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Classic/Antique Car Repair/replacing original vacuum and fuel lines
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Question
Replacing 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.
Hi, 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
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Answers by Expert:
Paul Wilczynski
Expertise
Most questions involving vintage car restoration, mechanical and body, paint and upholstery. Parts sourcing. Extensive experience in wood-bodied station wagons, British and French cars of the '40s through '70s. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger, Citroen Maserati, VW Beetle, 1955-65 Chevrolet (especially Nomad station wagons), Corvair.
Experience
Wide-ranging and long-term. I owned a restoration shop in the 1970s, continue to dabble in vintage exotics. At one time, had a seven-car collection of contemporary exotics which I had restored and maintained myself.
When I was 18 years old, I designed a woodie kit for the VW Beetle, which I developed into a product which was featured on television and in over 100 magazines and 25 books at last count. I still own and drive one of my creations.
I owned a design and fabrication consultancy from 1982-2002, specializing in show car fabrication for manufacturers including Ford, Mazda, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, etc.
Since 2003, I have been a department manager in Industrial Design, and a full-time instructor in automotive design and fabrication at the university level. My students go on to design automobiles as staff designers for major auto manufacturers worldwide.
Organizations
Western Automotive Journalists, Industrial Design Society of America.
Publications
Long list of magazines and books, including Playboy, VW Trends, VW Greats, Hot VWs, and European automotive magazines.
Education/Credentials
I teach design and fabrication at university level. My education is in Industrial Design, University of Illinois (1966-1970).
Awards and Honors
Many awards for restorations in local concours and shows.
Past/Present Clients
Mazda, Ford, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mercedes, Porsche.
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