Alternatives to rubber fuel hose?

[dmw319]

Seen a lot of guys on here against the rubber fuel line. What's my alternative? Best place to buy? Links would help. I like pictures too ive got a 350 small block with edelbrock 1406 carb.
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[richards72chevy]

I dont think a little rubber would hurt.There is a nice kit at autozone for your carb that goes from carb to the filter.Then buy a fuel line from classictube and modify a little bit.

[PanelDeland]

I always use a small section of rubber to allow for movement.Steel braided works well also.I think routing and condition should be shecked but I usually swap it every time I do a tune up,when I change the fuel filter.

[Lee H]

There are many kits to make a safe fuel line from the pump to the carb. Look on summit or jegs. Hard line or braided flex line, your choice. O'Reilly's carry a braided line kit, as I'm sure other local DIY stores do to. Rubber fuel lines from the pump to the carb are the number one cause of vehicle fires. The line ruptures and the the pump sprays fuel under the hood until the engine dies. A gallon or so of fuel can be pumped out before the engine uses up the fuel in the bowls or until the drive sees the smoke and gets pulled over.

[GASoline71]

The options are almost endless.

You must have some sort of flexable fuel line from the tank to the hard line on the frame, and then from the frame to the fuel pump to allow for flex of the frame and body.

From the pump to the carb, you can bend your own hard line, or run a braided line with AN fittings.

Here is the line I bent and double-flared myself out of 3/8" steel tube.

The line:



Installed in truck:



What I bent and flared it with:



I'm running a Carter "Street Pump" and a Holley 3310.

Gary

[dmw319]

cool! I like the idea of an entire hard line. right now i have an old hard line that runs up to the intake/valve cover area and then i have about 1.5ft or so that goes to the carb.

[dmw319]

Anyone have links to the hard line kits or the kind that has an inline filter?
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[GASoline71]

You can search almost any parts warehouse like Summit Racing or Jegs for fuel line kits.

But... most hard line kits are self bent.

Some of the aftermarket parts guys will probably have a stock replacement hard line for a Q-puke.

Gary

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

.........
From the pump to the carb, you can bend your own hard line, or run a braided line with AN fittings.

Here is the line I bent and double-flared myself out of 3/8" steel tube................
Gary

Did you get the steel tube locally or did you have to order it? Also what length did you use?

I've been having trouble locating one in the local auto parts stores.

[GASoline71]

My parts store has 4 foot lengths of straight tubing with 2 brashh NPT fittings preinstalled and the ends are double flared. So if you have to cut it... you have to reflare the end yourself.

They sell them from 3/16" up to 1/2". Steel, Stainless Steel, and some with a greenish coating on them. I almost wanna say they get them from Dorman... but I would have to check.

Gary

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by GASoline71

My parts store has 4 foot lengths of straight tubing with 2 brashh NPT fittings preinstalled and the ends are double flared. So if you have to cut it... you have to reflare the end yourself.

They sell them from 3/16" up to 1/2". Steel, Stainless Steel, and some with a greenish coating on them. I almost wanna say they get them from Dorman... but I would have to check.

Gary

Thanks. I just called NAPA the only one I hadn't checked with and they carry 3/8" line in 20" and 30" length.

[MikeyMan]

I needed 5/16" line for my 71 with 307 and 2bbl. 30 inch was perfect length from pump to carb inlet. I got lucky and made all the correct bends on my first try.
Hardest part is keeping the line from touching the lower radiator hose.
I highly recommend a quality tubung bender like the one in GASoline71's last pic.

[gotchamel]

Am I correct in thinking a very short section of rubber fuel line is good to absorb vibration.

[MikeyMan]

Originally Posted by gotchamel

Am I correct in thinking a very short section of rubber fuel line is good to absorb vibration.

Sure, many people have run short lenghts of rubber without problems.
I will be doing that on my 72 with 350 and 4bbl. I'll use 3/8" steel from the pump and get it close. Then I'll finish the run with rubber.
Be sure to use quality fuel hose and good hose clamps, maybe even double up on the clamps.

[68gmsee]

Originally Posted by gotchamel

Am I correct in thinking a very short section of rubber fuel line is good to absorb vibration.

Not needed between fuel pump and carb. It's needed between frame fuel line and pump.

There really isn't any noticeable vibration between fuel pump and carb and some of these fuel lines have been there for decades without problems. People that add one in there is usually for an inline filter.

[oldblue1968chevy]

Gary, Where/whatre you using for a fuel filter. Very clean good job

[GASoline71]

The filter is in the housing in the front of my dual feed fuel line for my Holley. It's got a big brass filer in it...

This is it:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G3120-2/?rtype=10

It also has a fuel pressure guage with it.

This is the line installed on the truck....



Gary

[BurnoutNova]

I have something similar but on the stock q jet. I want the least amount of rubber line possible, less change for the rubber to deteriorate and leak fuel.

[Hubscrub]

i use steel brake lines for my fuel lines they are cheap and easy to get at any local parts store in a several sizes and lengths. I use them also to replace vacuum lines.

[dmw319]

What about this guy?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-8131/

[BurnoutNova]

Originally Posted by dmw319

What about this guy?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-8131/

That works real well, but you have to either use the push on or braided AN hose. OR... flare a piece of 3/8" line with a 37 degree flaring tool and use an an tube nut and washer, which kind of turns into a pita unless you have the tools. In that case, with the edelbrock carb I'd go with that line kit, and a an6 pushon fitting and us a piece of 3/8" hose with it!

[oldblue1968chevy]

The metal line most of us use is just 3/8 brake line with double flares on the end, use one end and make your own flare on the other side (i took mine to someone lol it takes practice/tools)

thanks gary very clean

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by BurnoutNova

That works real well, but you have to either use the push on or braided AN hose. OR... flare a piece of 3/8" line with a 37 degree flaring tool and use an an tube nut and washer, which kind of turns into a pita unless you have the tools. In that case, with the edelbrock carb I'd go with that line kit, and a an6 pushon fitting and us a piece of 3/8" hose with it!

Cool!

Any link to the fitting? Couldn't find it on summit
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[dmw319]

ttt. anyone know what fitting id need to go from this kit to rubber hose?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-8131/?rtype=10

[dmw319]

Would this work?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/DER-98200/


So all in all it would be

Carb > fuel line and filter > FITTING > 3/8" rubber hose > hard line connecting to fuel pump