SS fuel line question

[CHANCE]

Hey guys,
I want to install stainless steel hard line in my buick when I get home, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to do it.
Here's the idea of what I want for the end result and maybe you guys can fill in the blanks.
What I want to do is run 1/2" stainless steel lines along the frame like the factory
did but at the tank side I want to go from hard line to -8 braided to the sending unit, now the sending unit won't be a problem because it came with the -8 feed and -8 return already installed, it's the ROBBMCPERFORMANCE sending unit.
And at the engine side I want to go from the hard line to -8 braided to my pressure regulator, of course with the pump and filter installed somewhere inbetween the tank and hard line.
So after all that my question is this how do I connect the hard line to braided do I have to flare the hard line? Or do I have to get a stainless steel fitting brazed onto the ends of the hard line? Do they make a compression style fitting like they do for repairing brake lines that will hold up to the pressure?
Thanks in advance.
josh

 

[regal81455]

just need AN tube adapters...they work like compression couplings on the tube side and then are threaded for the an fittings on the opposite side.

 

[87GN.Rickie]

I used the AN tube adapters on my fact feed line it worked great! I used a dremel to cut the very end of the hard line off, slid the fact nut off and slid tube adapter on and done!

 

[The_Six]

I checked around and most places the hard line 1/2 in has to be sold in straight sections I think it was stainless tube or classic tub one of those will sell you the 1/2in stainless with the -8 end on it just tell them how it needs to be. Only bad thing is they don’t bend it. I guess it doesn’t bend very well so you have to chance doing it yourself.

 

[CHANCE]

Yhea,
I was looking at different sites and seen that it comes only in straight pieces,
but really with the right tools it shouldn't be to hard to do the factory replacement lines in my WE4 are stainless, I'll just have to be reallly careful

 

[The_Six]

I tried to bend some for a truck project a few years back and gave up I kept kinking the line ended up running straight down fraim and hose for the bends. Im hoping to get boy off frame in first week of November and then i will be trying it again I even though of using 2 3/8 lines going from -8 to 2 3/8 lines in to 2 stock fillters then back to -8 .

 

[CHANCE]

I just got done emailing classic tubing to see how much they will charge me to bend stainless steel lines for me in 1/2" tubing with no flared ends or nuts to the factory style the web site says they can do it so lets see what they say.
Also I don't know why it would be so hard to bend the lines when I got me factory replacements in SS there was a shipping bend in the center and it came out just fine with no kinks in it.

 

[The_Six]

I tihnk the 1/2 is thicker wall or somthing I thought they had a disclaimer on the web site saying why they wouldnt do it with 1/2. Guess Ill wait to see what they say to you.

 

[CHANCE]

What kind of bender were you using? I've been doing some reading on it and they say that it has to be a good strong bender, and that stainless steel work hardens so once you start the bend you can stop till it's complete. worst case scenario I just use regular steel tubing seeing how thw car will never see bad weather when it's done.

 

[Amelio]

if you used the the tube adapter that has the rubber crush sleeve....thats what I used and it wourked for about 4 months. Then when I hooked up my second pump it went down hill real quick. I pulled out all the factory hard line and went SS braided line, the only hard line on the car is 6" from the rail and 6" from the regulator also the factory hard tubing from the pump. I flared the hard line and have not had a problem since. I also used the tube adapters on my SBC in my '69 Vette but it's a carb and only operates around 9psi. I have had no problems in 3 years with that setup.

 

[CHANCE]

I would go braided but I've read that It needs to be replaced from time to time. And I don't want to have to take the body of the car to do it everytime or pay for it several times I want to do it once and be done with it thats why the pieces of braided line I do run will be short and easy to get to.

 

[CHANCE]

CLASSIC TUBES reply

Hello Joshua,

Absolutely Sir… it can be done to follow the Factory BUF1013-SS (2 piece fuel feed w/filter). Please keep in mind though that the ½ inch tube will not fit into the exact crevices of the factory 3/8 diameter tube. The cost would be around $200.00 and would require a phone order with CC Prepay to be built. Please also understand Sir that this is a custom build and is NON Returnable.

Hope this info helps and thanks for the question.

Regards,

Mike…

 

[The_Six]

What fillter would you use for that. I still think you may be better off too use 2 3/8 lines from the tank to 2 stock filters then too a 1/2 line at the front of the car. cost would be the same I bet just have them bend the front part of the line for you

 

[CHANCE]

I'm going to go with an Aeromotive filter in the stock location, as for running two lines theres just two much to go wrong with it if you have a problem with one of the filters or trying to get all the fitting to seal you'll be chasing your tail for ever with one line there's not that many things to check or inspect.
You got to remember I'm in the Army I have to keep things simple.

 

[CHANCE]

I found this in a search,
TR custom parts can get them.
This inline filter is for GM, Jaguar and Land Rover EFI with 16 mm female inlet and outlet ports, 4" long and comes with our 2-5/8" long 1 micron fuel element. CM EFI Fuel Filters are a perfect compliment to upgraded fuel pumps and the sensitive components of EFI systems. These filters out flow and have double the filtration of stock fuel filters. 1985-96 Corvette 1985-92 Camaro & Firebird (except 85-87 with 305 4 bbl carb) 1985-87 Buick Grand National 3.8L turbo 1987-up Chevy & GMC Trucks with 4.3 V-6, 305/350 V-8, 4.8, 5.3, 6.0 and 8.1 V-8s 1987-01 Land Rover All 1997-01 Jaguar All
Attached Images

 

[The_Six]

dont see them on his web site.

 

[CHANCE]

It's not on his site you have to contact him about it, he said in his post that they were pretty expensive and that no one would pay the price for it but he can get ahold of them.

 

[V6UnderPressure]

What size is the stock line? I too am planning on doing this, but I was going to use 3/8 line instead to be able to feed the fuel for E85. Guess I will have to contact classic tube and see what they say. I will be mounting the filter under the trunk.

 

[CHANCE]

In my post about the reply from classic tube they say it's 3/8. It's the 12th post in this thread.

 

[V6UnderPressure]

In my post about the reply from classic tube they say it's 3/8. It's the 12th post in this thread.

Doesn't the stock piece sort of kink at the turns of certain parts of it? I wonder if the new stainless line is "mandrel bent". Obviously, it only flows at the diameter at the smallest point, so if the stock one is "kinked" at a certain area only allowing 1/4 diameter of flow, then an upgrade stainless one may help. I wonder......