WTB: Plastic fuel lines from engine compartment Options

[grogthegreat]

Anyone have the two plastic fuel lines from the engine compartment?

One of mine on my 74 got partially melted through because it was touching the main battery cable when it shorted to the underside of the trunk near the starter! It feels like it it about to burst and I don't want to waste any expensive fuel!

Let me know how much you want with shipping to Escondido CA (92026)

Thanks!
-Grog

[JeffBowlsby]

Tough crowd! Porsche designed these cars with non-metallic fuel lines - when they easily could have provided metal lines if they had thought it was important. "I'll say it another way" - an alternate material or design does not always mean 'improved' - thats been proven time and time again on this board. Maybe race cars use stainless, but race cars have different requirements and more rigorous inspections than street cars.

Betcha the vast majority of all stock fuel injected 914s on the road today are still using the original stock non-stainless fuel lines. Thats not a good thing because they are old and can be fragile, and I agree, they should be replaced if questionable - but my point is that stainless is not the only alternative and may have its own concerns. In its 7 year production run Porsche could have switched them to metal or some other product but they did not. Not even a recall or tech bulletin. The HO recall issued 6 months after the last 914 was built, did not change them.

I trust the quality of Tangerine's products implicitly, but what are the details of those lines and similar products on the market by others so we can evaluate them? What grade of stainless is used? - some grades can corrode. What effect does battery acid have on them? Are they seamless or seamed tubing? If seamed, they can can open up, the seam is a weak point. What is the pressure rating of this material? Do these work harden causing weakness either during fabrication or while inservice from vibration? Is metal better than non-metallic? Metal is a good conductor for engine bay heat and may contribute to vapor lock. Does condensation occur in cold climates through the metal diluting the fuel with condensate moisture? Does anyone know? Maybe better would be insulated lines? If we don't know the answer to these, then 'improved' may not be 'better'.

I will stick with the factory stock material unless and until its proven that an alternative is better and that stock is defective. Touche...