66 fuel line: pump to carb

[Rob M.]

Okay,

I have a freshly rebuilt carb, motor and fuel pump. Installed the fuel line that was previously on the car, which I had purchased about 4 years ago from LIC (I believe). I don't recall any fit issues prior, but now the line is literally resting on the thermostat housing. I've included a couple of photos to help (I hope), but the picture I took from above won't load. How best to deal with this issue?

Am I missing some adjustment?
Does the line need to be bent?
Is this common with a repro line?
Is there a source for a better line?

Thanks in advance for suggestions and the help.

[Tim E.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Rob - I had a horrible time with that fuel line on my '66 327/300 too....it rested on the thermostat cover just like yours but worse than that, it leaked at the carb inlet. I bought 5 different lines (from every known vendor) before finally finding one that didn't leak. I was able to tweak the bends slightly to create a little clearance and ended up with a satisfactory fit. Don't bend the fuel line much or the chrome finish will crack.

I even tried reflaring one of the leaking lines but my flaring tool couldn't grip the chrome tube well enough.

In between purchases, I made my own fuel line with a somewhat different routing. No leaks but the bends weren't sharp enough to match the original and it wasn't chrome. I looked everywhere but couldn't find a tubing bender that would make sharp enough bends. If I could have made the sharper bends, I would have had mine chromed.

Tim

[Timothy B.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

When I replaced the fuel pump to carburetor line on my 67 300hp engine there were some issues with fitment around the thermostat area. I gently bent the line and after three or four try's it fit nice, be patient and you will get it, use a large socket in the existing corners/bends.

You don't want that line to touch the lower radiator hose or the thermostat cover.

[Rob M.]

[Tom R.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Another possibility regarding the leak at the carb fitting is to attach the fitting and snug up prior to fully seating the carb down onto its gasket. Once it's easily on the carb then seat the carb and snug the four studs down to spec.
Tom

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

That looks like a chrome fuel line. I thought only 350 HP had a chrome line in 66?

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Michael,

Looks like the aftermarket suppliers agree with you. Steel line for 250 and 300HP. Chrome line for 350and 365HP. Part number in the old book was 3864796 for the chrome. Maybe that's why it doesn't fit properly!!!!

JR

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Michael,

Looks like the aftermarket suppliers agree with you. Steel line for 250 and 300HP. Chrome line for 350and 365HP. Part number in the old book was 3864796 for the chrome. Maybe that's why it doesn't fit properly!!!!

JR

Joe

Yes, that's why I wondered about the line. The carburetor would be higher on a 350 HP so the line would fit properly but the 350 HP line would be against the intake manifold on a 300 HP.

This car is a 66 though so the line would be a higher part number, numerically. Somewhere in the 388xxxx range. I think the 3864796 line is for 64-65.

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Michael,

The 77 parts book lists the 3864796 as Pipe, fuel pump to fuel filter (chrome) for a 64-65 w/SHP and FI & 66 327 w/SHP. Then it lists a 3882837 for a 66-68 SHP as Pipe, carb, Gas (Chrome). Have ordered several in the past but can't remember which was which.

JR

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Michael,

The 77 parts book lists the 3864796 as Pipe, fuel pump to fuel filter (chrome) for a 64-65 w/SHP and FI & 66 327 w/SHP. Then it lists a 3882837 for a 66-68 SHP as Pipe, carb, Gas (Chrome). Have ordered several in the past but can't remember which was which.

JR

Joe

That has to be an error in the parts book if that's what it shows. The 3864796 was only used for 64-65 with SHP. That would be a pipe from pump to filter.

For 66, there was no remote fuel filter. The fuel line ran directly from the pump to the carburetor.

The 3882837 chrome line was only used for 66-68 with SHP 327.

The correct unplated fuel line for 66-67 with 300 HP/cast iron intake would be part number 3882838.

[Joe R.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Joe

That has to be an error in the parts book if that's what it shows. The 3864796 was only used for 64-65 with SHP. That would be a pipe from pump to filter.

For 66, there was no remote fuel filter. The fuel line ran directly from the pump to the carburetor.

The 3882837 chrome line was only used for 66-68 with SHP 327.

The correct unplated fuel line for 66-67 with 300 HP/cast iron intake would be part number 3882838.

Michael,

Just stating what was in the 77 parts book!

JR

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Michael,

Just stating what was in the 77 parts book!

JR

Joe

I think the 66 guys need to do a little more research on this.

300 HP for 66-67, plain fuel line, part number 3882838.

350 HP for 66-67, chrome fuel line, part number 3882837.

The 350 HP fuel line is not going to fit properly on a 300 HP.

[Jeffrey B.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

I had the same problem with leaking at the carb fitting, especially if the car was started after being in storage over the winter. Tightening did not always work well unless I really torqued the fitting to the point that I was afraid of damaging the threads. I finally bought a new line at Corvettes at Carlisle which worked fine. I sometimes wonder if the aftermarket vendors sell lines that are not precisely bent to specs. Also; stainless steel lines if used are almost impossible to tweak if they do not fit perfectly.

[David L.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Joe

I think the 66 guys need to do a little more research on this.

300 HP for 66-67, plain fuel line, part number 3882838.

350 HP for 66-67, chrome fuel line, part number 3882837.

The 350 HP fuel line is not going to fit properly on a 300 HP.

Michael,

My 1966 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (Oct. 1965) lists the following in Gr. 3.163, PIPE ASSEMBLY:

66 CORVETTE (327)(exc. Sp. H/Per.)......................carb. gas (chrome).................3882838
66 CORVETTE w/ Sp. H/Per. (327)..........................carb. gas (chrome).................3882837

I bought my 1966 w/327 in 1979. It did not have the original engine so I do not know if the assembly line fuel pump to carb fuel line (GM # 3882838) was plain or chrome. My 1972 Corvette Parts Catalog (Sept. 1971) also lists the 3882838 fuel line as chrome.

Dave

[Michael H.]

Re: 66 fuel line: pump to carb

Michael,

My 1966 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (Oct. 1965) lists the following in Gr. 3.163, PIPE ASSEMBLY:

66 CORVETTE (327)(exc. Sp. H/Per.)......................carb. gas (chrome).................3882838
66 CORVETTE w/ Sp. H/Per. (327)..........................carb. gas (chrome).................3882837

I bought my 1966 w/327 in 1979. It did not have the original engine so I do not know if the assembly line fuel pump to carb fuel line (GM # 3882838) was plain or chrome. My 1972 Corvette Parts Catalog (Sept. 1971) also lists the 3882838 fuel line as chrome.

Dave

David

My 1966 printing of the parts book shows the same as your but it also shows a 3854796, pump to filter pipe for 66. We know that's incorrect as that pipe is for 64-65 only. There are a lot of errors in the books.

If someone with a 66 or 67 300 HP with an original pump to carb fuel line doesn't speak up on this, we won't know if the pipe really was chrome.

I think we do know that the configuration for the fuel line is different between 300 and 350 HP engines which is the problem mentioned in the original post.

Is there a pic of a new 300 HP engine in the Noland Adams book that may show the fuel line?