Fuel Line (Beat to Death)

[bad 71 chevy]

So my question is what are the best fuel line to run. My plan is to just use 1/2" aluminum or stainless hard line and swagelok fittings. I am doing an 6.0 Ls in a 1971 C10 Long bed. All help appreciated. Looking for the pro and cons of each set up. The reason i am leaning towards the swagelok is i have an abundance of fitting at my disposal.

I have a stock style jimmy/burb tank under the bed as of now and am planning on doing an external pump. I plan on going to e85 at some point as well.

Thanks.

[davepl]

3/8 is more than enough. If you can bear all the tough bending, go stainless hard line... that's what I did.

I had some good bruises on my quad from the bender, because stainless is a bear to bend. But it sure turns out nice in the end!

Aluminum is MUCH easier to bend but doesn't provide the same level of underbody protection for the fuel line that stainless steel does.

Keep in mind external pumps can be very annoying for sound. Heck, my Camaro has the giant Aeromotive coffee-can pump IN TANK and I have a fuel pump controller to slow it down under light loads, and it's still annoying. Stay in-tank if you can!

[BR3W CITY]

I don't trust aluminum lines. Burst pressure still wouldn't be until like 8-1200psi, and I know were talking fuel here, not brakes...but I just don't love them yet.

As for stainless hard line, always a great choice as long as you can deal with the bending like davepl says. They suck to flare and you CANNOT use any compression type fitting into them, but they are strong AF and last forever. You do need to be a little cautious of strain on vibration areas due to material fatigue however, as they have little flex.

1/2" line only if your planning on making north of like 800 and also plan on converting all the other fittings to -8 or larger.

[68c10airstream]

Many years as a mechanic, turned power plant worker for the last 17 years now retired. Out steam plant was full of stainless hand formed lines with swagelock fittings that saw 1500 psi steady and not a single leak. If you think keeping fuel from leaking at 65 psi, try superheated dry steam at 1500 psi. As you made plant rounds you listened for hissing snakes, because if you walked/ran through a leak area it cut you in half. Valve packing leaks would eventually notch a chrome plated steel shaft and warrant replacement.

[bad 71 chevy]

Like stated I'm wanting 1/2" because eventually will be a blonwn set up on e85 and only want to do my fuel system once. Also My dad was a turbine tech/mechanic for 30 years and I have all of his brand new fittings and everything he used. Also what people forget is wall thickness on a 3/8" makes the I.d around 5/16 and 1/2" is just over3/8"