Replaced my carburetor...used copper line...going steel ASAP

[tiger.1000]

Green......numerous pre-war British cars were fitted with copper fuel lines. To this day I continue to fit them and have never had a problem. A snug fitting brass olive will not leak if fitted correctly and I have never found the necessity to solder them.

If you need some imperial brass olives, I have hundreds. PM me and I'll send you some. Late birthday present from the UK !

[rotorwrench]

I've had several jury rigged old cars and motorcycles that ended up with rubber line adapted in for filters, different carburetors, etc. On the motorcycles, it's pretty much OEM to have rubber line but I've had leakers on more than one occasion and was just lucky that the drafty old turds would let enough vapor into the cab or fuel on my pant leg to get my noses attention before catching fire.

I could safely say that copper will most likely outlast the flimsy rubber hose. This still puts in into one of those "maybe it wil last" catagories. If the copper is mounted from one point to another on a solid foundation like between a carb and pump, it will last longer than a mounting that attaches from one point to another in a flexible situation like between an engine and a firewall where the engine can move separately from the body. The flexibility will cause fatigue at a compounded rate over a more stable mounting.

You can throw caution to the wind and take your chances. Some people like to take chances. I hope your Karma is good. Keep in mind that your passengers don't have a choice in the matter.

On the aircraft engines, I still anneal the copper spark plug washers at every 100-hour inspection to make sure they seal better at each torque up after testing.

[G.M.]

The problem with a lot of the new ferrules is they are made of hard brass and won't compress and seal until you way over tighten them. And they still don't bit onto the tubing. I anneal the ferrules and then they seal. G.M.

[jrvariel48]

Originally Posted by Kube

I never measured it but I would hazard a guess at closer to an 1/8".

Thanks Kube! This sounds like the proper installation to me.

[tiger.1000]

Although not a fuel pipe this is one method I used to absorb vibration on my Model B.

Doubtless barners will recognise this readily available Ford accessory.....

[Jim Wilson]

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The Early Ford V-8 Club's 1935-36 book states that the fuel lines were originally 1/4" copper coated steel. Roy Nacewicz supplies "Correct copper clad steel gas line for 1936-48 Fords". I wonder how many folks have seen these lines and mistakenly identified them as copper lines?

Jim Wilson

[joe plumber]

Originally Posted by Jim Wilson

The Early Ford V-8 Club's 1935-36 book states that the fuel lines were originally 1/4" copper coated steel. Roy Nacewicz supplies "Correct copper clad steel gas line for 1936-48 Fords". I wonder how many folks have seen these lines and mistakenly identified them as copper lines?

Jim Wilson

There is also tin lined copper tubing

[Tom Walker]

I think we've been here before!
Copper tube is for domestic plumbing.
For carrying brake fluid and fuel around your car, there is an alloy of copper, nickel and iron, lets say Cunifer, which does an excellent job because it doesn't corrode, is resistant to fracturing, and is easy to work with.
Many quality modern cars have as OEM copper alloy brake lines, how often have you heard of brake failure due to fractured lines?

[rick r]

another option is copper-steel brake line. get it at CARQUEST. looks more like copper than steel, bends with bender or fingers and does not rust. Also, if you have brake lines to replace, give it a try. lt is also easier to double flare than steel line