fuel injection lines

[radcon]

I've noticed that some of the CIS cars I have seen have the hard steel fuel lines going from the fuel distributor to the injectors. Was this a change that they made on the last few years of SC's or what? My 1980 has the plastic lines and they look like they are due for replacement. The rubber coating that covers the hard plastic line is cracking off. Is there a source out there for these lines or does someone have some used ones for sale? Thanks for your help.

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'80 Targa

[Doug Zielke]

You should have bought an '81. That's when they changed to steel lines.

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'81 SC Coupe (aka: "Blue Bomber")
Canada West Region PCA
The Blue Bomber's Website

[Bill Douglas]

I wouldn't worry about that outer coating. It doesn't mater. However, one thing that does need doing occasionally is to replace the seals where the lines go into the manifold. They shouldn't be hard and loose when you move the cables. I'm hoping how to fix this will be in Waynes new book.

[robs]

radcon, I collected some info from the INTERJECT web site (I don't trust my old lines either!):

Polythene hoses are made from a type of hard plastic which is fuel and acid resistant. Some vehicles also have some kind of heat shield over the polythene hoses which may only be a rubber hose sleeve. Polythene hoses can be repaired quite easily. The only thing you need is a special tool you can make yourself, which enables you to clamp the polythene hose into a vice so you can knock in any fitting which has a barb holding it into the hose with a rubber hammer. If the hose has been kinked, it is advisable to change it, as the point of the kink may burst under pressure, and it can restrict the flow which can build up higher pressure to the pump side. If the injector hose between the injector and distributor has a kink, it must be changed, as a flow restriction to the injector may put the engine out of balance.
You can buy these hoses in any HYDRAULICS outlet, on rolls, in different sizes. To make the tool which is used for clamping the hose end into the vice, use an aluminum block, say 8 cm long x 5 cm high and 3 - 4 cm thick. Drill through the 3-4 cm thick side a hole which is just a tiny fraction larger than the hose. The hole must be drilled from one side right through to the other side of the aluminum block. Then, with a hacksaw, cut the aluminum block in half, so that you have cut the drilled hole into two halves. The poly hose will then fit exactly between the two halves of the block, in the drilled channel. Let about 10 mm of the poly hose protrude from the aluminum block and clamp the block into a vice. Because of the hacksaw cut, the drilled channel is now the same size as the hose. This keeps the hose very firm in the vise. Then use the required fitting and hit it into the hose with a rubber hammer.

Hope this helps,

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Robert / 80 Targa