So my '89 Raider has five soft line sections in the fuel feed lines - one coming out of the tank/pump (to hard line), one going into and out of the fuel filter underneath (to/from hard lines), one coming up around the frame into the engine bay, and one going to the engine fuel rail itself. All of these attach via threaded fittings to the hardlines. They're 30 years old and I'd just as well replace them while I'm doing this build, though they are not visibly leaking at the moment.
Ordering OEM ones (which can be found easily overseas) is a several-hundred-dollar proposition.
I could have new ones made, which probably will cost a good bit as well.
Is there any reason that I shouldn't just use regular off-the-shelf fuel injection hose with good fuel injection clamps off the hard lines (which I'd cut to remove the threaded fitting)? IIRC the Raider fuel system runs at about 40 psi. The return lines are already set up like this (albeit they obviously aren't under much pressure).
This is what the OEM soft lines look like (these two have banjo ends, but the rest have female threaded ends.
Ive tried to make my own lines to repair a hrad section and nothing i did would hold the pressure. Only other comment is be careful what you use as ethanol is screwing up my friends custom braided stuff
Justjim75 said:
Ive tried to make my own lines to repair a hrad section and nothing i did would hold the pressure. Only other comment is be careful what you use as ethanol is screwing up my friends custom braided s
I mean, my e30 has similar fuel pressure and just uses regular fuel injection hose with clamps to and from hardlines, with no leak issues. I would need to create a bubble flare on the line ends, of course.
A place that regularly does hydraulic lines could probably do those easily and not too expensive. I presume the fuel pump is in the tank so there will be pressure that regular hose and clamps aren't made for.
On my 924, I cut the band off and reused the fittings with braided hose and EFI style clamps.
No leaks. I did the same with EFI rubber hose on another section, again no issues.
Obviously, you have to make sure the fittings and the hose diameters are compatible or you'll have leaks.
Return lines work even better since they don't see much of any pressure at all.
Stefan said:
On my 924, I cut the band off and reused the fittings with braided hose and EFI style clamps.
No leaks. I did the same with EFI rubber hose on another section, again no issues.
Obviously, you have to make sure the fittings and the hose diameters are compatible or you'll have leaks.
Return lines work even better since they don't see much of any pressure at all.
yeah, not concerned with the return lines. They already just use regular hose/clamps on this thing.
On my 924, I had Len Cummings make some up for me, but they weren't all that cheap. But definitely not skimping on that car with the fuel lines so well known for starting fires lol.
Sonic
UltraDork
1/11/20 9:46 p.m.
Like you, I made all of the lines for the fuel system on my race car. It runs pressure and flow in excess of what your Raider will. With quality FI rated hoses and clamps, or AN stuff, it will perform well and be much easier from a DIY repair perspective.
I used standard fuel injection hose and clamps on my dad and track E30 with no issues.
Sounds like my problem was me. Lol
irish44j said:
Stefan said:
On my 924, I cut the band off and reused the fittings with braided hose and EFI style clamps.
No leaks. I did the same with EFI rubber hose on another section, again no issues.
Obviously, you have to make sure the fittings and the hose diameters are compatible or you'll have leaks.
Return lines work even better since they don't see much of any pressure at all.
yeah, not concerned with the return lines. They already just use regular hose/clamps on this thing.
On my 924, I had Len Cummings make some up for me, but they weren't all that cheap. But definitely not skimping on that car with the fuel lines so well known for starting fires lol.
Here's the irony:
The Bosch EFI on the 924S and 944 runs the same fuel pressure as most other Bosch EFI systems of the period. Most of those don't use those stupid crimped fuel lines and do just fine at the fuel pressures they run with clamped EFI-rated rubber hose.
On my 80's Turbo dodges the rubber fuel lines run just as close to the "hotter" exhaust and they use clamped lines.
This all works as long as you replace the rubber lines at a routine basis, just like the crimped ones that Porsche uses, except the crimped ones are more difficult/expensive to replace so they don't get replaced as often as necessary.
My 924 with its EFI conversion runs the same fuel pressures as the 924S and 944 and like I said, it works fine. My father, a former lift truck tech, who routinely built hydraulic hoses and was an instructor and safety steward for his shop had no problems with the clamped hose solutions at those pressures.
Justjim75 said:
Ive tried to make my own lines to repair a hrad section and nothing i did would hold the pressure. Only other comment is be careful what you use as ethanol is screwing up my friends custom braided stuff
HUH?
Fuel rated hose is good for ethanol.
The lines that my friend made for his car were braided something with AN fittings rated to be fuel line and the hose or tubing inside got brittle from the ethanol. Thats all i know, and that he doesnt use the wrong stuff or cheap stuff, his stuff is done properly.
