How to replace brake and fuel lines for 1948 DeSoto?

[MarcDeSoto]

I am currently restoring my 1948 DeSoto 3-window coupe. I am trying to decide whether to buy the pre-bent lines, or make my own using the old lines as a guide. Should I buy the new stainless or the original steel tubing? The cost to buy the pre-made kits is about $300. Does anyone have any advice on this? Thanks, Marc.

[louie the fly]

Hey Marc. Not sure how things work in your neck of the woods (not even sure where your woods are) but the brake places I've used in my area, in South Australia, will fit the nuts and do the flares. Just measure the length of the original tube with a bit of string taped to it at strategic intervals. Then when you get them home you can bend them yourself with a small hand held tube bender. Then just tweak them to fit. That's what I did. As for SS or steel tube, depends on what you're doing. Weren't the brake lines painted black originally?

Cheers

[MarcDeSoto]

Thanks Louie from a looooonnnnnggggg ways away! How's the surf down there? Thanks for the great advice. I've bent tubing before, so as long as I can get someone to do the flares and nuts, it should be easy with the old ones as a guide. I guess the stainless tubing doesn't rust.

[louie the fly]

Marc, I live about 45 minutes from the beach, and I hate the salt water. Full of sharks & things. But the surf is pretty good they say. Especially on the south coast.

I tried doing some flares once. Had the proper tools in a rod club I was once in. I've been doing this kind of stuff for like 30 years, but I couldn't get the knack of getting the flare right so they would seal. So I left it to the experts. It didn't cost all that much either. I reckon it's money well spend since my family were going to ride in the car. 48 DeSoto 3W hey? Got some pics? My dad had a 48 Plymouth sedan when I was a boy. Big, ugly, & very cool.

Louie

[Jim Saraceno]

If you can bend the tubing, flare kits are cheap. You can also borrow them from some parts stores.

Simple brake line tubing works fine for both brakes and fuel. For a little more "Armor flex" or something like that (someone help me out here) is a little easier to work with than the standard steel line.

I would think stainless steel is a bit overkill but go for it if you like it.

[TJM70's_48]

I need to replace the brake lines on my car, and have always been frustrated with making double flares with the tool...I am considering trying a set from ebay.

This is a lot less than the $300 you mentioned. Price seems reasonable, but, I do not have any other knowledge about them. I haven't bought a set, yet.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380244089397&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

To me, at least, it seems like it could be a time and frustration saver. Anyone had any experience with this seller?

[Don Coatney]

Making good double flares is not that difficult. Buy a good quality tool and follow the directions. The tool will pay for itself in one job.

[TJM70's_48]

Just another part of why I love being around this forum...encouragement!

I guess the only way to get competent with the flares is to do them...

[TodFitch]

Just another part of why I love being around this forum...encouragement!

I guess the only way to get competent with the flares is to do them...

Like Don, I also got at good quality double flare tool kit and it did not take long to learn to get results that consistently sealed. Like Don wrote, just follow the directions.

My problem is getting all the bends measured and made properly so that everything lines up and looks good. It usually takes me a couple of tries to get a piece I am happy with. For that reason buying one piece that is cut to length and pre-flared would be bad for me... I'd need to buy a couple of pieces of that length to be able to get one properly bent.

And do get a good tubing bending tool... It makes a huge difference.

[louie the fly]

Making good double flares is not that difficult. Buy a good quality tool and follow the directions.

I think that's part of the problem I had - there were no instructions in the kit. It was a good quality kit (Sykes Pickavant), but no instructions. There were plenty of experts to tell me how to do it, but at the end of the day, not many of them had actually done one. I buggered up a fair amount of tube. I have a couple of new lengths hanging in my shed still.

[Don Coatney]

I think that's part of the problem I had - there were no instructions in the kit. It was a good quality kit (Sykes Pickavant), but no instructions. There were plenty of experts to tell me how to do it, but at the end of the day, not many of them had actually done one. I buggered up a fair amount of tube. I have a couple of new lengths hanging in my shed still.

Have you ever used google?

http://www.stonefisk.com/doc-arc/S_P_BrakeFlaring_Instructions.pdf

[louie the fly]

Have you ever used google?

http://www.stonefisk.com/doc-arc/S_P_BrakeFlaring_Instructions.pdf

Several times. I wish the internet was around back then.