Replacement Fuel Lines.

[Logic]

Hey Guys,
My fuel lines are rusted to hell... no wonder the return line sprung a leak. I took my '93 Ty to the Chevy dealership to see if they could work some magic... but obviously the lines have been discontinued. Are there any aftermarket lines anyone can suggest... or have you all been going with braided lines? Thanks in advance,
Eddie.

 

[jwaller]

braided lines. but stock lines can be found on the list from ppl that have switched to braided if thats what you want.

 

[syclonefrankie]

man im in the same shape. my lines are soooo rusted. next month im taking the bed off and im gonna P.O.R.15 the frame and replace the lines with alluminum coil, its so easy to plumb the lines yourself using alluminum coil, that way you can go with a bigger diameter. i may try and go ahead and do a full frame resto if i got time.

 

[vortecfiero]

for every swap Ive done, including this one, I buy the two lines (about 30" long) with the fittings on them for about $5. CAN each at NAPA and use a cheap bender to form and fit.

 

[myclone]

man im in the same shape. my lines are soooo rusted. next month im taking the bed off and im gonna P.O.R.15 the frame and replace the lines with alluminum coil, its so easy to plumb the lines yourself using alluminum coil, that way you can go with a bigger diameter. i may try and go ahead and do a full frame resto if i got time.

If your truck is a race only vehicle I have no issues with what youre thinking but if its a daily driver or sees regualar street duty then stay away from the aluminum line. Use steel...

Aluminum work hardens over time and the flexing/vibration from a street driven car will cause the line to crack sooner or later. Fuel leaks are not something you want ANYTIME and 9 times out of 10 they happen at the worst possible moment.

My .02..

 

[syclonefrankie]

Ive had alluminum line on most of my cars that i have built, not stock streetcars. I have never had a leak, and i drive my cars. alluminum is softer than steel, and stiffer metals crack, soft metals are more flexible and forgiving. i would rather use a softer metal than a stiffer brittle metal if i were worried about snapping or cracking under shaking or force. and those are things to worry about it your going to fasten a metal line to metal body using metal fasteners, which i wouldnt do in the first place, i would use rubber clasps in alluminum or steel fasteners. the last vehicle i re-plumbed was my 79 Z28 with a 671 blower driven 406, which i drove constantly. next is my 78 chevy 4x4 scottsdale....a big horse on 40 inch tires, which i love to take off road. if my plumbing can withstand those kinds of shaking and torque i think my syclone can.

i respect your .02 cents. but my plumbing has worked perfectly fine.

 

[myclone]

[quote="myclone]Aluminum work hardens over time[/quote]..

The above is what Im getting at.. Prolly lotsa cars/trucks out there with alum fuel line that are fine but its only a matter of time until the aluminum starts to become brittle from work hardening.

For myself I dont use aluminum for fuel lines just for that reason. Steel doesnt work harden so not only will it last eons its more durable to road debri and one less thing to worry about.

No flames or nothing and Im just passing along info/making a suggestion for what Id do if it was my truck.

 

[syclonefrankie]

same here

same here

same here. no flames, just opinions and experiences.

 

[Lynn D. Brown]

Hey Guys,

The big problem w Alum. is that it melts at a much lower temp. I think the lines would melt in a fire - so safety is the problem. I think I have heard that some of our guys have melted the Al tranny and Oil F lines going across headers. I insulated mine and wrapped the adjacent portions of the headers - we'll see how they hold up.

Don't know if U guys noticed, but Summit has SS flex line - that's what I would use. Yeh, a few more $$, but most of this job is Labor. I made another fuel hanger suction line out oif it.

 

[TyMeUp]

You also need to think 'crash' survival.

Nothing like being knocked unconscious or trapped in your truck as it bursts into flames because that soft aluminum fuel line split open on impact.