V6 to v8 fuel lines

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TURNA

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Jul 24, 2009
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If you are taking off the body replace all the lines especially the brakes!!
 
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Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
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I swapped from a Buick V6 to a SBC and all I did was use a rubber fuel line from the driver side over to the passenger side to a metal line going into the fuel pump, and then up to the carburetor as normal. I made sure to secure it (read: zip tie) it securely to the sway bar since that doesn't move (much) but that's also likely a temporary solution for now. But, for the time being it does work and I haven't had any problems with it yet.
 

Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
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Also, I know people will not agree with me here (maybe they will) but I have a reason for saying it... stay away from stainless lines unless you either have gorilla arms, or a hydraulic flare tool, and bending tool. Stainless is VERY difficult to work with otherwise! Fuel line is 3/8" and I've only worked with 5/16" and let me tell you that it was so hard to flare with a hand tool that I bent the solid metal rod in the tool kit doing it, and had to use a wrench for leverage. With normal steel likes you should be able to do this with your bare hands, and nothing to assist you with torquing it. Bending it with a hand tool would have been equally as difficult, but thankfully I did not need to.

HOWEVER THERE IS SOMETHING EVEN BETTER.

Back in my days as a parts monkey over at Pep Boys, we started carrying a new type of metal brake/fuel/transmission cooler line in rolls that was a nickle/copper alloy. It's strong enough to withstand the pressures of brake lines, is corrosion resistant, AND is very easy to work with (in other words, it flares and bends very easily). BUT it's not cheap! In my opinion though, it is absolutely WORTH IT.
 

Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
192
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Here's an article going over the pros and cons of Nickle Copper brake lines.

The long and short of it is this: It may be softer and more pliable than steel, but it is more than strong enough to handle brake pressures, is less likely to leak because of it's inherently better sealing qualities, and will corrode in the way that you'd expect copper to corrode, but it won't rot all the way through... like a penny. However, just like with regular brake lines it is important to maintain a regular schedule when it comes to brake fluid flushes. Which you ought to be doing anyway!
 

69hurstolds

Geezer
Supporting Member
Jan 2, 2006
8,089
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Also, I know people will not agree with me here (maybe they will) but I have a reason for saying it... stay away from stainless lines unless you either have gorilla arms, or a hydraulic flare tool, and bending tool. Stainless is VERY difficult to work with otherwise! Fuel line is 3/8" and I've only worked with 5/16" and let me tell you that it was so hard to flare with a hand tool that I bent the solid metal rod in the tool kit doing it, and had to use a wrench for leverage. With normal steel likes you should be able to do this with your bare hands, and nothing to assist you with torquing it. Bending it with a hand tool would have been equally as difficult, but thankfully I did not need to.

HOWEVER THERE IS SOMETHING EVEN BETTER.

Back in my days as a parts monkey over at Pep Boys, we started carrying a new type of metal brake/fuel/transmission cooler line in rolls that was a nickle/copper alloy. It's strong enough to withstand the pressures of brake lines, is corrosion resistant, AND is very easy to work with (in other words, it flares and bends very easily). BUT it's not cheap! In my opinion though, it is absolutely WORTH IT.
Nobody was saying go buy some stainless tubing and bend and flare your own. You can get pre-bent/pre-made lines already in stainless. You just straigten them out and bolt them in. I believe everyone's painfully aware that making your own stainless lines and flares require a lot more work. Buying pre-made stainless kits are the way to go.
 

Buford T. JuSStice

Master Mechanic
Aug 16, 2010
341
192
43
Nobody was saying go buy some stainless tubing and bend and flare your own. You can get pre-bent/pre-made lines already in stainless. You just straigten them out and bolt them in. I believe everyone's painfully aware that making your own stainless lines and flares require a lot more work. Buying pre-made stainless kits are the way to go.
If you can find them, then yeah they're awesome. But if you can't find them, or you need to modify them slightly like I had to do to my transmission lines in order to accommodate for a trans cooler... then yeah. I wouldn't buy them again, that's all I'm saying lol
 
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