Fuel Line Kinking

[Cubman]

When I swapped a new gas tank into my K10, I decided to replace all the rubber fuel hoses at the same time. The 3/8" hose that goes from the hardline on the frame to the inlet of the fuel pump has to make a 180* and a 90*. It was fine when I put it in, but now the line kinks in one of the two places. I was able to 'wedge it' against the return line to get home, but I need a more permanent solution. I got some 5/16" fuel line and bent up a 180* elbow and a 90* elbow. Will this work ok? Are there any coatings on brake lines that will be hurt by gas? Will the line be too restrictive for fuel to flow properly?

 

[76zimmer]

5/16" will be fine. Are you using brake line to make fuel line out of? I don't think it should be a problem, all the lines to the pump don't really have any pressure on them.

 

[wazzabie]

Is this on a K5? Do your fuel lines have a loop (180) at the end near the fuel pump or do the lines just come out straight?

On my 78 K5 I have to 180 some rubber fuel line to get to the pump. I just got some replacement fuel lines and the have the 180 bend in the line.

I'm interested in what your setup is.

 

[Cubman]

5/16" will be fine. Are you using brake line to make fuel line out of? I don't think it should be a problem, all the lines to the pump don't really have any pressure on them.

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, use the metal brake line as fuel line, only in the bends where a rubber line would kink.

Is this on a K5? Do your fuel lines have a loop (180) at the end near the fuel pump or do the lines just come out straight?

On my 78 K5 I have to 180 some rubber fuel line to get to the pump. I just got some replacement fuel lines and the have the 180 bend in the line.

I'm interested in what your setup is.

The lines come straight out and end in front of the fuel pump, so the hose has to double back to connect to the fuel pump.

Where did you find your replacement lines? Where they expensive? I just went to the parts store and got 3/8" fuel hose.

I took some pictures, they aren't great because I took them without seeing where the camera was pointing. I hope the moderators don't mind me posting a link, because I would like to get this fixed before the truck dies in the middle of the road again.

Just take out the space between photo and bucket to see the pictures:
s187.photo bucket.com/albums/x183/Cubman1944/Fuel%20Line%20Problem/

 

[76zimmer]

linky no worky

 

[Big Blzn]

I have seen those little slinky, spring like things that go over various sizes of hose and are made to allow a hose to bend some pretty tight radiuses and not let the hose kink. Any parts stores I have been in carries them.

 

[wazzabie]

We have the same set-up with the fuel line. The replacement line I got was from Inline Tube. The fuel line actually comes off the frame and makes a 180. The problem is that it is impossible to get this line to install with out taking out the engine and frame mount. The originals I'm able to slide out.

What is different with my setup is that the fuel pump has the fitting more like the lower one so the rubber hose does not have to make the S shape. Both of my hoses on the stock line makes a 180. You should look at getting a different fuel pump. That might be an easy fix.

What year is you truck?

http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/...ine Problem/?action=view&current=DSC02797.jpg

 

[Cubman]

My K10 is a 1978 with the 400/350/203. I made up the line with the metal elbows today, added pictures to the same album. I could have made it one piece, but this will work just as good. There were too many variables and I made the elbows in the parts store using their tools. This line does vibrate, so I will zip tie it to the frame so it doesn't vibrate.

 

[wazzabie]

My K10 is a 1978 with the 400/350/203. I made up the line with the metal elbows today, added pictures to the same album. I could have made it one piece, but this will work just as good. There were too many variables and I made the elbows in the parts store using their tools. This line does vibrate, so I will zip tie it to the frame so it doesn't vibrate.

That that looks like it will work in removing the S shape in the line. The other option that I mentioned would be to look for a different fuel pump.

Would you mine taking some pics along the frame rail going back to the tank of the fuel and brake line on your 78. I'm interested to see how it is connected. Is the main hardfuel line obove or below the brake line. They both should share the same fitting. The return line has it's own fittings.

Also do you have the smog pump on your 78 chevy? I do not have the smog pump thus this is a non-cali emissions k5.

 

[Cubman]

That that looks like it will work in removing the S shape in the line. The other option that I mentioned would be to look for a different fuel pump.

Would you mine taking some pics along the frame rail going back to the tank of the fuel and brake line on your 78. I'm interested to see how it is connected. Is the main hardfuel line obove or below the brake line. They both should share the same fitting. The return line has it's own fittings.

Also do you have the smog pump on your 78 chevy? I do not have the smog pump thus this is a non-cali emissions k5.

I would like to replace the fuel pump, but I have already dumped more money into this rust bucket than I care to admit.

I will check on the line for you this afternoon. I don't know what a smog pump is, so I don't think I have one. The gas tank vents at the sender, no charcoal canister, so I don't think it is emissions equipped.

I swapped the fuel filter today, I was a little shocked when I saw the bottom of the filter. The part I could see looked a little dark, but rust flakes were building up on the bottom.

 

[Cubman]

Here are the fuel line fix and old fuel filter:

 

[wazzabie]

I would like to replace the fuel pump, but I have already dumped more money into this rust bucket than I care to admit.

I will check on the line for you this afternoon. I don't know what a smog pump is, so I don't think I have one. The gas tank vents at the sender, no charcoal canister, so I don't think it is emissions equipped.

I swapped the fuel filter today, I was a little shocked when I saw the bottom of the filter. The part I could see looked a little dark, but rust flakes were building up on the bottom.

I hear ya. I'm dumping a lot of cash to get this chevy running again also. The main fuel line rusted on from the inside out. It sat with water in the lines for a long time. I would really appreciate it it if you check on the line and share some pics along the frame. I pulled the hard fuel line that goes in the frame both the main and return. I'm not sure how it should be reassembled. I think the main fuel line goes above the brake line.

You may want to consider getting a metal fuel filter from Wix. I've heard that the plastic ones can break easily. That would be dangerous.

Do you have a pickup or k5?

You do not have the cali-emisions. The cali emisions include the smog pump and charcol canister. So that is a plus with your rig. One less thing to go bad a replace. I think what we have is called the heavy duty emissions. I know my rig was built in Fremont and shipped out of cali for use in cold climates.

 

[Cubman]

I hear ya. I'm dumping a lot of cash to get this chevy running again also. The main fuel line rusted on from the inside out. It sat with water in the lines for a long time. I would really appreciate it it if you check on the line and share some pics along the frame. I pulled the hard fuel line that goes in the frame both the main and return. I'm not sure how it should be reassembled. I think the main fuel line goes above the brake line.

You may want to consider getting a metal fuel filter from Wix. I've heard that the plastic ones can break easily. That would be dangerous.

Do you have a pickup or k5?

You do not have the cali-emisions. The cali emisions include the smog pump and charcol canister. So that is a plus with your rig. One less thing to go bad a replace. I think what we have is called the heavy duty emissions. I know my rig was built in Fremont and shipped out of cali for use in cold climates.

It is a pickup, I was concerned about melting, but the one I replaced was fine. I looked at filters with replaceable elements, but these filters are only $2.84 so I'll stick to them unless I have problems.

I took some pictures.
From the firewall forward, at the front of the truck from top to bottom: main fuel line, brake line, return fuel line. You can see the return fuel line moves to the top of the frame just before the firewall.

Here is a picture where the frame kicks up under the cab. Order is return line, main fuel line, then brake line. The return line has its own clip; the main line and brake line share a clip. The stock routing has the main fuel line coming through a grommet in the frame, I found it easier to run both lines over the top of the frame when installing the tank solo.

Here is a picture looking back to show the brake line routing:

I can get other pictures if you need them. Hope it helps.

 

[wazzabie]

Thank you! This is what I needed to see.