bending fuel line

[wazzabie]

I spent about 5hrs today bending fuel line for a 78 k5 blazer. It is one long piece that has some complex bends. I bought a really nice bender off ebay that makes great bends. It is not perfect but should be close enough. The only thing NAPA had long enough in stock was 3/8 fuel line in 25ft sections. I could have made two pieces but instead I went for one long piece.

Anyone else here bends there own fuel line. Will I be ok running brake line for fuel line? It has a copper coating instide the steel line.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Steel brake and fuel line are the same thing.

 

[sweetk30]

i custom make them at work all the time up here in the rust belt of the north east.

 

[wazzabie]

i custom make them at work all the time up here in the rust belt of the north east.

It took me for ever to bend this. It still did not come out 100% like the original. Any tips on bending the line?

 

[sweetk30]

live in the rust belt and get practice.

and know you will never get it perfect.

 

[K5dreamer]

hey K30 - do you heat your lines? im bending 3/8in fuel line for my 6.2, the hardline from the lift pump to the fuel filter, and the line keeps kinking any time i get remotely close to 90*. probably starts kinking around 45*, im using a bending tool with a channel for the line, but the pipe starts to bend outside the tool, then kinks.

 

[cegusman]

hey K30 - do you heat your lines? im bending 3/8in fuel line for my 6.2, the hardline from the lift pump to the fuel filter, and the line keeps kinking any time i get remotely close to 90*. probably starts kinking around 45*, im using a bending tool with a channel for the line, but the pipe starts to bend outside the tool, then kinks.

Find a picture online of the type of bender you are using. It all depends on the bender. Some work great others just kink everything. I am kind of interested because I will bending some 3/8" soon for my 6.2

 

[K5dreamer]

interesting........ didnt do any looking, kinda bought it on an impulse, and realize now its crap. I may be able to modify it to make it work right. need to add a second lever and roller surface to press the pipe around the bender.

 

[wazzabie]

I bought several tube benders.

Some will krimp the tubes.

The best will not. Go with this
http://www.drillspot.com/pimages/291/29172_300.jpg

These work the best.

I placed the tubes out in the sun for several hours before bending them. Not sure if it helped.

Also where did you get your line? I got some nice stuff from NAPA. It came in a 25ft spool that I had to unwind. I used a differnt tool to unwind it.

 

[jimmyfloyd]

Yeah, I will need to be bending my own fuel lines when I get my new tank for my 70. Looks like there is some good information in here for when I get to buying the tool.

Either that, or I need to make friends with sweetK30 and driver over there and have him bend me some

 

[K5dreamer]

wazzabie - thats what mine looks like, except without the top handle in the picture to roll the pipe around. I have to manually hold the pipe, and pull it around the bending tool while holding the tool in the other hand. I even tried laying the pipe on a 2x4 and rolling the tool up the pipe, still didnt work right.

so like i said, ill be adding that second handle somehow, ive always been good at macgeivering stuff.

 

[ryoken]

I've used this one for YEARS, works awesome......

i've used sand in a pinch before..... i hear you can use ice too, that sounds like a pain tho.....

 

[wazzabie]

I've used this one for YEARS, works awesome......

i've used sand in a pinch before..... i hear you can use ice too, that sounds like a pain tho.....

When you get to 3/8 fuel line this is underpowered. just my 2cents

 

[ryoken]

never had an issue.....

 

[USSkoval]

Dang! All one line? I usually use the shorter pieces (like 3 total usually) because it makes it a lot easier to run them like factory. Plus it can be taken apart later, if needed. I'm usually doing cars though, with more complex frame rails to run along.