Working with tubing (fuel + tranny)

[rayh059]

I need to replace the transmission cooling lines as well as the fuel supply and return lines. My question is:

Should I buy stock straight tubing and bend it myself or buy the part already done? I've done some conduit bending with 1/2" and 3/4 inch pipe, I'm guessing it isn't rocket science. I'll pick up a couple tubing wrenches that fit the fittings. Anything else I should think of? I plan on removing the bed to clean up and replace the sending unit also.

[rayh059]

I ended up using tubing stock from the store. I had a tubing cutter, but I ended up buying a cheap set of tubing wrenches, a flaring tool and a cheap tube bender. It would have been nice to have a better quality bender, but it worked. Hell I could have done it with a couple cut out circles nailed on a board!

The fuel lines wheren't too bad, I used some short pieces of flex where needed. I did use fuel injection rated hose, flared the tubing and doubled up on the high pressure clamps.

I still need to do one of the tranny lines. I think here I'm going to replace the front half that is rotted (has a piece of flex from the previous owner/dealer). Then make the connection with a compression fitting. The connection to the tranny looks damn near impossible to get to. Plus, if I ever need to drop the starter, it would be nice to be able to get this out of the way.

[rayh059]

Finished the job. Used a combination of steel tubing and the appropriately rated flex hose. I flared the tube ends and double clamped each side with fuel injection rated clamps.