Need Fuel Line Recommendation For 1962

Background: Earlier I posted a question about copper fuel line installed by previous owner. After digesting all the wonderful opinions, I have decided to replace the fuel tank to fuel pump line with a manufactured one if I can find a vendor that does not sell the whole kit, or make my own. The tank seems to be aftermarket and there were less than favorable opinions about those... and I see why. This one does not have any tube inside the fuel line fitting so I am considering an inline filter. Question: Assuming I can make the fuel line fitting leak-free, is an inline filter a good idea? If so, any recommendations on where to put it? (Dang! That is a wide opening for pranksters! hahahaha)

If you have better solutions, pleas chime in.

 

There was a recent thread here on that topic, if you search.

My preference is to put it just before the fuel pump, inside the left fender, and I like a glass-body unit so I can see what is going on. Plus they can be taken apart and cleaned.

 

In the other thread the doomsayers condemned copper/nickel line as it would "work harden", split and burn your junk down...
How about from the fuel pump to the carb for this application?
Its a static connection hard mounted between fuel pump and carb, possibly clamped to the block at some point.
Only "work" it would see would be delivering fuel.
It is 1/4", correct?
What say you?

 

On mine, the previous owner left that section of fuel line alone... it is still steel. The copper line from tank to pump was routed with not a lot of support so I will have the benefit of fixing that as well. Both my steel and copper lines are 1/4" OD. Is that what you are asking? I appreciate you sharing, thanks.

 

In the other thread I said that about "copper tubing", but did not say anything about the copper/nickel tubing, commonly called "Nicopp". Two entirely different things.

Nicopp tubing is widely used for brake lines and fuel lines, and though I have no experience with it a lot of people swear by it.

I wouldn't use copper tubing for anything other than plumbing and refrigeration.

 

Sid,

You seem to think that a copper tube from pump to carburetor is okay because won't harden since it is a "static connection" and doesn't see much "work".

Something you may not have considered is gasoline is a hydrocarbon (hydrogen and carbon) and copper is subject to "hydrogen embrittlement". Combine that with exposure to heat and constant vibration, and the line will eventually crack.

Giving good advice based on experience is not being a "Doomsayer", and copper tubing is not appropriate for a fuel line. It would probably be okay for a temporary fix, but not for the long term. I think folks who don't know any better use it because it is easy to bend.

 

And steel isn't? Not the way I heard it.

Wikipedia
Hydrogen embrittles a variety of metals including steel, aluminium (at high temperatures only), and titanium.

NASA reviewed which metals are susceptible to embrittlement and which only prone to hot hydrogen attack: nickel alloys, austenitic stainless steels, aluminium and alloys, copper (including alloys, e.g. beryllium copper).

 

Where did I say steel isn't subject to it ? Which do you think is likely to survive longer ?

Not trying to be a smart acre or anything, but I have had experience with a piece of copper tube failing and leaving me to creative engineering to get back home. It was on a 40 year old Chevy truck and I have no idea how long the copper line was in place, but it cracked and sprayed fuel all over the place. I was 30 miles from anywhere when it busted and I had to temporarily "patch" the line with aluminum foil wrapped with fishing line.

That is how I know copper tubing isn't appropriate for a fuel line.