CW and fuel lines Options

[scotty b]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I'm just curious what you CW's think about replacing the plastic lines with steel on a restoration ?Granted they are not original, I am assuming NONE of you would actually run the 35+ year old lines and would at the very least replace them with new plastic lines. That then begs the question, If you are replacing the lines, from a CW standpoint are steel lines still grounds for a beating ? Think about the safety of the car too

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[tod914]

Pat you can't slap depends on a crusty old FI system to contain the leaks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The tunnel lines you'd likely get away with, being at least in this region the PCA no longer judges undercarriage. Wait for that fact, they had people complain about cleaning their engines this year. So to appease the few that complained, at the last event engine bays weren't judged either. Shoe horn a V8 in it Scotty, they'll never know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
I'd consider the tunnel lines in metal if doing a pump relocation (which isn't correct either), but would want the engine bay lines to remain in plastic. Last I checked (8 years ago?), the center plastic were available $$$ without the brass fittings, but the engine bay lines were not. I did find suiteable high pressure black plastic lines for the engine bay for my 75 at the local Euro autoparts store. Be cuirous to see if anyone has NOS lines anymore.

[Pat Garvey]

Pat you can't slap depends on a crusty old FI system to contain the leaks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) The tunnel lines you'd likely get away with, being at least in this region the PCA no longer judges undercarriage. Wait for that fact, they had people complain about cleaning their engines this year. So to appease the few that complained, at the last event engine bays weren't judged either. Shoe horn a V8 in it Scotty, they'll never know (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
I'd consider the tunnel lines in metal if doing a pump relocation (which isn't correct either), but would want the engine bay lines to remain in plastic. Last I checked (8 years ago?), the center plastic were available $$$ without the brass fittings, but the engine bay lines were not. I did find suiteable high pressure black plastic lines for the engine bay for my 75 at the local Euro autoparts store. Be cuirous to see if anyone has NOS lines anymore.

Tod,

Ah, but see, it isn't original. Sure, I could bend the rules, but it still wouldn't be original.

Case in point. I had a 70 911E with hydropneumatic struts. They were a really stupid Porsche mistake. Porsche declare that they were a mistake & advised customers to replace with conventional struts (they wouldn't pay a dime/discount to help the problem though). I did it anyway, when they collapsed, on my nickel (grand!).

But, in this case, thre has never been a significant threat of failure on the plastic lines post pump. Usual failures are on the connectors, which are easily replaced on a five year plan (mine).

Now, let's think about this for a minute. These are pretty thick walled plastic/derivate lines. If they are not manhandled & put under sideways stress, they should last forever. I've never experienced a leak or weep from any of them.

Admittedly, there are better materials available today. But they won't keep your 914 original, and aren't necessary except in extreme cases. Buddy of mine recentntly went through a OTAL restoration, by a high-end shop. They (on his wishes) replaced the tunnel lines with stainless (which I can detect in a nano second), but left the after pump lines as original. Hmm!

Point here is simply this - if it isn't original material, it isn't original. May be a better product, but it isn't what came on the car. Hell, there are numerous better products for 914's than came on the car, and they are mostly pretty special, but it doesn't make your 914 original. Not that it's bad, but it makes a 914 "improved".

I, personally, like to keep my 914 as original as possible. I have finally even decided to go with original proper biased tires, for which I will overpay for something I really don't want.

But I'm an originality person.

I respect all other venues of 914's (except electric & Suby).

You do your thing.....I'll do mine. But mine will be better for the collector!
Pat

ps Tod: You're correct about the Depends! But if is isn't "leaking" you can always stay with boxers.