Fuel Lines

[RSOHC]

How important is it to replace the factory fuel lines from the fuel tank to the engine compartment with stainless steel fuel lines?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The lines are plastic. With time and exposure to heat and petrochemicals, they get brittle. This is mostly a problem in the engine bay (see "heat") but can sometimes become a problem inside the center tunnel.

New plastic lines work just fine, and should hold up for a decade or more. New stainless lines should hold up for the life of the car.

In general, fuel leaks are bad. High-pressure fuel leaks are worse, and 75-76 914s (and others with relocated fuel pumps) have moderately high pressure running through the supply line in the tunnel.

You can check the fuel lines where they come out of the center tunnel, and see if they are still flexible. If they are brittle instead, it is worth thinking about replacing the lines.

I'd say that it's fairly important to replace the center tunnel lines at some point, but SS is a "nice to have" rather than a "must have".

--DD

[tonythetarga]

I did the stainless lines and do not regret it one bit. They are reasonably priced and if you’re going to replace them, you want to do it without worry. That’s my take anyway.

[930cabman]

I have read about the original plastic fuel lines and have been on the fence for a couple years, the plastic look and appear pliable. Finally changed them and now one of my heater wires appears to be tangled. Has anyone seen this?
Thanks

[IXXINut]

Stainless steel fuel lines are cheap insurance especially when you have ethanol in the fuel. Do it once and be done with it and any worries.

930cabman - Yes it is very easy to get things tangled up when you're fishing fuel lines through the tunnel. Might be worth a post on 914World to see if someone has a solution to prevent or fix this issue.

[930cabman]

Originally Posted by IXXINut

Stainless steel fuel lines are cheap insurance especially when you have ethanol in the fuel. Do it once and be done with it and any worries.

930cabman - Yes it is very easy to get things tangled up when you're fishing fuel lines through the tunnel. Might be worth a post on 914World to see if someone has a solution to prevent or fix this issue.

After checking there was no interference with anything. I am still somewhat on the fence, Heinz would have never spec'd plastic if he knew they might fail. Also remember the late '60's, plastic was not a thing like today. Think "The Graduate" .... if you are old enough

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Heinz probably never considered that the car might still be on the road a half-century after it was built. Probably also never thought that people would be running 15% ethanol in the fuel, either.

The fuel lines are a replaceable part, though, so it does allow for the possibility.

The stainless-braided lines are very much NOT recommended, as they do flex and wear on stuff in the tunnel. Solid stainless lines are much better. The stock plastic is good enough for at least a while, if it is not brittle. If it is brittle, at the very least the brittle sections must be cut out and replaced--or the whole shebang replaced as has already been said.

If you run a front-mounted pump (which is a fairly good idea) on a fuel-injected car, the supply line will be carrying high pressure fuel. You don't want that leaking, so if you have a front-mounted pipe and have any doubt in your fuel lines, it make sense to replace them.

--DD

[BoxsterGT]

On the 74 911 models with the same White Nylon tunnel lines and the same issue with brittle lines, we run a "fish line" inside the original being replaced that acts as a guide. The 914's will use the same procedure.

You will need a helper to do this.

The fish line is held while the original is pulled out, and then the combination of replacement & fish line is pulled back in from the other end.

This also applies when installing the SS Lines.

Len

[Tobra]

I am thinking new nylon like it has now.

McMaster Carr have that stuff, or does Pelican?

[mepstein]

It’s always amazing to me that 914 guys don’t want to spend $150 ish to replace their 50 year old fuel lines. It definitely was a cost saving measure on 914 vs the steel lines on 911’s. The pre-bent stainless lines that tangerine racing sells take 5 mutes to install with the engine out.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I am thinking new nylon like it has now.

Note that the original nylon lines are swaged onto metal lines up in the front part of the tunnel. Unless you have the equipment to properly fasten your new bulk nylon to the metal, you should buy the whole shebang.

I don't see the stock lines in the on-line catalog, but you can try calling the order line and asking what they go for.

There are two sets of stainless lines in the catalog, here:

These are the hard lines that are in the engine bay. The plastic ones tend to get brittle and crack due to age and especially heat. These are super easy to replace.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PELSS914FUEL.htm?pn=PEL-SS914-FUEL&bc=c&SVSVSI=4238

These are the ones in the center tunnel. Pre-bent to fit where they need to go inside the tunnel.
https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/PELSS9147074.htm?pn=PEL-SS914-7074&bc=c&SVSVSI=4238

The stainless lines are not expensive, and will probably outlast the rest of the car. I think they're a pretty good investment, myself.

--DD