Brake lines - fuel lines

[racephotoman]

Maybe a stupid question, but do I mount (is it better?) the fuel and brake lines inside the main chassis 4" rails? Also, do I use something like teflon tape on the brake line fittings. Is there any type of removable clips to attach the lines to the frame? Fiunally, I see in the instructions and other place that the brake line leading from the master cylinder to the "TEE" on driver's left is coiled....can I just buy a shorter line to installed from the MC to brake tee, or is the coil serving a function?

Walter

[SStrong]

Run them down the outside of the main tubes. This gives them the best protection. The kit should come with rubber coated clips. I attached mine with rivet nuts, that go into the tubes like rivets so the clips are bolted in place. You could just drill and tap the tube for 1/4-20 bolts.
The coil helps to relieve contraction/expanion of the lines. You could use shorter lines, or cut the ones you have. Bending them is easy - place two sockets (I used 1 1/4" half inch drive) in a vice with about 5/16" between them and bend the tubing around them. Be careful you mark the placement of the bends. This bends the tubing without crimping. I marked off a short piece of 2x4 lumber and drilled it for 1/2" bolts, then put them through the socket and 2x4 so they wouldn't move during bending. Put the 2x4 in the vice.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Teflon tape is for NPT plumbing fittings, not automobiles. Brake lines seal on the flare, not the threads.

Jeff

[racephotoman]

I also see the solid brake line tubes have a long and short fitting at opposite ends...is there any preference (or reason) to a particular fitting it should go to...all the female ends look the same to be?

Walter

[MPTech]

I looked at a lot of cars to figure out how I wanted to run my lines. Not a fan of the coiled tubing, so I cut and flared mine, hopefully the lines won't leak. We'll see next week, going to finish up the reservoir lines and bleed the brakes.

Hope this helps:
Brake Lines - DONE! Wahoo! (http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?4424-Brake-Lines-DONE!-Wahoo!)

To answer your questions (btw the way, there are no stupid questions. I learned this is a great group of guys that are more than willing to help you)
1. Mount your fuel and brakes on the outside of the main tubes, usually fuel on the passenger side and brake on the driver side.
2. No teflon tape, they are flared fittings.
3. For removeable clips, you can install riv-nuts so they can be screwed in. (but I really don't think they need to be.
4. You can coil them, but not required.

[skullandbones]

There is one trick I have seen that makes the rear brake line system somewhat more efficient. If you run the rear line to a point near the center of the differential, you can run one flexible line to the diff and have your tee there. Then you will have solid lines running to the brakes and don't need to worry about those lines flexing (one flex line instead of two). It's neater looking too. There are many different ways to route lines but if you look at a lot of the build threads and sometimes completely unrelated pics just where the lines happen to show up in the pic, you will see stuff you like. Good luck, WEK.

[Jeff Kleiner]

There is one trick I have seen that makes the rear brake line system somewhat more efficient. If you run the rear line to a point near the center of the differential, you can run one flexible line to the diff and have your tee there. Then you will have solid lines running to the brakes and don't need to worry about those lines flexing (one flex line instead of two).

That only applies to drum brakes where the wheel cylinders are fixed to the backing plates. Disc brake calipers float and must have a flexible line, either directly from the chassis or from hard lines attached to the axle.

Jeff

[racephotoman]

Once again, thank you everyone for the great info....Walter

[SStrong]

I went to the build school when I was to the point of running brake and fuel lines. I would have done it okay, but seeing it done and helping really helped get me started. Don't know if you've considered it, but it was a lot of fun and we saw several finished cars (owners brought them in around lunch each day). Hope your build goes smoothly!