SSI install derailed by out of spec oil lines

[QueWhy]

Unfortunately my hopes and dreams of having my SSI install complete by Monday are dead. The oil lines I bought from Pelican 911-107-729-10-M127 and 911-107-739-10-M127 are both out of spec. The line from the thermostat to the hard line is too long and kinks when it is in position to connect to the hard line. The crossover hard line is way off. When connected to the engine block it contacts the engine cooling tin, the bottom of the case by the transmission and doesn't even come close to where the little support tab is supposed to connect to the engine tin on the passenger side.

I did some searching and it seems I'm not the only one to have these issues. I see some people solved the kink resulting from the too long thermostat line by putting hose clamps on to help it keep it's shape but I think mine is longer than most because I doubt that would be enough to get it into position without kinking and I saw a thread where John Walker recommended bending the crossover pipe in situ but mine is inches away from where it needs to be and I doubt it could take that much force without ruining the pipe or the fitting where it meets the case.

I guess this is what I get for buying the "German" branded oil lines. However, the reviews were all positive so maybe I just got some of the defective batch. I'll call Pelican on Monday to see if they will do the right thing, I bought the hoses a long time ago but am just now getting around to installing them and they are clearly defective.

What are my alternatives besides the Porsche lines that are almost 3x the cost? Has anyone recently purchased the same lines as me? If so, did they correct the issue? Are the "OEM type" lines sold by Elephant Engineering the same ****ty ones from pelican or are they OK?

[juanbenae]

photos?

[universeman]

Just a suggestion: for something as critical as those oil lines, buy Porsche. It's a couple of hundred bucks to ensure no leaks, kinks, etc.

If that's too much money, you might be in over your head here (no intent to offend, just making a point.)

If it weren't an oil line, I'd look at aftermarket...but save yourself some headache and buy some cheap peace of mind.

[75 911s]

On the metal crossover line, it gets tightened, because it's often leaky. Tightening the outer nut results in the oil tank side of the crossover line moving toward the back of the car. This results in the L shaped soft hose being kinked.

Loosen the hard line and rotate it so that it moves the oil tank side toward the front of the car. Re-bend the tab that holds it to the engine tin.

[juanbenae]

in addition to what duane suggests try getting everything thread started and loose. then move the lines around to where you'd like them then tighten everything up. moving a number of fittings around may help in finding a sweet spot where as if you tighten as you go you might not notice.

[fintstone]

You say that they are "out of spec". Does that mean you measured them and compared them to a spec?

[Flat6pac]

Minor armstrong adjustment is necessary at times...I have a proper length flex hose to get to the thermostat if necessary.
Bruce

[boyt911sc]

Que,

This was my problem with the cross-over oil lines purchased from Pelicanparts. The new oil line/s from PP did not come close compared to an old used part shown in the pictures below.





I ordered three (3) cross-over oil lines and all were I’ll fitted. Finally decided to use the hydraulic press to bend the oil line to get a better fit like those of the old line. These were probably made in Asia.

Tony

[Jim2]

I had the exact same issue with the PP oil crossover line. No amount of tweaking woild bring it up to the oil cooler, it was actually so far forward it was touching the shock. Heating and bending was the only solution.

[QueWhy]

Originally Posted by fintstone

You say that they are "out of spec". Does that mean you measured them and compared them to a spec?

No. I just assumed they were supposed to fit like they do in all the pictures and diagrams I've seen.

Originally Posted by universeman

Just a suggestion: for something as critical as those oil lines, buy Porsche. It's a couple of hundred bucks to ensure no leaks, kinks, etc.

If that's too much money, you might be in over your head here (no intent to offend, just making a point.)

If it weren't an oil line, I'd look at aftermarket...but save yourself some headache and buy some cheap peace of mind.

I figured a couple of oil lines designed 50 years ago wouldn't be too hard to replicate with 21st century technology. The 5 star reviews made me confident in my assumption.

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Que,

This was my problem with the cross-over oil lines purchased from Pelicanparts. The new oil line/s from PP did not come close compared to an old used part shown in the pictures below.





I ordered three (3) cross-over oil lines and all were I’ll fitted. Finally decided to use the hydraulic press to bend the oil line to get a better fit like those of the old line. These were probably made in Asia.

Tony

That's exactly the way my crossover line fit. Instead of running perpendicular across the engine it angles off towards the front of the car. Nowhere near where it's supposed to be.

Two jacks, a vice, some clamps, a bunch of wood blocks and a healthy dose of "F it" attitude and I've got the crossover line bent close to where it needs to be. I got the thermostat line orientated like the pic Duane posted. I have 7" Fuchs on the rear with 25mm spacers so I don't appear to have any clearance issues.

I'm worried about leaks but I'm going to continue with the install and hope for the best.

[QueWhy]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

photos?

[john walker's workshop]

We are mechanics and we bend when we have to, and we grease to please.

[fintstone]

You can see from the photos that the original tubes were bent as well. These are handmade cars (made one at a time) and all had parts "adjusted" to fit when new...and anytime you replace a part, you have to realize that there maybe some trimming, slight ending, etc.. Since every car is just a little different, one must expect to make "adjustments". That is why wider tires fit just fine on one car and rub on another. Old pros just automatically do this. The rest of us learn as we go.

[Iciclehead]

I had same experience, took some tweaking, bending and fiddling to get the whole thing lined up...including bending that hard line. I actually tightened it to the engine and bent gently in situ...scary as all get out but it worked.

The flexible lines for me only fit in exactly one spot, one way they touched the wheels, other way the got the engine....fiddly but possible

Dennis

[1979-930]

Dumb question,
How does the crossover line start leaking and cause the need for replacement?
Or are the threads damaged disassembling creating the need to replace?

[Flat6pac]

Derrick,
When you put SSIs on 75 and later, except for thermal reactor cars, on you need to use the 74 oil tubes across the front of the motor.
If you were putting B&B exhaust on your turbo you would need the same oil lines as 74.
Bruce

[pmax]

Originally Posted by fintstone

You can see from the photos that the original tubes were bent as well. These are handmade cars (made one at a time) and all had parts "adjusted" to fit when new...and anytime you replace a part, you have to realize that there maybe some trimming, slight ending, etc.. Since every car is just a little different, one must expect to make "adjustments". That is why wider tires fit just fine on one car and rub on another. Old pros just automatically do this. The rest of us learn as we go.

Isn't it possible the part was never meant to fit without the additional elbow grease ?

Factory came with this

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/93010774111.htm

[BoxsterGT]

The "old used part" in Tony's post #8 is exactly how the original 74 and earlier cross-under pipes should fit.

Its the new replacements that have NEVER fit properly. It seems that is how they are made, and no vendor wants to take the ones who make them to task. Every single replacement i have bought in the past 8-10 years had to be "tweaked".

Just the nature of things today. When we must, we make it fit.

Len

[jjeffries]

Hi Len, hope you're well.
Would that also be true of pipes/lines sourced directly from Porsche?
Best, John

[fred cook]

I put SSI exhausts on my 1980 SC about a dozen years ago. When I bought the "complete" kit that included the exhausts, crossover tube, hoses, etc. I made certain that I got original Porsche parts. Cost a bit more but saved a lot of hassle! Other than breaking 3-4 exhaust studs, everything else went smoothly.