Steel or rubber???

[strat1960s]

I have tried looking at pictures and couldn't see what everyone else was using. Here is my question. Is it best to use a steel line instead of a rubber line for the fuel line running from the pump to the carb? I know rubber is easier, but I have access to the line bender and flaring kit so I could make a line in about 30 minutes. Also, should the fuel line go around the front of the valve cover or around the rear of it? Not looking for stock appearances, more towards safety.

Ted

PS: if you have pictures, please send them.

 

[Falcon62]

Ted - Use steel as far as you can run it. Actually, there's no need for any rubber line between the fuel pump and the carb, but is necessary between the fuel pump and tank. Whatever you decide, do not run rubber line all the way from your fuel pump to the carb! :thumbdown:

Torque lift will bend the tank hard line enough to work harden it. This can lead to cracks, and in worst cases, complete separation.

Some people like to use a short section of rubber line close to the carb so they can add an in-line fuel filter. The factory used hard lines that were routed in front of the valve cover. I think routing the line toward the rear would make more sense in the unlikely event you had a fuel line failure. That way an engine driven fan wouldn't spray the entire underside with a mist of fuel!

IIRC, I routed mine over the valve cover. Choose a route you think looks best. 8)

 

[kukm66]

Not to mention that here in Phoenix, rubber lasts about as long as your next birthday. I regularly change out all rubber gas lines from tank to line, line to fuel pump yearly just as a precation. It is cheap and not something to overlook.

 

[CobraSix]

I use fuel hose from the fuel pump to the carb, and hard line from the tank to about 3" before the pump where I put fuel hose to the pump from the hard line. That will keep the engine from breaking fuel lines. I've never had a problem with rubber fuel lines so long as you use real fuel hose and not vacuum hose. Fuel hose is about 3 times as thick and is usually reinforced (at least the stuff I use). I'll eventually run steel lines to the carb, just haven't gotten to it yet.

Slade

 

[simon]

fuel resistant rubber products like fuel lines and gaskets are usually made from hydrogenated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, commonly known as NBR. The fuel line I bought carries an international standards imprint making it legal for use with automotive and marine fuels.
I highly recommend watching out for numbers like that.
Fuel, in this case, means naphta, benzol, gasoline, diesel, or carbon thetrachloride in general.
Always insist on NBR fuel hose, not regular rubber which will swell and separate in no time.

Slade already mentioned that automotive fuel hoses are reinforced by some sort of webbing, either on the outside (which looks sorta ugly IMO)or sandwiched between an outer and an inner layer.

for convenience, I´d prefer a steel fuel line over a 20" rubber line anytime.
On my engine I only need about three inches of rubber line to connet the steel line to the fuel filter at the carb. It also allows some flexibility to avoid stress cracks on the steel fuel line.

Merry Christmas to all ya