Help - Search - Members - Calendar
Full Version: Fuel line clips?
914World.com > The 914 Forums > 914World Garage
Van B
I gotta admit, I didn’t expect this part to be unobtainium!

Item 32 and 33 on the PET are the little plastic clips that secure the fuel lines in the engine bay. Is there no source or reproduction for these parts?

@Mikey914 can you assist?
Puebloswatcop
Van, I know what you mean. I have been trying to find an acceptable alternative as well, nothing so far......
Van B
QUOTE(Puebloswatcop @ Jan 23 2023, 07:36 PM) *

Van, I know what you mean. I have been trying to find an acceptable alternative as well, nothing so far......

Crazy… that little tab broke and I thought, “ah well I’ll probably just replace all of them.”

An hour of internet searches later and here I am headbang.gif
rgalla9146

They can be harvested from a rust out '75-'76 (?)
The center pin has to be pushed through the piece to ease removal.
The hard part is retrieving the pin inside the bulkhead
r_towle
3D printer?
Van B
QUOTE(r_towle @ Jan 23 2023, 10:33 PM) *

3D printer?

You gonna print some for me? I pay in cash + beer!
Mikey914
Yes these can be made in bulk relatively inexpensively, just need volume.

If I could sell 100 units they could be about $6 a wack. I’ll check and see if I have one.
Mark
Van B
QUOTE(Mikey914 @ Jan 24 2023, 12:24 AM) *

Yes these can be made in bulk relatively inexpensively, just need volume.

If I could sell 100 units they could be about $6 a wack. I’ll check and see if I have one.
Mark


Oh man, that would be fantastic! I think there’s enough of us poor 74-76 owners out there to by up that batch in a hurry!
Mikey914
That will. Over my costs to draw this up.
wonkipop
I'd be up for those to have some spares.
50 year old plastic only stays plastic for..........so long.
i did manage to not break them when i redid the fuel lines as metal 4 years ago.
but i reckon they won't last one more unclip.
TX914
I could not find these either. I know there were 2 in the passenger rear of the engine bay for supply and return fuel lines. How many were there originally in a '76?
Puebloswatcop
I'd be in for several
JamesM
QUOTE(Van B @ Jan 23 2023, 09:05 PM) *

QUOTE(r_towle @ Jan 23 2023, 10:33 PM) *

3D printer?

You gonna print some for me? I pay in cash + beer!


I have been looking for these as well.

Should be a quick print if someone models it up. I have not had one even remotely intact to measure.

I have a printer and also enjoy beer!
NARP74
Does Dorman have anything like this?
Craigers17
I realize that my standards are much lower than most here, but here's a viable alternative. In my opinion, they look better than those old plastic clips. They're also cheap and you can get them at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.

Click to view attachment
gord
I'd be in for a set of these too.
scallyk9
One set, please.
Root_Werks
Id' be in for a set, both mine broke when installing the SS lines. Used tiny zip ties to sort of make things work.
JeffBowlsby
How many needed per car, can someone verify? I see two on the bottom edge of the rear firewall of my 74 car. I think there are two on the pass side engine bay, but do not have access at the moment to verify. They are injection molded nylon. Do all years have these or just the later cars?
wonkipop
QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Jan 24 2023, 02:56 PM) *

How many needed per car, can someone verify? I see two on the bottom edge of the rear firewall of my 74 car. I think there are two on the pass side engine bay, but do not have access at the moment to verify. They are injection molded nylon. Do all years have these or just the later cars?


yes - 2 on rhs of upper engine bay.

just noticed one of mine is half broken like Van's. failed since i installed metal fuel lines in engine bay. old plastic gave out. they are all at the end of their useful lives.

this is a 74 L jet.
r_towle
I can convince my young ME son to do this.
He has tooling , SW, and a 3d printer.
He is trying to start a small side business doing modeling...but this would get him into something small to start.

If someone else wants to step up...please do.
But...I can convince him to do them...and he is a real bonified mechanical engineer that makes things for a living...so they won't be meh.

I have a 75 here, I will go see if those are in good enough shape to measure.
or if I even have them smile.gif

Rich
Van B
How well does 3D print plastic hold up to engine bay heat in the long run?
JamesM
QUOTE(Van B @ Jan 24 2023, 03:18 PM) *

How well does 3D print plastic hold up to engine bay heat in the long run?


depends on what material you print with
Van B
QUOTE(wonkipop @ Jan 24 2023, 04:11 PM) *

QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Jan 24 2023, 02:56 PM) *

How many needed per car, can someone verify? I see two on the bottom edge of the rear firewall of my 74 car. I think there are two on the pass side engine bay, but do not have access at the moment to verify. They are injection molded nylon. Do all years have these or just the later cars?


yes - 2 on rhs of upper engine bay.

just noticed one of mine is half broken like Van's. failed since i installed metal fuel lines in engine bay. old plastic gave out. they are all at the end of their useful lives.

this is a 74 L jet.


There are actually four in the engine bay on a 74-76
JeffBowlsby
4 per car. With only 100 as the first lot, thats only enough for 25 cars. I bet a 500 lot first order would sell out quickly. These are very much needed.
mb911
QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Jan 24 2023, 07:01 PM) *

4 per car. With only 100 as the first lot, thats only enough for 25 cars. I bet a 500 lot first order would sell out quickly. These are very much needed.


As much as I hate to say it your right.
wonkipop
QUOTE(Van B @ Jan 24 2023, 07:54 PM) *

QUOTE(wonkipop @ Jan 24 2023, 04:11 PM) *

QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Jan 24 2023, 02:56 PM) *

How many needed per car, can someone verify? I see two on the bottom edge of the rear firewall of my 74 car. I think there are two on the pass side engine bay, but do not have access at the moment to verify. They are injection molded nylon. Do all years have these or just the later cars?


yes - 2 on rhs of upper engine bay.

just noticed one of mine is half broken like Van's. failed since i installed metal fuel lines in engine bay. old plastic gave out. they are all at the end of their useful lives.

this is a 74 L jet.


There are actually four in the engine bay on a 74-76


thats what i said.
2 in upper engine bay.

other 2 are in lower engine bay or do i have my hemispheres wrong from living in australia. biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif beerchug.gif

i agree with jeff, a run of 100 is gonna sell out. fast. smile.gif

they should be nylon.
not sure printing stuff is nylon.
nylon is the go.
Van B
Ah I see… you were completing Jeffs initial count. Since they are all on the passenger side (right side for you commonwealth folks) I wasn’t sure if you were both counting the same two.
wonkipop
QUOTE(Van B @ Jan 24 2023, 11:33 PM) *

Ah I see… you were completing Jeffs initial count. Since they are all on the passenger side (right side for you commonwealth folks) I wasn’t sure if you were both counting the same two.


biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif
don't worry i got confused when he said they were on the passenger side. LOL. beerchug.gif
johnorm
One other option is using a hose clamp separator that are available at most hotrod / performance shops (and oddly on Amazon). They are available in multiple ID's, they are a clean and neat solution, can be had in hard plastic or aluminum plus they are not expensive. They are more suited for rubber hose vs steel lines but I have used them on both (on steel I lined the clamp with rubber).

Click to view attachment
r_towle
Ok,
Any idea which one can be gently removed with breaking it?
It seems the two by the battery are into the long, so there is no access to the back side.
Where are the other two?
wonkipop
QUOTE(r_towle @ Jan 26 2023, 11:53 PM) *

Ok,
Any idea which one can be gently removed with breaking it?
It seems the two by the battery are into the long, so there is no access to the back side.
Where are the other two?


into a space just as bad i think. the double skin with cavity lower firewall behind passenger seat? i've never cut into it to know but i'm sure several thousand members here have doing rustorations.

i think they are all equally heat affected.

if mine is anything to go by the one that is furtherest towards the rear in the upper engine bay is still intact. possibly least affected by engine heat or battery acid over life of car and might be the candidate?

but they are all going to be dicey to try and extract.
Van B
QUOTE(r_towle @ Jan 27 2023, 12:53 AM) *

Ok,
Any idea which one can be gently removed with breaking it?
It seems the two by the battery are into the long, so there is no access to the back side.
Where are the other two?


I'll have a look this weekend. Maybe with a borescope camera and a funny tool I could work it from the backside or at least recover the pin through the ~1" vent hole where the long meets the trunk.
rgalla9146

How about this..... pre-drill a hole in the pin and draw it out with a small sheet metal screw.
OR push it through with the metal screw still attached and retrieve it through an
ajacent (new) hole using a magnet
rgalla9146

This one was successfully removed and re-installed....there was access behind on the donor.
The blue one pictured is a good alternative.....found on many VWs.....late air cooled
and watercooled
rgalla9146

Various sizes too
Van B
those paperclip style are my fall back. double them up and use a push through plastic fire wall pin. But I still say these are a worthwhile reproduction.
Mikey914
These look less viable for reproduction. Total investment will be several thousand dollars, sure I can do in quantity but bottom line is that I think there’s not enough interest to launch these. There are a few other projects already in the works that need the resources.
Van B
C’mon now Mark! It’s Friday, you’re tired from working all week and sending me car parts. You just need a burger and a shake, some rest, and then inspiration will strike!

Maybe a difference method of attachment?
r_towle
Axel made a prototype, I will see about prying one out this weekend to get the back side bit measured up.

Rich
Mikey914
Still working this through. At the day job til Sunday morning.
wonkipop
well if one can't be manufactured at economical set up costs.

there is stuff out there that is close.
with potential.

haven't looked too far and wide yet.
but i sniffed up this nissan clip that could have potential.

https://www.efisolutions.com.au/fuel-line-c...3-r34-wc34-awc3


there is also this jetta/golf fuel line clip which could be cut down by trimming the two end channels off it.
and possibly fixed with a screw drilled through the hole in it.

https://www.heritagepartscentre.com/uk/1912...-line-clip.html

Click to view attachment

i'll keep looking. at least the ones i am coming across are white plastic and press in snap fittings for the lines. so sort of close.

i have just had to this with the rs clio i have.
discovered the vapor line to the charcoal can had lost a couple of clips and had been dangerously dangling near the accessory belt and pulleys. all hidden from sight until you burrowed down near the crankshaft pulley nicely jammed up against the inner fender well. if it had bounced against that it might have taken out the belt. which then takes out the cam belt. headbang.gif engine good bye when that happens in one of these.
i was motivated. i found some ford pipe clips that fitted beautifully and held it in its proper place out of harms way. beerchug.gif

with a bit more research it might be possible to turn something up that is close.
i swear i have seen something close to the 914 clips and it was either on a SAAB or a peugeot.
L-Jet914
@wonkipop I found this browsing through Google. Closest thing I could find that looks like our original fuel line retaining clips but different spacing between the pipes. AC Delco PN 15049288. I also found these for a Land Rover Defender 90/110. Now in terms of 3D printing a set, I think the best medium would be PETG which would stand up to engine bay temperatures. PLA would melt under the engine compartment temperatures.
wonkipop
here is the SAAB one i knew i had seen on one of the cars lying around.

its very close, not exactly the same but nearly and its white i believe.
or at least the originals are.

https://www.skandix.de/en/spare-parts/engin...e-clip/1067267/

Click to view attachment

you can get them out of germany.
possibly someone who is a SAAB specialist in the states might stock them.
you need one as a sample to test fuel lines fit and the retaining plug works.
Van B
So the problem with the fin style connector is what happens to our firewal pads. They are loose under shear forces and will eventually break. It needs positive engagement to prevent vibration wear and give shear resistance.

The one from germany is just not practical sourcing… I’ve got some aeroflow beading tools lost in the USPS chain that I may never see.

I know Mark thinks he’s competing with the work arounds so many have come up with, but I think that’s an underestimation of how much we would all like to have an OE style fitting!
Even if I make a work around for the one that broke, I would still trash it as soon as an OE style came available!
wonkipop
QUOTE(Van B @ Jan 27 2023, 09:59 PM) *

So the problem with the fin style connector is what happens to our firewal pads. They are loose under shear forces and will eventually break. It needs positive engagement to prevent vibration wear and give shear resistance.

The one from germany is just not practical sourcing… I’ve got some aeroflow beading tools lost in the USPS chain that I may never see.

I know Mark thinks he’s competing with the work arounds so many have come up with, but I think that’s an underestimation of how much we would all like to have an OE style fitting!
Even if I make a work around for the one that broke, I would still trash it as soon as an OE style came available!


know what you mean re international postage/freight.
though i did have a good experience recently getting some hard to get rs clio parts in from the UK.

its going to be hard and its a bit of a shame as the OG clips are a sweet little design.
typical german simplicity.

i think i have found something very close to home here.
from a nissan patrol. but you know, not quite german.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303123195132

Click to view attachment

i might just grab this and take a look at it next to the original.

i have a scenario where i have two good clips under the car.
but i am not brave enough to extract them...yet, i fear they will destruct if i pull them out.
but i guess if i can build up the nerve and i have a reasonable surrogate i will balls up and do it.
plan being get another complete one out and fix the one in engine bay and do the work arounds down below. its not like the fuel lines are original there. i replaced them all with mild steel tube lines i bent up myself. i've got the same in the engine bay duplicating original plastic line routing and shape but the tracks for the fuel lines are more tortured down below compared to you guys. right hand drive!!!!
the hand brake cable is exiting over there and things get "different" - it hardly warrants "originality". biggrin.gif
Van B
Oz original!
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.
Invision Power Board © 2001-2024 Invision Power Services, Inc.