Oil gauge feed line

[Bonnewagon]

I am installing a mechanical oil gauge because I don't trust the electric factory kind. But I hate that nylon line they give you I always think it will leak. I have some 1/8" copper line and I want to use that for inside the car. I have a pillar mounted pod and I was able to snake a 1/4" plastic pilot tube down the "A" pillar and through the firewall terminating inside the engine compartment. I was able to feed the copper line through the plastic tube and that will protect it nicely as well as send any leak down the tube and out of the car. Now my question is- if I run copper tube to the motor, will vibration eventually work harden the copper and crack it? What if I mount the copper line solidly in the engine compartment, then use a compression fitting union to convert to the nylon line. Then I can make a pigtail for the leap across to the motor. That way I will have the flexible nylon only at the motor where I am not so much concerned about a leak. What do you guys think?

 

[pontiacgp]

I would just put a loop in the line so that will take up any movement. I have seen copper lines in vehicles that have been there for years.

 

[565bbchevy]

You can also get braided lines for your oil gauge that will solve any movement issues you might have but I have ran copper lines for many years without any leaking or breaking issues and as pontiacgp stated just leave a coil or enough extra line to allow for movement.
There is a reason you get the free plastic line kit with your gauge because it is cheap and doesn't like heat or abrasions.

 

[Bonnewagon]

So copper alone is OK? That would make things nice and simple. It's not a big jump from the body to the motor so I guess a few loops will do. Thanks!!!! EDIT- another question. What's the best way to cut the copper without mangling the end. It has to get a ferrule to slip over and then fit in the gauge.

 

[Texas82GP]

I would use a tubing cutter and then chamfer it with some sand paper.

 

[Bonnewagon]

That makes sense. I think I have one of those tiny ones for close quarters in my plumbing tool box somewhere.

 

[-83MONTESS-]

I never trusted the copper or nylon stuff. Summit sells the -4 AN braided line kit with fittings and all for $20-30 depending on length. No worries for kinks, vibration, easier to snake it around in there, totally reusable and they look better!

 

[Bonnewagon]

The copper is already in there. Besides, this is a working/fishing car, almost a beater. I will say the copper tubing was a lot easier to work with than I expected. I made several coils coming off the body, that should do it. Now to wait for my gauge to show up. I scored an NOS Hawk oil gauge on Epay. How old is that? Let's just say the Beach Boys had #1 songs on the radio when these were produced. I still have a Hawk tachometer that started out on my '65 Bug.

 

[565bbchevy]

I have used my Dremel with a very thin cutting disc to do an extremely clean cut on those copper lines before

 

[Ribbedroof]

Copper worked fine in OE applications, I seem to recall GM trucks of the 60s used them.