Stainless Fuel Line Mounting

[burchfieldb]

I am getting ready to do my SS fuel lines and I wanted to see if anyone has an opinion either way about using rigid bulkhead AN fittings? I plan on making an aluminum panel to cover the structure over the transmission tunnel, like Paul and others have done, and mounting the bulkhead fittings through that. They will be mounted with the rubber P clips. I wasn't sure if I need to be concerned at all about frame flex and tension being applied to them and the lines?

[edwardb]

There's no frame flex of any magnitude you should be worried about. Bulkhead fittings are cool I guess but IMO add another potential leak point. I did right angle bends underneath that area with compression fittings. Half as many joints. You wouldn't gain much having bulkhead fittings on the panel higher up. As far as appearance, basically buried once the engine is in if that matters.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=81751&d=1519741060

[slarson]

I went with the bulkhead approach. Like Paul said it will be hidden by the engine. I like the look but probably added way more complexity than it was worth. The tubing has to line up perfectly with the bulkhead and also has to be cut to the exact length.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=172390&d=1663029865

[burchfieldb]

Thanks for the input. Sounds like more trouble than it is worth. It is super easy to get buried in trees and not see the forest. Right angle it is.

[Namrups]

I went with the bulkhead approach. Like Paul said it will be hidden by the engine. I like the look but probably added way more complexity than it was worth. The tubing has to line up perfectly with the bulkhead and also has to be cut to the exact length.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=172390&d=1663029865

Your custom firewall piece that you have your fittings coming through will have to be trimmed to follow the cross braces to clear the transmission as seen in this picture.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=176685&d=1670878281

[slarson]

Your custom firewall piece that you have your fittings coming through will have to be trimmed to follow the cross braces to clear the transmission as seen in this picture.


Yes, I left it untrimmed for now. I want to see how much clearance there is between the transmission and the cross braces. I had a though of trimming it in the shape of the transmission instead of just following the cross braces....something that will probably never be seen once the engine is installed:).

[Namrups]

Yes, I left it untrimmed for now. I want to see how much clearance there is between the transmission and the cross braces. I had a though of trimming it in the shape of the transmission instead of just following the cross braces....something that will probably never be seen once the engine is installed:).

My 351W block with the TKX transmission has about 1" to 1 1/2" of clearance. Keep in mind that the unit might twist under heavy acceleration. (we don't do that but ...:cool:) Not sure what the other combinations will give for clearance.

[edwardb]

Trim that thing to the underside of the frame. :p It's hard enough to thread the engine/trans down into that opening already, getting the angle so the engine and trans go into place, etc. You don't need to make the opening smaller. Unless you were to make the panel removeable, but that just adds more complication with little/no added value IMO. Save the hard work and great ideas for elsewhere. (FWIW, in the picture I posted in #2 above you can see the clearance to the Coyote mock--up block, Quicktime bell, and T-56.)