Aeroquip blue hose vs. braided stainless

[sled_dog]

Is there a big difference between the 2 hoses? And can I use normal -10 an fittings with the blue line? I see the pressure difference, but why would I need to have 1,000 psi capable line when the system will never see more than 60 psi of fuel pressure?

Braided

Blue

I guess the braided looks cooler, but when a 15' piece of -10 braided is almost twice the price of the blue line, does it really make a difference? Dad's old Nova had the blue line on it, but the car came to us that way.

I was kind of thinking of getting the blue for the length from the fuel cell to the y-block(the only portion of the system that will be -10 anyway) and then braided for the engine bay stuff(look), and maybe -8 blue for the return line.

 

[habitatxskate]

just go with the blue..i got a few of the metal coverings, came on mine, they don't do jack sh*t...just save yourself some money and get the standard ones, thats all you'll need

 

[MaxPF]

Is there a big difference between the 2 hoses? And can I use normal -10 an fittings with the blue line? I see the pressure difference, but why would I need to have 1,000 psi capable line when the system will never see more than 60 psi of fuel pressure?

The fittings for steel braided hose are specific to that hose type. Furthermore, steel braided teflon and steel braided rubber hose use different fittings. The blue hose you linked to is Aeroquip's Socketless hose. It is a "push-on" hose which uses barbed fittings. You simply push the hose onto the barb and the elasticity of the hose holds it in place and seals it - no clamp or crimp shell is needed up to rated pressure. It sounds scary, but I am using a similar hose on my ride right now. It works without clamps and doesn't leak

Aeroquip's site has info (including fitting types) for all their hose products. I suggest looking it over and choosing hose and matching fittings from their literature before ordering anything: http://www.aeroquip.com/pages/performance_product_info.html

 

[sled_dog]

gotcha, nevermind then. I will just spend the doh and go all braided. Car will be a bit of a show piece anyway, so the looking cool factor does apply here. Not to mention I only want to do the fuel system once. If the figures all these fuel system companies give are accurate, I figure the system will be able to feed a 1,000HP engine with the right fuel pump, but will only be feeding 300HP. Fuel system should only need injectors changed from here on.

 

[MaxPF]

gotcha, nevermind then. I will just spend the doh and go all braided. Car will be a bit of a show piece anyway, so the looking cool factor does apply here. Not to mention I only want to do the fuel system once. If the figures all these fuel system companies give are accurate, I figure the system will be able to feed a 1,000HP engine with the right fuel pump, but will only be feeding 300HP. Fuel system should only need injectors changed from here on.

One thing: I have used several brands of steel-braided rubber hose in the past. I don't remember if any of the stuff I used for fuel was Aeroquip or not, but I do know the stuff I used didn't last a particularly long time when used with gasoline. After a few years I had problems - swelling and leaks among them. Maybe it was just crummy hose? I don't know. Since then I have used nothing but steel-braided teflon for fuel and I have had zero problems. The stuff will last virtually forever.

Just my loose change, your mileage may vary, void where prohibited, all the usual disclaimers apply, etc.

 

[sled_dog]

ha thanks. I will likely get hose from the local race shop I deal with. See what he uses. Has rigs that I have seen with the same fuel systems for years now.

 

[ntsqd]

The blue stuff is Aeroquip's FC332 hose. I've used it everywhere one might normally use braided SS with no issues. In a test I saturated short samples in diesel, gasoline, & oil for over a month with no change in the ID or the OD. During the over speed to failure testing or work's turbo (180,000+
rpm) we finally managed to cause some of the hose some harm. We singed the cover of the oil drain-back hose. Had zero effect on the servicability of the hose. Very good stuff though that hose does lack on the blinger effect.

The pre-Edelbrock Russell hose was some of the worst you could get. That it would fail in use would be no surprise. No idea if or how Edelbrock has changed that.

The way I plumb drag car fuel systems is in dead soft aluminum tube. I use a bulkhead AN fitting stuck thru a tab or something at each end, and then flare the tube & use AN tube nuts & sleeves. That gives you a solid mount at each end and a secure & leak-proof way to make the transition to hose. A natural on a first or second gen Nova would be to put the front bulkhead fitting in the inner fender, if the car still has those. Support the tube every 18" if not closer with rubber lined Adel type clamps.

 

[MaxPF]

I don't think the stuff I got that time was Aeroquip, Earls, or Goodridge. It was probably plain nitrile hose with a steel braided sheath. Nitrile won't hold up very well to modern gasolines. Aeroquip claims theirs is made of some other elastomer. It's probably good stuff - Aeroquip doesn't make garbage. I know their fittings are first rate

 

[sled_dog]

Car is a First gen F-body, and won't have inner fender wells(how do you show off a bling suspension and brake system then???).

Thanks for the info. Have kicked around hard lining it, but for the moment thing I will just run braided the length of the car.