Every parts store sells a mild steel tubing with protective coating made specifically for fuel line. Same thing the car manufacturers use. It is cheap and easy to bend and flare. Will last at least 20 years before it rusts out, longer if you take care of the car. How long do you expect to own it?
3/8" brake line works exceptionally well. It's easy to bend, and if done with a cheap bender you can pick up for like $10 at a parts store it'll look clean and professional. DEFINATELY wouldn't use copper with compression fittings... That's scary (and yes I'm sure people have done it, but why take a chance with fuel?!)
"3/8 steel flare that they sell by the stick with fittings" ? Are you guys refering to ready made brake lines? I use it all the time for gaslines. It is especially good to fasten the rubber flex hose on the end with a clamp. The flare prevents it from sliding off. By measuring exactly the length you need, you can get different lengths to make up the correct length. It is easier than using coiled tubing and gives a nice stright line when your done.
That makes sense but it never hurts to ask when there are that many experienced builders to chime in. Always appreciate the inputs!
Back in the day, when Mother MOPAR was issuing the Max Wedge and Hemi cars she warned us from using aluminum or copper tubing for fuel lines. It seems that copper and aluminum are good conductors of heat and are prone to vapor lock. Steel is a poor conductor and stainless is even worse. That fact makes them a better choice. Ma Mopar had some good engineers working on this and I'm thinkin that I could believe them!
Bought Stainless Steel line through Amazon for just over a buck a foot. Thought I would post so someone in the future could see this. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006K8MC34/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I was going to mention the heat thing about copper, but was beat to the draw.... Used it on a welder engine once, it kept quitting on hot days. Took a long time to figure it out and put in steel!
I used 3/8ths aluminum,, I had used the greenish steel line on my daily driver and it perforated 5 years down the road so I don't buy it anymore..Ready cut and flared steel lines are ez also. I am running a carbed engine.
DirtyDave, the link you posted to amazon says that it is "zinc plated stainless steel" what the hell is that? If it is stainless, who needs zinc plating!
We get this nickel silver stuff from a locale distributer flares and bends really nice also holds a polish well if your bent that way.
After further review prolly not Stainless based on it attracts a magnet? I didnt buy because it said Stainless, bought based on ~buck a foot.
Over in the UK we use Cunifer for brake lines and, sometimes, for fuel lines. It is an alloy of copper and nickel - doesn't corrode like steel and doesn't work harden like copper. Very easy to do good flares. Looks nice too. It is the product of choice for any quality restoration. Expensive here and doubly so in the USA.
I can't beleive it took until post 33 for someone to mention brake line. that's what I've always used. cheap and easy to get. not that it matters anymore, but if I recall correclty NSRA won't approve copper line for safety designation.
Another vote for steel tube from your local auto parts store. . It looks good and will last along time.
I bought my last roll of steel fuel line from the autoparts for 18 bucks. 25', easy to work with and genuine steel fuel line.
I've used steel and aluminum both. Steel is much harder to bend or flare, and prices for the two are about equal. Last one I did in aluminum, and it was $16 for a 25' roll. Very easy to bend and work with.
I pick up the sections of 5/16" line at NAPA,,it's already double flared and they carry br*** fittings to put the lines together to increase the length. HRP
I use "Bundyflex" sections also because they are straight and look professional when in place. Usually you can locate and electric fuel pump or fuel filter in a strategic place so that you don't need excessive distances requiring rolled tubing. If you plan it out you can do a neat and clean job. Don't get coerced into using large tubing made to keep up with a high HP race car if you are driving it on the street. 5/16 is fine for a street driven hopped up engine. How many times do you actually run wide open for more than a block or 2? It won't run out of fuel. '
Funny you should ask.... Plan on running steel on our '49 Ford. Got a new poly tank after we discovered the old tank was like swiss cheese. Car sat for 6+ years with gas in the tank! I'll take the old line out this week and have our pals at NAPA bend up new ones.
Use steel tubing. You can but in 25ft rolls at most parts houses. This stuff bends fairly easily too. That is what I always use.
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