[thelawdoc]

As usual, a very informative forum thread. But I did not see enough comments regarding:

1. The use of rubber hose sections with hose clamps which is typical for fuel line filters. Personally, I have a distinct mistrust for such connections. For one thing, based on what I read online in general, it seems to be agreed that only steel line with bubble-flare fittings should be used for fuel lines, preferably brake line. So I am failing to understand why there is an exception for the fuel filter. Surely there is enough flex or 'give' in a steel line to permit easy changing of the filter. And if the steel line be especially heavy, then a spiral should bring enough 'give' to swap the filter. Secondly, if one is using rubber sections w/hose clamps at the filter, what is the point of flaring all of the other connections for the fuel line. Either rubber is safe or it is not. What am I missing here?

2. Mechanical pumps. Those who say that a filter should not be placed between the tank and the fuel pump obviously seem to be worried that a clogged up filter will cause their electric pumps to fail due to loss of 'coolant.' I understand that. But they do not say anything about a mechanical pump, which does not have that vulnerability. It seems to me that there can be no harm in having whatever number of filters that one wants, anywhere, so long as one has the mechanical fuel pump, while being mindful to have the finest filter right at the carb intake. Obviously, one ought not put on so many filters that one loses fuel pressure. But, in my mind, if a truck lacks a fuel pressure regulator, what better way to come down to correct pressure than adding a fuel filter?

3. Filters & fuel pressure. I think there is a high percentage of otherwise well experienced and knowledgable guys who do not realize that their fuel pressure is too high at the carb, i.e., that their fuel pressure is above the spec called for by the carburetor. I think that many guys do not like the sintered bronze final filter and that upon tossing it, they unwittingly raise the fuel pressure for the carb.

4. The order of fuel line components. It seems to me that the correct order of components should be as follows: tank with coarse filter within; fuel line with standard medium filter before mechanical pump; fuel line with standard medium filter after any pump; fuel line with sintered bronze or other very fine filter; fuel regulator; fuel pressure gauge, and carburetor.

5. Fire. Of course having a fire extinguisher in the cab is better than none at all. I often wonder at the community of knowledgable and experienced guys with vintage carburetors who do not have a fire extinguisher at hand. (There is an old Yiddish saying: The shoemaker goes barefoot.) But we all know that by the time you realize you have a fire under the hood, the damage is done, and the extinguisher simply puts out the fire. We need a configuration whereby the extinguisher hose is already in place under the hood and that it can issue the retardant in a fashion similar to a sprinkler head, over the entire engine bay. This is not to say that the result will be no damage at all. But it will spare the adrenaline-packed, near-panic, grab of the extinguisher, hasty exit from the vehicle in possible traffic, fumbling with the hood release, and raising of the hood, the latter giving the fire a huge dose of air.

6. Mechanical fuel cut-off: There might be something available in the market whereby you have a 'panic button' type knob in the cab that can activate a cut-off of the fuel at a point near its entry into the engine bay. For example, using a steel cable like that used for the manual choke on a carb, why would it be complicated to rig up a shut-off 'valve' mounted in the fuel line?

7. Fire sensor: Can it be that in this day and age, there is no sensor to inform of a flame? Obviously, smoke alarm sensors are not going to work in an engine bay. But there must be some sensor that can sense flames, signal an idiot lamp on the dash, or bell, and prompt the driver to activate the extinguisher and fuel cut-off.

8. Glass bowl thingies: We all love the look of these things, whether they are effective or not and whether they are safe or not. Why can't the bowl be made of some acrylic or the material used for wrist-watch faces?

Please feel free to disabuse me of any foolishness here. I am self-teaching myself everything I need to know to enjoy my truck, and these forums provide more than half of my study materials.

-Alden