I'm currently involved with a significant power upgrade on my friends '94 FD.
We've been plinking along doing this and that to the car and it came to a point that we just had to get more power.

Got a single turbo kit being prepared by A-Spec and before it gets here am working on the supporting systems to get the most out of it we can.

First the fuel supply:
every build thread I see shows pictures of tangles of braided hose nearly filling the space under the manifold. I decided that this just won't do...


My plan is to run hardline for all but those places that I have to use flexible hose.

More to come...

 

very clean

 

Are you in Manassas VA?

 

Yes, I am in Manassas.

 

the look of hardlines everywhere is so much more appealing than braided lines! The time required compared to braids just turns me off. Good work!

 

I agree that plumbing with stainless steel hardlines is a lot harder. But the benefits go beyond just looks. Keeping the engine space more open makes it better to work on.

 

Looks good, nice fuel setup.

 

Just noticed your Using Seamed Stainless pipe, did you have any problems getting it to seal?

I just Love the Hard pipe look, Stainless braided hose just looks so out of place. I am going to have to use Hard pipes might be harder to do but all the best Mod's take a little effort

 

I don't expect there to be sealing issues. I've been "dressing up" the inside of the tubing with a emory cloth bit like you would use fo porting before I do the flares. And I am going to be using Seco flare seals
to help seal things as well.

 

There good, Not seen those seals before I have made a few Hard pipes up in the past to replace OE Diesel lines and found the Lump a pita to get rid of for a high pressure seal but the seals look like a good fix.

What sort of Flaring tool did you use? Would you recommend it? Think i'm sold on these Hard pipes they look great

 

The flare tool is made by ridgid and I got it from inline tube along with the 1/2" bending tool by imperial, and rolls of 3/8" and 1/2' stainless tubing.

the flare tool works really well makes very nice uniform flares.

the tubing is .028" wall thickness which is a little thin for bending 1/2" and makes it a little wrinkley. further research has lead me to info that .035" thickness is much better in sizes 3/8" and larger.

Of course seamless would likely eliminate the need for the Seco seals

For me taking the time to do hardlines is very satisfying just because I like to do stuff like this.

I'll start on the lines under the car Monday and then the tank bracket fuel pump assembly.

Still have to do the turbo installation, bigger intercooler, cold side plumbing, haltech/wiring harness installation. and water/meth injection.

Alot of work, and alot of details to attend to.

 

Be sure to take lots of Pictures

 

Don't forget that you don't have SS lines rubbing against everything making holes in other lines and fraying wiring either. If you don't mind me asking, how much time did it take to get to where you are in the first pic? fuel system lines and fittings are one of the items I have not ordered yet and I would definitely prefer hardlines.

 

I have not kept track of the time I've put in it. I generally go over to work on it on Mondays and Wednesdays after work. 3ish hours at a time. I'd say I've got at least fifteen hours, and several feet of wasted tubing due to mistakes. But I don't try to hurry these things. Really it started pretty slow but I've gained speed and minimized mistakes as I've gone along.

I'm a mechanic by trade and have fabbed up lines before. But I always had the old parts to use as a guide. Doing this from scratch has been a learning experience. The lines under the car will be bent to go where the stock lines go and should be a lot easier. But when I get back to the rear axle where the fuel filter is going to be mounted to the back of the rear subframe I think it will get interesting again.