Running New Fuel Lines

[86Cutlass383SR]

I'm looking for ideas and possibly pics of how best to run my new fuel lines. I'm not pulling the body off so the pre-bent lines are out. Can't get them between the frame and body in several places. Also, that means I can't re-use a lot of the clamps to secure the lines the way the factory did.

I'm swapping to a TPI based 383. I have the f-body fuel rail which has the driver side fittings. So, I'll be running a 3/8" main line and a 5/16" return down the drivers side along with the 1/4" brake line going to the rear.

The passenger side has the 1/4" vapor line going back to the tank.

I've considered running the 3 fuel lines down the passenger side and then running the rear brake line down the drivers side by itself. I'd then run the main and return across the front engine crossmember to the drivers side.

I'm running steel brake line for my fuel lines and looking for the simplest and cleanest routing.

Any ideas?

 

[Doober]

I'm kind of in the same boat, but my car is literally in pieces. Next steps are boxing the frame and doing repair/bracing in a couple places, but I'm not going with prebent lines either. I have a ziploc baggy full of line clamps, and I'll be using quite a few of them for sure, using them for both fuel & brake lines. Going with an EFI sender & pump and doing away with the mechanical pump most likely when I put everything in the '78.

Almost identical to these, courtesy of The General:

Since you're not running emissions stuff (at least I'm assuming you're not), you could probably just connect a short hose to the vent tube of the sending unit with a filter to keep junk from getting in. Not sure how big the clamp is for in the link, but it's something like what I have/had in mind for mine

http://tinyurl.com/22p9m4g

Subscribed for updates 8)

 

[art]

Those clamps are called tinnerman clamps. If you ask for them by name, folks look at you funny. Just like when you try to buy zerk fittings. Better known as grease fittings. Back to the topic, I used 3/8 aluminum line because it is super easy to bend and route. I followed the vapor line route (down the passenger frame rail)since mine is originally a v6 car. 5/16 return right next to it. And like you suggested, the brake line remains on the drivers side.

 

[86-blk442]

Believe it or not it is possible to put pre bent lines into the car without taking the body off the frame. I replaced all of my brake and puel lines with stainless steel ones from Classic Tube (they sell complete pre bent kits and they are very nice and exact) on my 442. It was not the easiest thing in the world to do but it also was not super hard. I never had to loosen the body at all. Just something for you to think about.

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Doober, I have a few of those clamps and thought about using them. I guess I need to get some more in the sizes I'm using, 3/8" - 5/16" - 1/4". And yeah, I dunno why, but I am retaining all my emissions. We aren't tested or inspected, but I'd like to keep all my smog stuff intact just so people can see I still have it. I know ...

I had thought about using the alum line but I wasn't sure of the reliability & strength of it. It will be a daily driver in all types of conditions and road surfaces.

I have the tank out of the car and trying to remove the section of oem line that runs across the rear crossmember of the car by the rear spring pockets, where it runs from the drivers side to the pass side, I can't even get the line retaining clamp screws loose, let alone putting in prebent line and getting the hold-downs secured... I'm not saying it *can't* be done, it's just a bigger hassle sine this won't be a showcar.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I used stainless steel line clamps on mine since I had to make my own lines due to the frame boxing.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Stainless ... ,1975.html

Those are the ones I used for both brake and fuel lines.

On my '87 I have essentially the same layout as stock, just without the vapor return line. I have two 3/8" stainless lines on the passenger side for the feed and return and then the one 3/16" line on the drivers side for the rear brakes.

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Thanks for that link Andrew.

I'm going to start over on my lines since I ended up kinking one anyway. I'll take pics of how it ends up. I'll post them if they look good ... LOL

 

[FE3X CLONE]

I chickened out on mine. I tried bending them myself out of steel lines a few times but never could get them just the way I wanted. So what I did was bend small sections, then tacked them together with my MIG to make up the complete line.

Once I did this for all of my fuel and brake lines, I took them to a Tubes 'n Hoses center and had them match my templates in stainless steel.

 

[FE3X CLONE]

Those clamps are called tinnerman clamps.

I've seen them refered to as Adel Clamps also.

 

[86Cutlass383SR]

Andrew, didn't you pull the body off the frame? I think I remember seeing pics of your car like that. I guess you ran your new lines before you set the body back on?