Fuel Line Fabrication
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Fuel Line Fabrication
I know quite a few of you guys have great fabricating skills. I’m trying to tidy up the top side of the engine by re-routing the fuel line and making a better looking top heater hose connection. How do you bend steel tubing without the stretched, pinched area. Is it possible? I have basic 3/8ths steel tubing, and your standard hand held tubing bender, but I still get this pinched area. I understand outer radius and inner radius of the bend. Is the tubing too thin? What I have (pictured) functions. But I haven’t been at WOT yet. Don’t want to hamper fuel flow, big blocks can be thirsty.😬
#2
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Aug 1999
Location: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Posts: 13,654
Received 4,926 Likes
on
1,931 Posts
You have a bad tubing bender. A good bender will properly support the tubing and will prevent the pinch you're getting. E-mail me for a copy of my "How to Build a Fuel Line" article - it will give you some info on tube benders and techniques.
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com
The following 3 users liked this post by lars:
The following users liked this post:
73BBVette (07-18-2018)
#4
Race Director
Also delete the 90° fitting and 1 long smooth much bigger radius curve down and forward.
#5
Instructor
Thread Starter
The first order of business is to order a new tubing bender. I used a new one from harbor freight. Count this as one to skip next time you’re in there. It may work on the 5/16ths and smaller stuff, but 3/8ths will have a flattened outer radius. I will eliminate the 90, but will have to use a coupling down the line, or just redo the whole thing from the pump, which is what I’ll likely do once I get a good bender. I don’t like the straight up pipe nipple for the heater hose either. Seems like a nice 90 would be in order there and just run the hose around the front of the head instead of up and over the fuel line and valve cover. Thanks for the suggestions.
#6
Le Mans Master
Member Since: May 2003
Location: Fernandina Beach FL
Posts: 8,481
Received 3,220 Likes
on
1,732 Posts
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
Or you could get some NiCopp (Nickel/Copper)- super easy to work with-bend-crimp-
After using the stuff- I won't ever go back to steel!!!
After using the stuff- I won't ever go back to steel!!!
The following users liked this post:
73BBVette (07-18-2018)
#8
Race Director
My 67 Hatteras has copper fuel lines. No issues 50 years later. And this is in a salt water environment...
#9
Instructor
Thread Starter
I’ve done some restoration on antique farm equipment and that community was very much against copper fuel lines. Probably because of the vibration and potential cracking of the fuel line. Most old gas tractors had the tank sitting right over the engine. So a fuel spill would have bad potential, considering you were sitting right behind it. I’ve not seen the NiCo tubing, but I’ll looking into it.
The following users liked this post:
73BBVette (07-19-2018)
#11
Safety Car
there is a reason they don't use copper for fuel lines, and it is not because it is expense, copper will become brittle with age, and crack.
Highly suggest you review your intended material, personally i use Stainless Steel.
Bend the tubing for turns do not use sharp right angle fittings.
here are some of my custom bent lines, I made.
Highly suggest you review your intended material, personally i use Stainless Steel.
Bend the tubing for turns do not use sharp right angle fittings.
here are some of my custom bent lines, I made.
Last edited by 69Vett; 07-19-2018 at 02:33 PM.
The following users liked this post:
73BBVette (07-19-2018)
#14
Melting Slicks
This is what I use to do all of our 3/8 tubing, it does an awesome job and NEVER kinks the tubes, aluminum, steel or stainless, but the tool isn't cheap by any stretch. It will do a 180* perfect...The Parker Store.
Used it to bend the new tubes for my 383, does a great job.
Used it to bend the new tubes for my 383, does a great job.
Last edited by Buccaneer; 07-19-2018 at 07:41 PM.
The following 2 users liked this post by Buccaneer:
73BBVette (07-19-2018),
Metalhead140 (07-24-2018)
The following users liked this post:
73BBVette (07-19-2018)
#16
Team Owner
Where do you buy NiCopp tubing?
#18
Melting Slicks
This is what I use to do all of our 3/8 tubing, it does an awesome job and NEVER kinks the tubes, aluminum, steel or stainless, but the tool isn't cheap by any stretch. It will do a 180* perfect...The Parker Store.
Used it to bend the new tubes for my 383, does a great job.
Used it to bend the new tubes for my 383, does a great job.
Thanks Buc.
Steve
#20
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
https://ormebrothers.com/
For special lines & having new ones made of all types.
Like stainless (used 1/2") looks nice but royal pain in the azz...if it isnt a perfect fit good luck. (Wouldnt do again)
For special lines & having new ones made of all types.
Like stainless (used 1/2") looks nice but royal pain in the azz...if it isnt a perfect fit good luck. (Wouldnt do again)
Last edited by cv67; 07-21-2018 at 09:46 AM.