkie Va.
Re: Braided fuel lines? (-=Jeff=-)
Jeff, you're my hero :hurray: that was exactly the info I needed :cheers: .
Just got off the phone with Terry(very helpful :thumbs: ) at TPIS. Those 2 fittings are male-male 18 & 16mm to -6AN. They also have the following:
500-609 -6AN male to 16mm female $12
500-610 -6AN male to 18mm female $12
You can use these on the fuel lines at the front of the passenger side head to the MR fuel rails.
For those not interested in making up braided line TPIS has SS hard line kits available, 500-615 & 500-616.
Thanks for the replies, isn't this a great forum!
Dave :party:
[Modified by hookedup, 1:42 PM 9/23/2003]
Just got off the phone with Terry(very helpful :thumbs: ) at TPIS. Those 2 fittings are male-male 18 & 16mm to -6AN. They also have the following:
500-609 -6AN male to 16mm female $12
500-610 -6AN male to 18mm female $12
You can use these on the fuel lines at the front of the passenger side head to the MR fuel rails.
For those not interested in making up braided line TPIS has SS hard line kits available, 500-615 & 500-616.
Thanks for the replies, isn't this a great forum!
Dave :party:
[Modified by hookedup, 1:42 PM 9/23/2003]
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Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Braided fuel lines? (hookedup)
As Jeff said TPIS, Accel, Street & Performance, etc all make a Saginaw to AN adapter fitting for the factory fuel rails. I didn't use them because I wasn't using the factory rails (EFI single plane, custom rails, yada-yada-yada); I cut the factory return line down at the frame rail, flared it and used a hardline adapter fitting to plumb the return in. My entire feed line is -8 AN so obviously no adaptor is needed there either...
-Jeb
-Jeb
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Re: Braided fuel lines? (edsalinas)
I'm sorry. Been away for a day. The hose ends came from Summit overnight. I bought the braided line here in Houston. I'll look up the name tonight. There was no crimp tool needed with the fittings I was using. I did use the wrenches they advertise to be sure they fit the ends. I ran the system from the tank to the pump to the regulator to the carb. Don't know if that helps or not.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,897
Likes: 0
From: La Fontaine Indiana
Re: Braided fuel lines? (hookedup)
Looks like I arrived a little too late to tell you that TPIS has what you are looking for but maybe I can help you anyway. When you cut the braided lines it will fray and you will have a mess here is how I do mine when I made up the fuel lines. Wrap the line with tape where you want to cut it then lay it on a hard piece of wood place a hatchet on the hose where you want to cut it and hit it with a BIG hammer it will cut nice and clean and the tape keeps it from unwinding till you get the hose end onto it. Makes nice looking lines instead of all frayed on the end. :yesnod: :cheers: Helps if the hatchet is sharp :lol:
Racer
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Texas
Re: Braided fuel lines? (black bart)
Either a hatchet or an air cutoff wheel works. It always needs to be wrapped ot you'll never get it into the fitting. DON'T use a hacksaw. You'll end up throwing the hose away and the stuff can run as high as $6 a foot. I also noticed I left out the filter when I described the system. The hose runs from the tank to the filter then the pump and on up to the front. I bought the hose locally from a marine supply house. Can't find the number.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 2
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Re: Braided fuel lines? (ld85)
Try "per inch!" That's how I sold it when I was in the speed shop business; and is the way Aeroquip STILL sells it!
The best way to cut braided line:
* Take a piece of 1" wide duct tape and wrap it tightly around where you intend to cut, this will keep the braid from fraying while cutting. Cut directly through the center of the tape with a SHEAR, a shear is the best tool to use. If you don't have access to a shear you can use a hacksaw, a chop saw, or a Dremel with a cutoff tool. If you use a hacksaw cut ONLY in the direction of the teeth's cutting edges; then pull it out and do it over again, do NOT go back and forth in a traditional sawing motion!
I probably plumb 500' or more of this crap a year... It's a PITA but nothing looks as good or is as functional!
-Jeb
The best way to cut braided line:
* Take a piece of 1" wide duct tape and wrap it tightly around where you intend to cut, this will keep the braid from fraying while cutting. Cut directly through the center of the tape with a SHEAR, a shear is the best tool to use. If you don't have access to a shear you can use a hacksaw, a chop saw, or a Dremel with a cutoff tool. If you use a hacksaw cut ONLY in the direction of the teeth's cutting edges; then pull it out and do it over again, do NOT go back and forth in a traditional sawing motion!
I probably plumb 500' or more of this crap a year... It's a PITA but nothing looks as good or is as functional!
-Jeb
