Sanity check, on the tunnel fuel lines Options

[mmichalik]

I went to start changing out my fuel lines with a stainless steel set. When I pulled the tank out, the rubber lines basically feel apart.
I just took the rubber line off of the tunnel line when I noticed that the tunnel line was not plastic. It's what appears to be cadmium plated steel (my magnet stuck to it).
Just as a sanity check, all 914's, particularly a 1974. came with plastic lines down the tunnel, correct? I believe the answer is yes.
If that's the case, I can assume that the tunnel lines have been replaced in the past. They appear to be rust free and clean, should I continue with the Stainless replacement or just leave them there?

[Dustin]

The tunnel lines are plastic with a steel tip that is about a foot long on the tank end.

[mmichalik]

The tunnel lines are plastic with a steel tip on the tank end.

That would kind of make sense. I will check it out through the tunnel and the back end as well.
Thanks!

[mmichalik]

@Dustin , that was it.
I'm glad I asked, it was a long day and I needed the check.
Thanks for the help!
Mike

[krazykonrad]

If you are in there that deep already, might as well put the stainless steel lines in.

[mmichalik]

If you are in there that deep already, might as well put the stainless steel lines in.

Yep, that's what I ended up doing. With a little help from my youngest daughter, we got them in place. Just have to get the tank put back in now and then button up all the bits I took apart. (had to remove the center console to get to the toe board access panel.)

[jim_hoyland]

How difficult is it to pull the plastic lines out ?
I’m getting ready to do this and want to know about any hard parts to the change over

[mmichalik]

How difficult is it to pull the plastic lines out ?
I’m getting ready to do this and want to know about any hard parts to the change over

This was the first time I did it on a car that was still put together (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) so it took a little longer than expected.
I had to remove the hood, pull the tank out and disconnect the lines there. Then I had to disconnect the fuel lines in the engine bay. Once that was done, they pulled out easily through the engine bay. All in all, that probably took about 2 hours or more (there was some cursing and a few breaks involved)
Putting them back in as a bit more time consuming because I had to pull out the center console on the car to get to the front toe kick panel in the tunnel. It took me about 2 hours to pull everything out of the cabin (again, because it was my first time) and then about 30 - 45 minutes to feed the line back through.
There was a bit of finagling going on to get the stainless steel line to go through the tunnel and then line up with, and go through, the hole in the grommet in the front.
I still have to put everything back together in the cabin so, I figure another hour or so there.
All in all, I would plan for a full day and just as tip, it would be much easier if you removed the passenger side rear tire AND have someone help you get it through the front grommet.
Also, be careful removing the old fuel line hose clamps. Mine were rusty and stuck tight. I cut my finger pretty nicely when the screw driver slipped out of the slot.

[Cairo94507]

I would split that into a 2-day job so you don't go crazy. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[wonkipop]

How difficult is it to pull the plastic lines out ?
I’m getting ready to do this and want to know about any hard parts to the change over

not hard. just takes time.
i built my own mild steel fuel lines - rhd drive so things get in the way at the top end near the pedal cluster to use standard ss kits. in my case it took the most time to make those lines themselves with all the right bends and trial and error fitting. the rest of it was a piece of cake by comparison.

i pulled mine out from the front. the old plastic lines were very securely attached to the lengths of steel tube at the upper end. i snipped the hard plastic ends off as close as possible to where they emerge from the tunnel firewall into the engine bay.

the hardest thing was getting the firewall grommet back in at the top end near fuel tank.
like all rubber it had gone hard with age. you need strong fingers, lots of crc and patience. i removed the grommet to assist me get the top ends of the lines i made through the holes as well as get old lines out, there was no other way to do it. not sure what others have found to be the case. i pushed the new lines through the grommet while it was out and then had to push that grommet back in. not easy. part of the problem was probably due to rhd conversion and changes to firewall for it - means the grommet is in a tight spot in my car, lhd cars should have a bit more room for your fingers and also the ss kit probably is so accurate you can feed the lines through the grommet with the grommet installed.

a handy thing would be a repro grommet that you can massage in more easily.
don't think anyone makes one?

when i pulled the plastic lines i found they were still in remarkably good condition through the tunnel until they got within about maybe 6 inches or so of rear firewall.
at that location and for the rest of the way through underside of engine bay they were hard/brittle and thats where they can fail.

i assume they were originally plastic in the interests of crash safety. which is also why i chose to do my lines in mild steel tubing. basically brake line tubing more or less.

[ClayPerrine]

i built my own mild steel fuel lines - rhd drive so things get in the way at the top end near the pedal cluster to use standard ss kits. in my case it took the most time to make those lines themselves with all the right bends and trial and error fitting. the rest of it was a piece of cake by comparison.

That's because you aussie wankers followed the pommies and drive on the wrong side of the road (and upside down too). We were smart enough to kick them out before cars were invented. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wonkipop]

i built my own mild steel fuel lines - rhd drive so things get in the way at the top end near the pedal cluster to use standard ss kits. in my case it took the most time to make those lines themselves with all the right bends and trial and error fitting. the rest of it was a piece of cake by comparison.

That's because you aussie wankers followed the pommies and drive on the wrong side of the road (and upside down too). We were smart enough to kick them out before cars were invented. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

yep

the smartest thing the americans ever did.
no argument.

but lets not forget as a nation you bought all those mgbs with the sh%t bumpers in the 70s! you win some you lose some.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[ChrisFoley]

This job goes a lot quicker when you already know what to do.
In my shop, EJM routinely installed new ss lines by himself with the engine and the tank in place.
We only removed the tank if there was another reason to do so.