I am planning on running 5/16 steel line from my fuel tank to the firewall. I am not sure what I need to do to plumb it to the stock fuel flathead fuel pump. What is the the inlet and outlet fittings I need? Do I needed inverted flare fittings? What size? Do I run hose to the pump or hardline? I plan on using a fuel block with hoses to dual 97's Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks DK
you should consider a stock flexible line between the pump and hard line for engine movement. Depending on what type and model of car your flathead is in, line selection could be regular fuel line, braided stainless, etc. Look at the fittings offered from Speedway or a Russel's catalog. I thing 1/2-20 was the Ford, but not positive. RB
That is neat looking! What are the fittings that run to the inlet and outlet of the pump? thanks, Dar
Another saying you need flex from the firewall to the engine. Also, don't use copper. I'm sure a few will say they used it with no problems but copper is VERY sensitive to work stress and cracking. It's not a big deal if it's water but fuel on a hot engine is not my idea of a good time. If you want flexible-er hard line, go with FedHill Cunifer. Double flare it, tube clamp to firewall and teflon lined fuel line from there to the fuel pump. The teflon lined stuff will keep modern fuels from eating up the rubber and giving you another leak. Mine is blue on the inside!
as close as your early Ford parts store... it goes between the firewall and The fuel pump on the engine so it can rock and roll and the fuel line on the firewall is not disturbed.
If you mount the fuel block on the engine you can hardline the lines from the pump to the carbs ............
***uming early pump with Ford nuts...order a hatfull of the nuts when you buy the hose, then get some 1/4 brake lines and matching T fittings at local parts stores. Run brake lines to pump and to your carbs from the T fitting (s) and when they are bent to your satisfaction cut them off and slide on Ford nuts at the carb and pup ends. Nearly instant hardline multicarb plumbing for cheap.
Bruce thanks, I am not sure I know what Ford nuts are and pup ends. Are these compression type fittings? Is that what was used on the original 8CM fuel pumps? Does the flex hose from hardline to the inlet of the pump just thread in (flared fitting on end?)? How is the connection made with the hardline end of the hose? Is that a inverted flare connection at the hardline end? I plan on using 5/16 tubing. This is my first attempt at fuel line plumbing, so any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, DK
Picture of early one here: http://www.brattons.com/prodtype.as...ition=51&ph=&strKeywords=&&strSearchCriteria= Basically a ball ferrule compression fitting...available from all early Ford places, also Weatherhead. My recipe for lines uses the finished ends of cut of brakelines to make the T, then when all is bent and right shape the Ford fittings just slide on...they are loose parts until you tighten the first time, then ball seizes the line. Super easy. I think at least '49-50 Fords kept the early nuts...last flatheads varied from this.
I am really only familiar with '48-bake flex hose...on those, the hard line of firewall is terminated with a Ford nut. Flex line has a rigid version of Ford nut, so you first screw that into fuel pump, then the Ford nut on firewall spins into the female fitting on that end of line. This stuff mutated a couple of times in '49-53 period, but I don't follow late model stuff much...
Could you get away from the flex-hose from the firewall to the pump on the engine by putting several coils (to take up motion and vibration) in the hard line between the firewall and the pump and plumb the hard line directly to the pump.
I've seen that sort of thing done on olde race cars...typically a spiral made by wrapping a length of line around something round. I like rubber there! If no over the counter line works, get a piece of good rubber hose, like fuel injection spec...rubber hose ******s that fit into pump are readily available from hotrod places, including ones meant to fit in place of Ford nuts and seal properly against end of hole. Buy a 5/16 ****** like that and go right from pump to your hardline.
Actually, just look at any factory production car...there is ALWAYS a flex line between the hard fuel line and the engine. (fuel pump inlet) They liked rubber there too. A liability issue.
Thanks Bruce and Mike, That will be what I will do and try to plumb hardline to the 97's using Bruce's scheme. Any ideas on how I could plumb in a fuel pressure gauge as well?
If you order Ford nut's from Mac's don't order part number A9243B, they won't seal because the end isn't tapered right. Order part number 91A-9369, they are made correctly.
I ordered 16' copper coated steel fuel line and the correct nuts and ferules from Roy Nacewicz. http://www.fordscript.com/ford_bolts/index.html
That looks great! Getting the great look of copper with the strength of steel. Thanks for the idea and web site. I hadn't thought of looking at Roy's offerings.
On the pressure gauge...dig through the Weatherhead catalog. There is very likely a flare type T fitting with a pipe thread added in on the side for a pressure switch...I think I have seen such. Can perhaps find # if your local NAPA guy is no good. If not...drill and tap on a blank side or add in another T with a few extra fittings. This stuff is modular! Regular copper is one of those opinion war zones; it will either run forever with no trouble or crack next thursday and turn you into a fireball visible from the next county, depending on who you listen to... The copper used in many modern and lots of older English brakes is alloyed to sttle the fears. I like steel, like Ford did...
Bruce, again thanks. I did find a br*** tee with 1/4 inverted flare ends and 1/8 female npt side port. They are hard to find. I ordered it from an online discount place, but of course it is back ordered. I also found an adapter going from 1/4 inverted flare to 1/8 npt thread that i could put in one port of a 1/4 inverted flare tee and go with that if I can't get the Tee that is back ordered. Thanks again.
I use stainless lines mostly for my fuel lines. I did use rubber lines between the fuel filter and the fuel pump you cannot see in the picture because I have it running along the frame at the end where the fuel line is the factory pre made line as you can see at the bottom of the picture near the engine block and the oil pan. From the mechanical fuel pump I use copper lines all the way to both carburetors. Thanks Frenchy
I bought my lines from So Cal here in Phoenix you can buy it in 5 feet length. It makes it nice but you will need patience to bend it just right and doing the flares. Frenchy
The Jalopy Journal
