Wrapping up the Fuel Line Saga

sandy

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CAT Member
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300
So got the rolls of 3/8 and 1/2" Nicopp tubing thinking it would be a cake walk to get the routing done. Armed with 2 heavy duty Rigid roller tubing benders, a variety of other tools I set forth to do the runs.

After several attempts, and enlarging the feed though hole to the back of the trunk (boot) area I had the 1/2" line finally done. It was horrible, as I could not use any of the benders and had to do it by hand. Their was no way to do a single piece of tube and get the tube in and out for bending so was done all in car by hand. The 1/2" tubing is difficult to bend by hand to say the lease. Had the tube covered with some silicone/fiberglass heat shield as well, which was also a fun time basically 'Caterpillar-ing' the sleeve over the curvy length of the tubing.

After sleeping on it and looking at it, I began to really hate it, the way it connected to the fittings, etc, so got the choppers out and removed it.

Went back to using Aeroquip AQP hose and fittings to replace the lines. Please don't be the one that says I should have run 'Teflon' hose, and you can't run E85, or your garage will smell from fuel 'seeping' though the hose. Here is what I know, and why I'm not so worried about it...

1. I will not just decide one day to put E85 in my tank, as you should likely not do that since nothing works with it including your current engine tune.
2. Gas will not 'SEEP' though the hose, most of the people that claim this are smelling their fuel vent or carb vents, oh yeah, the sky is falling...
3. Contrary to popular beliefs AQP and many other hoses are fine with the small amount of 'E' in pump gas

I have run leaded race fuel in my mustang for 23 years, never draining the fuel and never smelled the hoses 'SEEPING' fuel. For the record those fuel lines have been removed from service and hose was not brittle, or smelling of fuel (on the outside). So given my less then scientific approach, AQP hose is good to go for another 20 years was my thinking. Is Teflon line better?, sure, if someone sends me 2 rolls and fittings I'm in for the swap (no Chinesium parts accepted for this as many low budget fittings and hoses are just that :D )

I made a bracket for the lines that allow flex hoses from the feed and return lines to go to the fuel cell. The routing of the line is from the passenger foot well to the trunk along the side of the car, then up though the back though an cut oval hole to the bracket with the feed fittings.

Enough of the semi-rant, here are some pics of the failed attempt first.

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sandy

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
300
More pics of the hard lines, the routing to the back was OK, but in the foot well it was ugly crossing over the floor board. You can see the thinner black shield over the tubing. Last picture gave me great satisfaction for some reason :D

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sandy

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CAT Member
Messages
300
Ended up running up the -8 fuel and -6 return lines in a similar manner except in the foot well area, where I routed the lines up the side of the footwell and and across, so no feet will be stepping on the lines. All secured it all with double cushion clamps (McMaster) and all hoses covered in fire sleeve (not shown).

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Tigerbill

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CAT Member
Messages
87
Thanks Sandy,
Having learned from your “experience“, I will follow your lead and run with Aeroquip lines as well!
Again thanks for saving me some brain pain!
Cheers,
Bill
 

sandy

Gold forum user
CAT Member
Messages
300
Thanks Sandy,
Having learned from your “experience“, I will follow your lead and run with Aeroquip lines as well!
Again thanks for saving me some brain pain!
Cheers,
Bill
If you have a lot of patience and a way to remove lines to bend its not crazy to do, but the way I tried was just a bad thought. Was a fast job with the hoses 😀
 
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