Steel fuel pipe

[scottmk1]

I need to alter the steel fuel pipes on my truck after doing some modifications.

The factory ones are single piece thin wall steel all bent nicely to suit the route they take, and have a swage on each end to stop the rubber hoses popping off, they also have that plastic coating on the outside.

So I’m looking for suitable pipes to make new ones and preferably be able to make the swage on the ends.

So any suggestions for a source for pipes and how to swage them? Looking at 12mm Od/9mm Id for the supply and 8mm Od/6.5mm Id for the return.

 

[frank horton]

I've used the nylon type of pipe in the past and crimped a brass/copper olive at the end to help secure the rubber pipe....
on the bigger diameters I use a sleeve inside the end to stop the crush from the olive..........

 

[Morrisman]

Have a browse. I've used copper for fuel pipes before.

Fuel System | Car Builder - Kit & Classic Car Parts Specialist

Fuel System

www.carbuilder.com

Or these guys.

Professional Motorsport Parts, Spares & Rally Equipment from Rally Design

Professional Motorsport Parts, Spares & Rally Equipment from Rally Design

www.rallydesign.co.uk

 

[scottmk1]

Have a browse. I've used copper for fuel pipes before.

What did you do to stop the rubber hoses working their way off, if anything?

 

[Morrisman]

What did you do to stop the rubber hoses working their way off, if anything?

Used a brake pipe swager to put a little rim around the ends. I used 8mm if I remember.

In the past I have scored grooves around the end with a hacksaw to give the rubber some purchase, on bigger pipe.

I'm currently building a small gadget to put a ridge on 1 1/2" aluminium water pipe, for my V8 trike cooling system.

 

[barracuda816]

Copper pipe will corrode with e10. But will last a good while before you have a problem.

 

[barracuda816]

Also with biodiesel.

 

[scottmk1]

Ok it’s a diesel, don’t want to be getting any problems down the line really, does cupronickel also corrode with biodiesel?

 

[Morrisman]

Copper pipe will corrode with e10. But will last a good while before you have a problem.

The kit car places still sell it so I would imagine they would be all over it if there was a risk of failure.

 

[armalites]

My Sykes Pickavant flaring tool has 6,8,10 and 12mm dies

 

[8ob]

My Sykes Pickavant flaring tool has 6,8,10 and 12mm dies

A touch/squeeze with op1 would be good enough, that or solder an olive onto the pipe.

Bob

 

[dan.taylor.1]

Could always use small bore stainless hydraulic pipe, you can get stainless olives too, quick buzz with the tig and a grind off?

 

[barracuda816]

I think it’s more a theoretical thing. It will corrode but maybe would take 10 years or more to leak? All I know is it will turn Green and abit slimy.

 

[jsf55]

I've always used 10 mm copper pipe and my cheapy flaring tool, never had an issue ... flaring tool ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/29440051...1E2odxqiy2rEnu3VsAoOuA2CY=|tkp:Bk9SR4Ck7Zb1YA

 

[scottmk1]

Could always use small bore stainless hydraulic pipe, you can get stainless olives too, quick buzz with the tig and a grind off?

I think I’ll try that, hopefully it bends ok

 

[MetalMonkey]

Replaced mine with cupronickel, but that was years ago when petrol was petrol.
Tough stuff, the biggest annoyance with it is trying to get it nice and straight, I’d build one of those bearing race straightener things if I was doing it again.

 

[scottmk1]

I’m thinking thin wall stainless hydraulic tubing if I can find it cheap enough

 

[julianf]

People will say that biofuel breaks anything it touches.

I would simply comment that one small section of the pipework on my biodiesel reactor is copper. It's been there for about 15 years.

My reactor is mainly stainless and black iron, but it's pretty common for people to use copper water cylinders also.

Personally, however, I would (and do) just use nylon, with inserts, as someone advised above. Clear nylon even has the advantage of being able to see any air ingress.

 

[scottmk1]

How do you join the nylon to the existing steel section?

 

[pint]

Clear nylon even has the advantage of being able to see any air ingress.

but they'll see the red