Post overload! Sorry everybody, but I gots questions...

Been doing the fuel bowl rebuild on my '96, 7.3 Powerstroke E350 van, and I'm finding, as always, even more things to replace. Now it's the fuel return hoses -- part numbers F4TZ9B273A and F4TZ9D308A -- that go from the fuel bowl back to the engine.

Anyway, I found both these hoses on Riffraff diesel, but I noticed that the shorter, passenger side hose costs twice what the driver's side hose does. Otherwise, it looks identical to the driver's side hose.

So, being the cheapskate that I am, I'm wondering: can I substitute one of the LONG driver's side hoses for the SHORT passenger's side hose? Or is there some difference I'm not seeing in the picture? Has anyone ever done this?

Oh, and on the driver's side hose, there's a lot of stuff in the way of the hose fitting that connects to the top of the engine. So, does anyone know an easy way to access this connector? Again, I've got a van so, yeah, EVERYTHING is harder to get at – except for the turbo/fuel pump, which was a bit easier because of the doghouse.

 

I used fuel line and brass fittings for my supply and return lines. They work great just bend them up and go. They make orings for between the fittings and the lines for high vibration areas. I used them on all the connections.

 

Actually, I'm not talking about the tank return lines; I'm thinking of the lines that go from the FPR to the 'heads'. Like in this pic:



here on riffraff:

Passenger Side Fuel Line 94-97 - Riffraff Diesel Performance

Driver Side Fuel Line 94-97 - Riffraff Diesel Performance

I've since found a few threads on this issue, though any input from someone whose done this on a van would be helpful (I think there might be a couple things extra things in the way).

 

On a truck you have to remove the ac/power steering pump bracket. And you have access to the driver side front port to the head. I think its just four bolts. If you have a shop that can make hoses, it may be cheaper. I used 1/4 hydrolic line on my other truck when that line started leaking.

 

That's what in talking about too I have efuel and all the lines on my engine are steel fuel line with brass fittings

 

96ford250:

Okay, gotcha; never really thought of doing that.

stainlessstroker95:

Don't really know a shop around that does 'em; the drivers side is pretty reasonable thru riffraff or sunrise ford, but damn, don't know why the shorter pass side one is twice as much. Must be a ford thing....

...

Well, I finally found this procedure in the ford service manual -- I have the DVD version -- and it's a bit more than I feel like dealing with now. In the van you have to remove the compressor completely -- can't just set it aside like in a truck -- which means draining the system......anyway, it's just gonna have to wait for now, cause I need this thing back on the road.

The passenger side is easy enough to replace, so I'm gonna take care of that as long as I'm in there. Having the turbo/fuelpump/fuel filter housing out is not going to help me get at the other one, so it's not like I'm saving time doing it now.