Braided Hose

[Geek's 65]

Was reading an article on braided hoses and got to thinking about using braided hose instead of the stainless line from the fuel pump to the input of the fuel filter on a 65 327/300. Other than it's not stock, any other insights on whether this is a smart/dumb thing to do?

Thanks.

 

[John Mcgraw]

I use a lot of braided hose on my resto-rods because it looks nice. My 59 has braided hose on every single hose in the eigine compartment, and it really looks nice. That being said, there is no reason to use this hose to replace a hard line other than looks. You will find that by the time you buy all the special fittings and the hose, than it can get pretty expensive, and you will also find that most hose is not compatible with barbed hose fittings that fit standard rubber hoses. A lot of people think that they can just slip the hose over a barbed fitting and throw a clamp around it, but it does not work that way. Once you make the comittment to use stainless hose, you need to use the fittings that are compatible with it all the way from one end to the other.
I will use hard stainless line where ever possible and will only use braided line where flex will cause a problem such as the final link to the engine. Some of the A/C fittings for Braided stainless line are over $30 per fitting! The hard stainless line will polish up just like chrome and will look great for years.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[IH2LOSE]

I am happy I am done with braided hoses myself. Allthough they look real nice they are exspencive and they kept bitting my fingers when creating/installing them.

You must cut the shiething on them,and no mater how carefull I was sliding on the fittings I always got bit.

I also used the braided lines quite a bit on my 62.

Mark VNV used quite a bit on his his car maybee he had better luck.

Mine all all leak free the first time but they sure cut me up

 

[Geek's 65]

See there? Two posts and I know a whole lot more than just reading the article. Thanks to you both for your time and sharing.

Geek

 

[bossvette]

I used Areoquip "socketless" hose and AN fittings on my 76 and my Old Yellow Truck it does get expensive for fittings and adaptors. It comes in blue and black but is easier then stainless to work with and can handle the pressure of Fuel Injection.

 

[Kid_Again]

Yup, just converted my SB to braided hose and used the "VNV (Mark Richman) Method. Wrap the hose with tape where you want to cut it and use a cutoff tool to do the job. Some fraying is inevitable. I used leather gloves for outdoor work to smooth the strands and then re-taped it thin masking tape, cut the masking tape width in half because I left that on when I pushed the hose throught the nut.

Clamp the AN fitting in a vise (use soft aluminum jaw pads) and push the hose/nut combination down firmly while catching the threads. No leaks first time. Looks great. Horribly expensive and you need he right tools. You could get away with two AN wrenches of the correct size (I use -6) and the vise pads.

Good luck.

 

[JohnZ]

Yup, it does get kinda spendy when you work with Aeroquip AN fittings and hose - I keep an inventory of the most commonly-used fittings and #6, #8, and #10 hose on hand so I don't have to order onesy-twosies and wait for them to arrive; used a lot of them on my Cobras and Grand Sport. Leather gloves are good for avoiding multiple tiny puncture wounds.

 

[paul67]

My Edelbrock/Russell setup has been trouble-free.

This is the 90-degree adaptor for the fuel pump end.

 

[Geek's 65]

Paul,
Thank you for the pictures. That's just what I was thinking about.

The rest of you too. Getting the experience included with the info makes it much more valuable.
Geek

 

[korvettekarl]

Expensive! Other than that everyone else has said it already. I have been using it for about 12 years now on everything I build. I usually average around $450. a car.

 

[paul67]

Geek,
That line has been leak-proof. As others have noted the components are not inexpensive but what price a fire? My former Holley was a nightmare for leaks. I have rebuilt/preserved the original Holley for a future owner but I don't trust the darn thing.

 

[Geek's 65]

That line has been leak-proof. As others have noted the components are not inexpensive but what price a fire?

And THAT your honor is exactly why I am looking at this. When I was looking to buy my car, there were three that I found here in SOCAL that were fire morts. All carburator/fuel line between the fuel pump and carb related. I do not want to join that club.

Thanks again for all the insight.

Geek

 

[paul67]

Geek,
I took some flak from the purists for that conversion but the lack of cabin stink, blown power valves, and fuel pooling on the intake makes driving a pleasure and not a risk. The AN connections are pretty tight. I don't particularly like blue and red so mine are done in engine heat aluminum paint.

I wish you well with your project!

 

[John Mcgraw]

If you do very much of this stuff, you will find a set of cutters invaluable! You can just go over to your local Home Depot and buy a set of cable cutters, or you can pay the hose makers big bucks for theirs! The cutters have curved jaws and will cut right through any of the hoses with ease. You do not even need to put any tape around the hose, and no frayed ends. It takes about 2 seconds to get a perfect cut on any stainless braided hose. anything larger than 10 AN hose will not cut with the cable cutters since the jaws are not big enough, but anything less will cut like a champ.

Regards. John McGraw

 

[firstgear]

Geek,
I took some flak from the purists for that conversion but the lack of cabin stink, blown power valves, and fuel pooling on the intake makes driving a pleasure and not a risk. The AN connections are pretty tight. I don't particularly like blue and red so mine are done in engine heat aluminum paint.

I wish you well with your project!

everytime I see your engine I drool.....I really like how it looks!!!

 

[paul67]

Thanks Firstgear. It's a 327/300 in L79 disguise of course, another faux pas on my part. I think it's also one of the few 1967s left with a small block .

 

[BarryK]

Paul
you mean '67 were available with a SB? I thought ALL '67's were either 427/400's with air or 427/435's plus the L89's and L88's of course! And all either red or black.

 

[paul67]

Barry,
Yep, this one is rare! One of those mysterious factory 1967s with a small block and a stinger hood. And an L79 with Powerglide. I'm thinking of taking it to Arizona this winter....

 

[BarryK]

yep, a true rare one Paul. I think it would easily fetch over $100K at BJ.
it must be a one-off, one of a kind, '67 SB COPO car

 

[paul67]

All kidding aside, it would be intriguing to see what a clean-as-a-whistle 1967 327 Coupe would go for at Barrett-Jackson. If people pine for originality it would take me a day or so to re-install the ralley wheels with whitewall tires, cast iron 327/300 intake with rebuilt Holley, stamped steel valve covers, and SB hood.