When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Lets just say this was no fun. I enter the highway and press the gas to move to the passing lane and......bam..... the car starts slowing down, I smell gas, and behind me i see a trail of fluid (which I knew had to be gas from the heavy smell ) as far as I can see behind me, all over the highway.
I rolled off to the side and what do I find. The fuel line disconnected at the firewall. As you vette owners know, this pours gallons of fuel a minute right onto the headers. I feel extremely lucky that it didnt catch fire.
I am guessing that that plastic fitting on the fuel line just loses its hold after being on and off so many times. Tomorrow this stupid plastic rinky dink GM connection is history. I would advise anyone and everyone to redo this with an AN fitting or something safer.
I really dont get excited getting stuck on the road (although first time its happened on my vette in 6 years), but I do get excited about going up in flames !!!
I'm trying to picture what would be plastic there. The oem line is metal and each 3/8 port is metal. The aftermarket 3/8 to AN adapters are metal with a plastic retaining clip, was that what broke and the adapter popped off?
I'm trying to picture what would be plastic there. The oem line is metal and each 3/8 port is metal. The aftermarket 3/8 to AN adapters are metal with a plastic retaining clip, was that what broke and the adapter popped off?
The OEM metal line is a snap fit connector right near the brake booster. The little plastic collar (for lack of the proper word) got weak. It didn't actually break but allowed the connection to come apart.
Sounds like major aggravation. Hopefully only minor financial/mechanical aggravation. A build like you're going through has to have major ups and downs. I've followed yours enough to know you'll be OK because of your abilities. Grab a Molson, or whatever you guys from the great white north enjoy, take a deep breath, and it'll be OK
Sounds like major aggravation. Hopefully only minor financial/mechanical aggravation. A build like you're going through has to have major ups and downs. I've followed yours enough to know you'll be OK because of your abilities. Grab a Molson, or whatever you guys from the great white north enjoy, take a deep breath, and it'll be OK
I am happy to say that with all I've done to the car this is the only mechanical glitch so far. Its not even a big deal and probably less than 50 bucks to fix properly.
The "panic" part was knowing fuel was flowing onto the headers and not knowing if there was fire until I got the hood open.
Got the beer.....watching the Canadiens game....
That little white plastic you see the edge of is what is causing the problem. ...
That is not a factory connector, They make a much better screw on connector without the plastic retainer. Russel makes this fitting. No need to cut the factory line. I have had issues with this plastic one, I would always replace the plastic with a factory stainless retainer when using this fitting. Now I use the newer Russsel fittings.
At least no fire happened when the fuel sprayed all over the engine.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/RUS-644003-Push-On-EFI-8-AN-Male-To-3-8-Hardline-Fuel-Fitting-Black-LT1-LT4-LS1-/261169733746?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item3cceede072&vxp=mtr
Last edited by gotjuice?; May 5, 2013 at 08:36 PM.
I don't remember changing the retainer on the fuel line when I added those fittings. I'm pretty sure its factory. Then again at my age we forget things.
I don't remember changing the retainer on the fuel line when I added those fittings. I'm pretty sure its factory. Then again at my age we forget things.
The factory one was built into the stainless braided line that you removed.
The factory one was built into the stainless braided line that you removed.
I dunno. I just looked at the factory line that I removed and its just a female similar to the fitting I replaced it with. Looks like it fits the same. No clip in there.
Either way, its getting replaced tomorrow.
The Swagelok fitting will not leak. Ever. That fitting isn't factory. Those Russell fittings work well enough if you make double damn sure they are properly installed.
I went thru 4 of those fittings from Russell and others before I gave up. The one I had on first lasted a while, but eventually started leaking. I will never use one again. I use a factory style hose at that spot and a few other connectors to avoid using one. It looks funny but has proven leak free.
I have the swagelock fitting now too, but have not installed it.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Slideshow: A Jaguar designer's personal project imagines what a modern front-engined Corvette might look like if Chevrolet revisited the golden age of the Stingray.