I'm in the process of restoring a 64 F100 with a 223 and was just looking for some outside input. While replacing a rubber brake line, I broke a piece of the steel tube and decided to just go ahead and replace the whole system while I was at it. I went ahead and got some nickel copper tubing for the flexibility and appearance.

Where I'm stuck at with making my decision is whether to add a few coils to the tube under the master cylinder like the stock setup or clean it up with some straight bends. I can see both being decent and cant decide either way.

What are your thoughts? What do you think would look better once finished?

 

id go for the coils I think they help for line fatigue that's what I was told
any way if you use the spring amour on the coils it does look kool
mike

 

Fatigue, cab mounts aging and vibration.......

 

I like to run the coils horizontal to prevent air traps. Napa brake lines are polymer coated and require no tools to bend or shape and you mess up just straighten back out and start again. These things won't kink on the tightest radius.

 

Sounds good, thanks for the input from everyone. I think if anything, I was leaning towards the coils.

what do you suppose the best way to make the coils would be? The best I could figure was getting a 3" or so piece of pvc and trying to make some coils by wrapping around on that.

 

Almost anything can work to wrap the coils around as long as it's strong enough for the brake line in use. A Campbells soup can will work in a pinch.

Chad

 

That will work, use your tubing bender to put in a 90 (so the line is horizontal) wrap it around the PVC, I just use a can of carb cleaner, just be mindful where your twist ends so when you bend it to go back down it doesn't interfere with anything and still looks nice.

 

Sounds like a plan, thanks everyone

 

Whats everyone use to bend and flare lines? Might get into some brake line re-work and i'm a complete newbie at it!

 

I bend the tubing around a 15/16" deep well socket.

 

The rest you hand form? What about cutting + flaring?

Also whats that block on your firewall behind the booster?

 

What about cutting + flaring?
You can get tubing cutters just about anywhere they sell tools. You will need a double flare tool to flare the ends. Most parts houses have loaners but don't count on them being any good. You can spend anywhere from $20 to $500. on one of those tools. Out of the cheap ones the Cal-Van SER 161A does a decent job for the money. And will fit in a tight spot. It takes a little practice even with a good tool to get a good double flare. There are plenty of You Tube videos showing how to do it.

 

I had a hard time with the three flare tools I rented from the parts stores in town, eventually I used parts from two of them to get a good flare. Then I bought this tool and have never looked back.

It's pricey, and the price has gone up since I bought it but it works everytime, even in small spaces.

For the cutting tool I just bought the smallest one at the hardware store, it was less than 10 bucks I think.