Near disaster

[Terry M.]

Re: Near disaster

How does the fuel get from the body/frame structure to the vibrating/moving engine?

I haven't had the need or desire to trace the fuel lines on my C6, but the GM Daily Drivers have plastic fuel lines. No rubber, but no stainless steel either.

[Duke W.]

Re: Near disaster

We just had this discussion a week or two ago.

There is no need to use "fuel injection" (SAE 30R9) because vintage Corvette fuel feed pressure is nowhere near the level of modern port EFI systems.

One should only use hose marked "fuel-evap-pcv SAE 30R7", which has a maximum working pressure of 50 psi.

I would never, ever buy any kind of "reproduction hose" because it has white stripes or whatever, because you have no idea what it started out as. Fuel hose built to SAE specs for the last 30 years has been compatible with 10 percent ethanol, and elastomers have been upgraded over the years to be more resistant to chemical attack and thermal degradation.

Bottom line is that the above-marked fuel hose from your local FLAPS is your best starting point. Forget about strips and ribs, get what you know is properly manufactured hose, cut it to the appropriate length and take the points hit because it doesn't have purple stripes with pink polka dots.

You can remove the ID data if you want by wiping the surface lightly with acetone, but I think you're better off to install it untouched so you and the next guy know it has properly engineered and manufactured fuel hose.

I highly doubt that the fuel hose on John T's car meets the current SAE 30R7 spec. Is it a "reproduction hose" that meets the visual requirements of the JG? Does it have any other markings to indicate what it is? From whom was it purchased?

Additional information should help others make good decisions when it comes to replacing fuel hoses and avoid a potential disasters.

Duke

[Jim L.]

Re: Near disaster

Jim------


I always use only "fuel injection" hose for rubber fuel lines. It's a bit more expensive but how much rubber fuel line is there on a Corvette----a few feet at most?

When I need rubber fuel hose, that's all I buy, too, Joe. Besides compatibility with modern fuels, it's got a good pressure rating also.

Jim

[Joe L.]

Re: Near disaster

There is no need to use "fuel injection" (SAE 30R9) because vintage Corvette fuel feed pressure is nowhere near the level of modern port EFI systems.

Duke

Duke------

We don't drive 149 MPH but we still seek out the highest speed rating tire we can find.

[Ken A.]

Re: Near disaster

Flexible Teflon lined hose

[John T.]

Re: Near disaster

Update, Fuel line is " marked Gates Fuel". After removal I found the hose very stiff and with linear cracks over much of the hose. Car has never seen E10 fuel.

[Duke W.]

Re: Near disaster

I have to question the age of that hose. Assuming typical collector car use, I seriously doubt that any hose manufactured in the last 20 years could deteriorate that bad in five years.

I'm not familiar with the location of that hose on C1s. Is it subject to heat? For sure the hose connecting the frame pipe to the fuel pump nipple on C2/3s should be inspected at least annually. It's exposed to engine compartment heat and radiant heat from the exhaust manifolds.

The rear hose that connects the fuel tank to the frame pipe will last longer, but the only way to inspect it is to remove the spare tire carrier.

Duke

[John F.]

Re: Near disaster

When I found my survivor 62 it still had the original rubber fuel line from main line to the fuel pump. I'm glad I had drained the tank because the rubber line snapped in my hand. I now keep a "cork" in my tool box to temporarily plug the line. Here is a picture of the one that snapped and the replacement.

[Richard M.]

Re: Near disaster

John needs to confirm, but I believe the line that failed was the one above the rear part of the frame(lower hose pictured below), which connects the main frame fuel line to the shorter steel line going up through the body and towards the sender at the top of the tank. There is another hose to connect that short steel line to the sender.




I would also wonder now if maybe that hose was never changed by the restorer.

Note that on the 1956 to early 1961, no rubber hose was used there near the tank. It was a single hard line connecting the sender to the main line. At the sender, a flare fitting is used. At the main line near the frame, inverted flares of the 2 hard lines are joined with a inverted flare brass coupler.

[John T.]

Re: Near disaster

Yes it is the hose that Richard indicates. However, I am my restorer and I did change the hose during the frame off.

John

[Richard M.]

Re: Near disaster

John, Do you have a record of where you got the hoses? I'm restoring a '61 at the moment and just bought repro hoses with correct clamps for the fuel tank lines. I'm now getting second thoughts about using the hoses. I'll check their markings when i get out to the shop.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: Near disaster

So I just found my recently acquired hose kit that I bought from Zip. Re-labeled from Corvette Central. here are the pics.


P3290019.jpg P3290020.jpg P3290021.jpg P3290022.jpg

Both marked USA, but from 2 different hose manufacturers.

One hose is marked ?0R7(? = 3 or 8) AIS 2211 which I think is week 22 of 2011. Maybe it's a SAE 30R7 Duke was talking about.

The other is ?818 01/10/13. I have no idea what rubber material this one is.

But notice how I always seem to get shorted when I get stuff from CC, even though Zip sent it to me. The almost "correct" clamps, which is basically why I bought the kit, for the clamps, one is missing one stinking screw! Geeesh. Every 10 things I get lately from CC is missing somethin'. And it's not worth the time or trouble or expense to call up for replacement. I think it's time for robotic counters and piece part inventory digitizers. Sorry ranting.

[Perry M.]

Re: Near disaster

Not all here agree but most believe that ethanol is killing the rubber parts. Forget about having the correct rubber hoses for judging. Step up to rubber that will withstand alcohol aka ethanol. John

I am sure I have told this story to you guys before but there is no doubt in my mind that the ethanol fuel is destroying the rubber parts of our fuel systems. My 84 Corvette would not start due to no fuel to the injectors. I could here the fuel pump working so I didn't suspect it but after every other part was checked, I finally pulled the pump assembly out of the tank and dicovered that the 2'' piece of rubber hose that connected the pump to the hard line had dissolved so the pump was just spraying gas inside the tank and the gooey rubber gummed up the sending unit. This happened about 10 years ago and I'll be damned if the same thing happened again last summer, leaving me stranded on the highway.

[Duke W.]

Re: Near disaster

I didn't know that C1s have fuel hoses with swagged on threaded fittings, so you can't just go down to your local FLAPS and buy new SAE 30R7 hose. You can with C2s because the rubber hoses are clamped.

If you have to buy a fabricated hose from a reproduction vendor and the hose itself has no markings, push them to verify that it is no less than modern SAE 30R7.

Richard - yes that top hose in your photo is SAE 30R7, so it should be good for at least 20 years of typical vintage car driving. The bottom hose as you say appears to be from a different manufacturer and the section doesn't have the critical information. If you buy hose in a least a 10 foot lengths, the critical ID data is repeated about every foot or two.

Duke

[Richard M.]

Re: Near disaster

No, the rear tank hoses aren't swagged, just the front line to fuel pump hose. Those '61 up rear hoses are just plain hose cutoffs with clamps like the midyears. The 56-60 used hard lines(pipes) with flared fittings built in. Like this one that connects the fuel sender to the main rail fuel line with the coupler.


This is the only fuel hose on a C1 56-60, then 61/62 also uses those 2 hoses (of topic), in place of the hard flares above. Main line to pump. I have 2 on the shelves and will check for SAE rating. CC did have a recall a few years back on theirs. But I think it was bad crimps, can't recall exactly.






Yes that 2nd hose above in my prior post is a unknown. Heading to NAPA this AM to get several feet of 30R7 of various sizes to now keep on the shelves. Thanks for the SAE hose info. Learning is good.

Rich