QuestionReplacing the original vacuum and fuel lines in my 1956 Ford Customline seems simple enough. When I remove the lines, they appear to have a tapered thread, and they do. It's pipe thread on the 1/4" vacuum fittings and 5/16" fuel fittings. problem is all the steel lines available locally are brake lines and the thread type is different. Can you help me source these lines? They are the final piece in detailing the engine compartment and I'm stumped.
AnswerHi, Will:
My solution for this has been the same for the last few decades:
Purchase a brake line flaring kit. Mine is from Lisle tools. You can buy long lengths of ready-to-bend brake line in the proper diameter, cut off the flares, remove the fittings, cut them to length, attach your desired fittings, and then re-flare. Generally, vacuum and fuel lines do not require a double-flare, but it can't hurt, and nobody will know anyway.
My trick with using a double flared fitting where only a single flare is required, is to wiggle the tubing very slightly and constantly while cinching it up tight, and then to check tightness after a hundred miles or so, retightening as necessary. This will prevent leaks. Do this once or twice and it'll be OK for a long time.
--Paul
