Gas Line Type ??????

[55 Fargo]

Hi all, have any of you used any of this new gas line , that is made from some type of composite with an inner brass lining, it is a little more expensive than steel lines, but apparently shapes and bends much easier , and is not supposed to kink.

I plan on plumbin my new gas lines tomorrow, just not sure what type to go with. As I will be buying pre-made sections, with the factory double flared ends, I need to join sections, with brass unions. Is this okay to do with gas lines, my OEM had unions on them, I do know compression fittings are not leagl to use for gas line or brake lines..............Thanx Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred, here's my take on gas and brake lines. The composite lines and stainless steel lines may look nice, but as far as I'm concerned, that's where it ends. Think about it. How long did the original steel lines last. I know, you really can't answer that one for sure since it may have been replaced some years ago. However, how many steel lines have you had to replace on your newer cars. I can't remember ever having to replace one because it leaked. So, since no one can really see them, why spend the extra money unless you just like the composite or stainless lines for yourself. A steel line will probably last you as long as you have the car.

[55 Fargo]

Norm i tend to agree, mind you know one looks under my car but me. My reason to use the other type, was for ease of bending, and for really no other reason, I don't need stainless steel, steel is fine..........Fred

[Normspeed]

I think the composite stuff is easier to make decent bends. My local NAPA doesn't have it in stock yet but they do offer a prize winning puzzled look when asked about it.

On the compression fittings, the fuel line kit that came with my manifold uses compression fittings.

[Plymouthy Adams]

standard tubing pre manufactured length is great for this..and can be bought in standard lengths in approx 6 inch incrrement up to 5 foot and using inline coupling can make a smooth and easy installation along the frame rail as original.

[55 Fargo]

Thanx Tim

[Young Ed]

Norm my 94 dakota already has had the 2 lines that cross the rear axle replaced from rust damage. Was a few years ago at about 10 years of age for the truck. Now the lines are used are from napa. They are PVC coated. Don't think its brass on the inside but maybe. Anyway I was happy the way they installed and have since used them on another dakota I did. You can also cut and flare just like the steel lines.

[eric wissing]

Fred, I did all of my brake lines and gas line with the easy bend line from Fedhill. It is costly but I had no luck trying to bend the steel line between the carb and and the fuel pump. They will rent you a flaring tool also. I figured if I had to pay someone to do the work it would have costed more. The steel is probably great if you have the tools and the skill ( I don't have much of either!!). Eric

[55 Fargo]

Hi Eric, just went to the Fedhill website, impressed with the product, is pricey at $129.99 for a 25 foot roll though, it's supposedly corrosion proof alloy that is as strong as steel, but highly and easily flexible.............Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

Hi Eric, just went to the Fedhill website, impressed with the product, is pricey at $129.99 for a 25 foot roll though, it's supposedly corrosion proof alloy that is as strong as steel, but highly and easily flexible.............Fred

For that kind of money you can mess up a lot of steel line trying to bend it, and still save a lot of money.

Ed,

Don't know about the lines on the Dakota. However, we had my wifes 90 Sundance for 13 years before we sold it. My 95 Lumina Van is now 12 years old. The Sundance still had the original brake and gas lines. The van is also still running the original lines.

[Young Ed]

Norm it could be somewhat of a mileage thing too. They would be exposed to more salt ext. My truck has 168K on it and the other dakota I replaced them on is well over 200K.

[Norm's Coupe]

Ed, all that mileage could explain it. The Sundance only had about 64,000 miles on it when we sold it. My van only has 80,000 miles on it now. You kicked a lot more salt up there than we have. Still though, if you had that much mileage and the steel lines lasted that long, I'd say they held up pretty good. None of us will probably put that many miles on our old cars as long as we have them. So, a steel line would last a long time, or as long as we have the vehicle.

Don't get me wrong, if someone wants the more expensive lines for bending purposes or looks, that's fine. It's a personal choice, but like I said, if for bending purposes, you can mess up a lot of steel lines and still save money over the price Fred posted.

[Young Ed]

The PVC coated lines I got are very easy to bend and supposedly kink-proof. They were about a dollar more over the same size plain steel lines. Way better anyway than that $129 stuff.

[55 Fargo]

Replacing brake or gas lines for corrosion, is almost unheard of up here, we used salt, but mostly sand, it's too cold a lot of times for salt use.

My 1994 Ranger daily driver has 124000 miles on her, the undercarriage looks very good yet, they don't or never have used much salt here, there is surface rust on this truck, where the paint flaked off or wore thin, but that all, no rust through at all

[55 Fargo]

Ed, where did you buy the stuff, been phoning around Winnipeg, nobody has it, not sure why it's a big city and nobody stocks anything but steel lines here

[Young Ed]

My local napa has it. I just looked and couldn't find it online though. I did find they have spring steel armored brake lines like what came on our cars from the factory.

[55 Fargo]

Thanx Ed, NAPA up here only has the steel lines. Even though it is still UAP-NAPA, they do not have all of the USA store products, this is a real PITA at times. Porbably going to have to go with steel lines as nobody seems to have anything else.......Fred

[Young Ed]

I wonder if they could order them for you with the proper part #?

[55 Fargo]

I have tried with other items with no success, but if you do happen to have a part #, I can give it a shot.........Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

There is another option. Don't know the cost though. My brother in law bought a roll of brass tubing to use for a gas line on his 36 Ford. He used that because he wanted a gas line without any connections between the tank and fuel pump. However, it is also easier to bend. Of course you have to do your own flaring and buy the nuts for it.

[55 Fargo]

Okay, I am going to try polymar pre-made 5/16 line in 3 - 60 inch lengths, I will need 2 union joints, is that acceptable.How many joints are considered acceptable.

The polymar tubing is easy to bend, and does not kink, it's about $4 more than the steel of the same length...............Fred

[Don Coatney]

How many joints are considered acceptable.

All joints are considered acceptable except the one that leaks.

[Plymouthy Adams]

things must be real tough in Canada... never seen where you had to have a union joint...

the number is not critical Fred..just as long as they be tight...

[55 Fargo]

I went and bought plain old steel pre-made 5/16 line in 60 inch lengths, I have formed mounted and ran the new gas line from the tank up to the front, it has 2 union joints, instead of the 1 factory joint. I am still shaping the front section. I did not find it too bad to work with, still need to buy some mounting attachments to fasten it in a few extra locations than what was OEM, pleased with the results.

Last summer I bought a NOS rubber hose that goes from the brass connection to the fuel pump, but there is a plastic flare and fitting on one side, the plastic just fell apart on me, the hose is probably useless now. Some NOS is New Old Garbage, but maybe I can fix it. I currently have a homemade rubber gas hose and flare fitting on the fuel pump to this little brass block, it works just fine, may just leave it alone..........Fred

[Norm's Coupe]

Fred,

You really don't need a flare on the section from the fuel pump to the gas line. I just have a gas line hose pushed over each with a hose clamp. It won't leak, unless the hose goes bad. Did that right after buying the car in 1995 because the hose was bad.