Plastic vs SS Fuel lines, should I replace the old plastic lines? |
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Plastic vs SS Fuel lines, should I replace the old plastic lines? |
billd |
Aug 11 2005, 12:15 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 327 Joined: 25-May 05 From: Palo Alto, CA Member No.: 4,145 |
I'm starting my conversion back to EFI and noticed that the plastic fuel lines running through the tunnel are not in bad shape. I'm tempted to use them as is. Anyone on the board have experience with the longevity of these plastic lines? If they are an accident waiting to happen, I'll replace them with SS.
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jet1 |
Aug 11 2005, 12:22 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 311 Joined: 16-June 04 From: Accord,NY Member No.: 2,213 Region Association: North East States |
Mine don't look to be in bad shape, but I plan on replacing them just to be safe. All the 914 I have had in the past have had problems with the fuel lines.
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TravisNeff |
Aug 11 2005, 12:22 PM
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#3
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I would say where those old lines are most fragile is where they exit the cabin and turn into the engine bay. I had another car which had a facet fuel pump hooked directly into the plastic lines and when I removed the pump the plastic shattered - that was a fun experience with a full tank of gas.
I just replaced mine as I moved my fuel pump up front and it seemed like a good time to do so. I used 5/16 brake line in 60" lengths. The hardest part was making the lines inside the engine compartment lots of bends - so I got some extra tube for mock up first. |
tat2dphreak |
Aug 11 2005, 12:25 PM
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#4
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stoya, stoya, stoya Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,797 Joined: 6-June 03 From: Wylie, TX Member No.: 792 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I replaced mine while the engine was out, just for peace of mind... I went with aluminum lines... very easy.
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URY914 |
Aug 11 2005, 12:30 PM
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#5
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I built the lightest 914 in the history of mankind. Group: Members Posts: 120,811 Joined: 3-February 03 From: Jacksonville, FL Member No.: 222 Region Association: None |
I replaced mine with aluminum lines.
I also took the plastic lines and tried to get them to crack. Bent them, squeezed them in a vice and twisted them with pliers. No cracks. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) I'm thinking I should have let the plastic ones in. P |
scotty914 |
Aug 11 2005, 12:37 PM
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#6
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suby torque rules Group: Members Posts: 1,525 Joined: 20-July 03 From: maryland, the land of 25 year Member No.: 924 |
but paul the AL are lighter (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif)
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tat2dphreak |
Aug 11 2005, 12:37 PM
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#7
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stoya, stoya, stoya Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,797 Joined: 6-June 03 From: Wylie, TX Member No.: 792 Region Association: Southwest Region |
mine were the same way URY.... the bastards looked new! just dirty on the engine end... oh well... better to know now though... any issue with aluminum lines cracking?! |
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TravisNeff |
Aug 11 2005, 12:48 PM
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#8
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region |
The ones I just replaced were in great shape and I could have left them be. On my other car, the tunnel portion of the lines were great, but once it entered the engine bay they were fragile and did shatter.
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Lou W |
Aug 11 2005, 01:11 PM
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#9
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"Here Kitty Kitty" my ass...... Group: Members Posts: 4,109 Joined: 9-May 04 From: Roseburg, OR. Member No.: 2,039 Region Association: Spain |
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)
Fine through the tunnel, then practically fell apart in the engine compartment. Im replacing mine, cheap insurance. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) |
tat2dphreak |
Aug 11 2005, 01:14 PM
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#10
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stoya, stoya, stoya Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,797 Joined: 6-June 03 From: Wylie, TX Member No.: 792 Region Association: Southwest Region |
very cheap... I bout 25 feet of aluminum 3/8" line for $19 and 10 nice padded clamps for $7 or something... damn good deal! |
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bondo |
Aug 11 2005, 01:18 PM
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#11
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Practicing my perpendicular parking Group: Members Posts: 4,277 Joined: 19-April 03 From: Los Osos, CA Member No.: 587 Region Association: Central California |
I used an aluminum return line when I put FI in my Mustang. No cracks, but there was a spot where it could rub on a parking brake cable, and it was starting to wear a groove in it. The aluminum is really soft, and I suspect that wear is the biggest danger. |
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zymurgist |
Aug 11 2005, 01:50 PM
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#12
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"Ace" Mechanic Group: Members Posts: 7,411 Joined: 9-June 05 From: Hagerstown, MD Member No.: 4,238 Region Association: None |
I'm getting ready to put 3/8" steel brake lines in Babydoll for both lines, with brass flare elbows where the lines enter the engine compartment. Seemed like the most hassle-free installation that I could think of.
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tat2dphreak |
Aug 11 2005, 01:59 PM
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#13
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stoya, stoya, stoya Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,797 Joined: 6-June 03 From: Wylie, TX Member No.: 792 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I thought the same thing, so I put homemade grommets whereever it would rub... |
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billd |
Aug 11 2005, 02:15 PM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 327 Joined: 25-May 05 From: Palo Alto, CA Member No.: 4,145 |
Sounds like its good insurance to go ahead and replace the lines. How hard is this to do with the engine in place? I imagine that makes bending the line along the firewall and up through the tin even harder.
Also, do folks recommend using a single piece or using two pieces with an AN elbow fitting at the firewall. A single piece is less likely to leak, but harder to bend into shape. |
TravisNeff |
Aug 11 2005, 02:20 PM
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#15
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I was able to use a 60" length through the tunnel and make a 2" and a 3" bend into the engine compartment two short hi-pressure hose connections into the compartment lines - so I didn't need to do elbows and such, less likely to leak from what I understand.
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tat2dphreak |
Aug 11 2005, 02:23 PM
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#16
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stoya, stoya, stoya Group: Benefactors Posts: 8,797 Joined: 6-June 03 From: Wylie, TX Member No.: 792 Region Association: Southwest Region |
I did a single piece... not that bad, but no engine in the way... it would be hard, but possible with the engine in place... just have it jacked up enough and it can be done, just not going to be fun. |
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TravisNeff |
Aug 11 2005, 02:41 PM
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#17
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 5,082 Joined: 20-March 03 From: Mesa, AZ Member No.: 447 Region Association: Southwest Region |
You can do it with the engine in the car, a little more of a pain to do, but putting the line through the tunnel is not much of a problem.
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lapuwali |
Aug 11 2005, 03:15 PM
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#18
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Not another one! Group: Benefactors Posts: 4,526 Joined: 1-March 04 From: San Mateo, CA Member No.: 1,743 |
You guys really need to click that 914 Info button at the top sometime. There's a tech article on this very subject, complete with lots of pictures.
My two cents on replacement, if you're planning on doing an EFI retrofit, absolutely replace them if you're going to be putting the high-pressure pump up front. Nothing like old plastic and high fuel pressure to start a nice fire. |
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