Anybody got a thread about doing your own fuel hard lines for fuel and turbo oil feed?

Where to purchase? Summit? Pegasus Auto?

What specialty tools are needed?

Is there a special crimper / bender / flare maker?

Can I add an -AN fitting to the hard line somehow?

I know there must be a thread about this out there somewhere.

Tips and tricks?

Mounting solutions?

Long story short: I'm working on my Nissan and want to do the above - the fuel feed hard line is awfully close to my downpipe, and gets hot.

And my turbo oil feed line dies every couple of years from the heat.

 

I have no experience with turbo oil feed lines,but assuming they are roughly the same size as brake hard lines,it is really simple to do.(Have done many) However money will be needed to invest in the tooling to do the job correctly and ensure a leak free seal.





The lines themselves can be bought at any good auto parts store. They are sold in various lengths and sizes. They all come straight and need to be bent into shape.



This is the do all, be all flaring tool,but it runs around 400 bucks:
Mastercool Inc., Flaring Tools


There are other flaring tools available,provided you know what type of flares you want to make,you can but individual dies. However I have no positive experience with other flaring tools and have used the Mastercool set exclusively for the last 10 years.



An apprpiate tube bender will be needed:
Eastwood Brake Line Forming Tool Pliers - Brake Line Bender - Brake Tubing Forming Pliers

There are other types available besides pliers. Find the one you like and go with it. (I really have no preference myself)


You will need a common tube cutter found in your local hardware store.
And buy extra tubing for when you **** up the first lines you try to form

 

Thank you sir!

Is there a starter kit at say harbor freight or northern tool that I could play around with?

 

Not sure. But you have the info,Google is your friend. Good luck!!

 

What specifically are you trying to do? For the fuel system I'd run hard line for the majority of the length from the pump to engine bay but you will definitely want some kind of flexible line at the engine. The amount of movement the engine sees would ruin a hard line almost immediately.

DCFIVER is correct about the tools needed for making your own lines. Only input I have there is you don't necessarily need the top of the line flaring tool for AN flares. My ridgid 37* flaring tool works great, probably partially due to the fact that single flares are very simple and success rate should be pretty high. 45* double flares (OEM) take a significant amount more practice to get right.

Another suggestion would be to look into cunifer line as opposed to stainless steel. It is slightly more expensive per foot but SO much easier to work with that you'll thank yourself for spending a couple extra bucks.

 

Wrap your lines in Aeroquip fire sleeve. You can buy it by the inch from many race supply stores. It isn't cheap but it's a lot easier than re routing fuel and oil lines.

 

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do yet, but def want to not have braided lines near the hot turbo anymore.

 

harbor freight tubing bender is a good investment and its the same thing as other stores carry for much more. i think i spent $6 on mine and it makes bending the tubing easy and kink free.

in my experience i would go with a better quality flair kit than harbor freight or what you find at autozone. the cheaper ones can be off center.

my other bit of advise is to do your research and use as few adapters as possible. dont be lazy and change everything to -an fittings just to adapt to someting else when you get to the turbo or what ever you are plumbing to. ebay is actually a very good place to look as they have a very large variety of fittings and chances are you will be able to make your connection with one fitting.

plan out your runs and with a little practice you will be a pro, it isnt very hard with the correct tools.

Levi