69 GMC "Ol' Blue"

[mjensen]

Yup...snapped the little bugger right off I'll have to lube it up better next time I guess.

Yeah, it was nice to dink around and learn. I'm going to have to keep at it if I plan on welding my own exhaust...not sure I will, but it never hurts to dream

[Mustard72]

Those frigging things snap off so easy it makes you wonder how they don't snap off every time you use it.

[mjensen]

Yeah, Eastwood sells just the die and I wonder if the quality is any better.
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[mjensen]

Got the replacement tool today, and was actually successful in creating a double flare on a piece of scrap. Next weekend I will try and form up some lines.

[rgunlock]

Just went through your build, and gotta say I really like that you've kept your humor through this, but maybe that's just for us Coming along great! I've got the same Eastwood tube bender and it works great, but when you have to put multiple bends into the same line at different angles you're likely to get a good reminder of that Bud Lite Blue you are aiming to put on your truck

[mjensen]

Thanks Rick!

Yeah, I have to keep my sense of humor, because at the end of the day it's really me being my worst enemy. Learn and move on right?

[mjensen]

Well after a week of searching, I've finally found out that they don't make bulkheads for the front because they never existed the hoses actually go through the frame and connect directly to the hard lines. Now I feel better knowing that I didn't lose some uber rare option

I'm going to try and call my local hydraulic hose supplier and see how much it would cost me to have them make me up some 24" lines.

[mjensen]

Ok, there will not be any update today other than the fact that the board set me straight in what my brake line setup should be. I went over to my local Evco House of Hose and they're going to make me up some new front and rear hoses. It was cheaper to have them make them than to buy the extended lines from various online suppliers (by well over 1/2). I still need to order Ts and elbows and such, then I hope to make progress next weekend.

[mjensen]

Ok, I couldn't help myself. I HAD to bend up a line just to see how well I could do it. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

[Mustard72]

Looks good. Keep it up! I'm probably going to be redoing a bunch of mine once I find another frame, too. I don't have that Eastwood bender, though. Might have to consider an upgrade.

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by Mustard72

Looks good. Keep it up! I'm probably going to be redoing a bunch of mine once I find another frame, too. I don't have that Eastwood bender, though. Might have to consider an upgrade.

Thanks! Yeah, I'm really happy with both Eastwood benders. They work great. I'm still not sure about the flaring tool. If I was going to do more flares, I would spend the money on a flaring tool.

[mjensen]

I picked up my hoses today from the local supply shop. First thing I notice is that I used the wrong hole to measure the length needed for the fronts. No biggie I guess if I just use the hole that I measured to. I am going to have to make sure their not too close to the exhaust (or my planned exhaust ). But something a little more serious that I didn't think about. Did you all know that the front wheels turn right and left? Yup, I don't think I put enough thought into this before I ordered the lengths, so I may be ordering again. The fronts I ended up making 24" long with the 4" lift, but they don't even seem to leave enough slack. On a good note, my measurements for the rear will work...

[mud.man.rj]

Don't turn the wheels or hit bumps and it will be good, sucks when something just isn't right, you will get it right next time.

[mjensen]

Ha...yeah it is really disappointing, but mistakes are going to be made. I'm just going to keep moving forward with these, and replace them at a later date.

[rgunlock]

Its kind of hard to tell from pictures, and mine is a different year than yours, but my brakeline from Rancho for my truck with 4" lift is about 23" from the frame to caliper best I can measure with a tape measure. Looks like mine has a little more slack than yours though (might be picture angle?)

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

Its kind of hard to tell from pictures, and mine is a different year than yours, but my brakeline from Rancho for my truck with 4" lift is about 23" from the frame to caliper best I can measure with a tape measure. Looks like mine has a little more slack than yours though (might be picture angle?)

Yeah, I've read a lot of posts on here and I was certain 24" was going to be too long, but I wanted to give myself room. A little of it is that they are just sitting in the holes not bolted up, but I definitely can't run them where I was thinking I wanted them. Oh well...who needs brakes right?

[mjensen]

Ok, I have a minor update. I was able to start on the rear brake line. I don't have it clipped in yet, but the bending turned out ok I think.

I know the line isn't perfectly straight, but as I work from back to front I straighten it as I go.

[mud.man.rj]

Some things like brake lines sure take a lot of time don't they, looks good though. I have been doing a bit of wiring today on dual elect fans, not fast either. I wired one to ign with a switch and the other to a sensor for backup when if it does get that hot idling.

[mjensen]

Thank you! Yes, takes a lot of time and ambition Sounds like you made some good progress!

Today I finished up my brake lines! Flaring and all. I'm pretty happy with the results.

[rgunlock]

That bender got a real workout - looking good!

[mjensen]

Originally Posted by rgunlock

That bender got a real workout - looking good!

Why yes it did! I've been very pleased with the benders, they worked out nice. The flaring tool...eh still on the fence about that

Thanks Rick! I appreciate the kind words.

[mjensen]

Yesterday after helping my mom move, I was able to spend a little time on the old girl. I've finished all the hard lines, and while not perfect, I think they turned out pretty good.

[mud.man.rj]

very nice quality job on the lines. Looks like you do it for a living.

[Mustard72]

Far closer to perfect than what mine will be. I'll be tackling that in a week or two, as well.

[mjensen]

Thanks guys! I'm pretty happy about how they turned out. Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to do next.
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