I have the chance to pick up about 20 ft of 3/8 ss tubing for free. Would this work for making my own fuel lines? Thanks for any input.

Dan

 

Yeah, if you can bend it. SS is pretty strong.

 

should work good,get yourself a good bender
will have to saw it tube cutters don't cut it good and flairing may be a trick

 

1) Make sure the tubing is seamless (the welded seam will crack when you flare it)

2) MUST saw cut the tubing. Using a tubing cutter "cold works" the tubing, also causing the flare to crack.

3) You can't double flare SS tubing, it needs to be single flared. Suggest 37* (JIC or AN) style flare, as there are many styles and shapes of fittings available.

4) You can get "bite type" fittings that eliminate the need for flaring, but they are expensive and can be touchy.

All of that being said, the SS tube will last longer then the truck.

BTW - I have been in the hydraulic business for about 15 years, and I will let you know that the tubing is the cheap part, the tooling and the fittings can get pretty expensive.

 

I'd love to have a hard steel line from where the hose from the tank runs to the frame rail, to the pump, and then up to the engine!

 

Id say do regulated return with it, you will still need the 1/8" to #6 jic adapters, but it will look damn nice when finished.

 

You do need to leave some short flex lines in the system - the SS is actually rather fragile, and flexing will also cause cracks and leaks.

Like I said - 15 years if hydraulic work, and more then once asking myself "Where the hell did all of this oil come from??!!??"

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I'll probably go ahead and get it, so in the off chance i have enough time to do something like this i will at least have the tubing.

Dan

 

man i wish i had SS regulated return, oh well. I made up for it on the frame rail.

 

BTW CONKSTER

Nice looking rig in your pic there - I am a volunteer myself. check out www.jvfc.com. I was the Chief Engineer for about 20 years.

 

Thanks Spinge. I'm been a volunteer here for about 6 yrs and that is our new structure engine that we received about two months ago. It is an E-One and it is pretty cool. Nice website

Dan

 

Take a look atthis post.https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...m-scratch.html