EFI - why run 5/16ths hard line

[DanWheeler]

quick question... we know the fuel rail is 3/8ths feed and 5/16ths return but the barbed connectors from BCB are both 3/8ths so why run 5/16ths return when the hose sizes are the same?

it just seems like its going to be more complicated to find fittings to go from steel lines to hose for 5/16ths rather than just using 3/8ths for feed and return and using the same fittings for both feed and return.

thanks,
dan

 

[blue bronc]

I was under the impression that the BCB fittings were 3/8 and 5/16.
Am I wrong?
I spoke to Jason at BCB and he told me of some fittings made by Russell that replace the barb fitting and screw on to allow you to use AN fittings for the SS lines conming off of the rails.
The fittings i am speaking of are available in /38 and 5/16

thanks
Mark

 

[DanWheeler]

I was under the impression that the BCB fittings were 3/8 and 5/16.
Am I wrong?
I spoke to Jason at BCB and he told me of some fittings made by Russell that replace the barb fitting and screw on to allow you to use AN fittings for the SS lines conming off of the rails.
The fittings i am speaking of are available in /38 and 5/16

thanks
Mark

well they are and they aren't. The fuel rail springlock connectors are supposedly 3/8ths and 5/16ths however the BC barbed connectors are identical on the barb side. the inner diameter and barb size are exactly the same.

I just took the barbed connectors out of the package and the barbs are way too small for 3/8ths hose but they both fit well into some pieces of 5/16ths fuel line scraps I had. so they are both 5/16ths.

now on my BCB EFI tank, the send is definitely 3/8ths and the return is 5/16ths so the tank seems to be right.

I guess there's really no problem... just didn't expect the barbed connectors to be the same size.

I guess I'll just need to convert from 5/16ths to 3/8ths at the engine for the feed line... or try to stretch a 5/16ths hose over a 3/8ths barb.

 

[Socal Tom]

5/16 is cheaper.
Tom

 

[DanWheeler]

5/16 is cheaper.
Tom

not in this town. The local NAPA wanted $9-something per foot of 5/16ths fuel hose! 3/8ths was a little cheaper. Hard lines are the same price.

I ran all over town looking for 5/16ths inverted flare to barb or nipple fittings but nobody has anything. 3/8ths stuff was easier to find.

 

[Viperwolf1]

not in this town. The local NAPA wanted $9-something per foot of 5/16ths fuel hose! 3/8ths was a little cheaper. Hard lines are the same price.

I ran all over town looking for 5/16ths inverted flare to barb or nipple fittings but nobody has anything. 3/8ths stuff was easier to find.

I can see the EFI rated hose at that price but the steel lines should have the decimal point moved over to the left. I used 5/16" steel for my trans lines and it was only a few dollars for a 5' piece with the fittings at Advance.

 

[DanWheeler]

I can see the EFI rated hose at that price but the steel lines should have the decimal point moved over to the left. I used 5/16" steel for my trans lines and it was only a few dollars for a 5' piece with the fittings at Advance.

oh yeah, i meant hard lines 3/8ths compared to 5/16ths are the same price. they are pretty reasonable.

I'm having a really hard time finding fittings that convert from the 3/8ths and 5/16ths inverted flare on those pre-made hard lines to a 3/8ths and 5/16ths barbed or nipple.

I found 3/8ths and 5/16ths female inverted flare couplings and even 3/8ths male inverted flare to 3/8ths male nipple fittings at the local NAPA but no 5/16ths male inverted flare to 5/16ths male nipple fittings.

Surprisingly, summit doesn't seem to have ANY of this stuff - not even inverted flare couplers. the local hydraulic shop didn't have anything either.

I had a feeling this was going to be tough tracking down the fittings for the fuel lines.

Maybe i'm over-complicating this. Do i really need to use the inverted flare nuts on the hard lines or can I just chop them off and clamp the hose directly to the hard lines? The EFI tank isn't even barbed so i figure if that doesn't leak then either should the hoses connected directly to the steel lines.

 

[Viperwolf1]

Maybe i'm over-complicating this. Do i really need to use the inverted flare nuts on the hard lines or can I just chop them off and clamp the hose directly to the hard lines? The EFI tank isn't even barbed so i figure if that doesn't leak then either should the hoses connected directly to the steel lines.

You can cut the flare and fitting off but I think a small flare will hellp hold the hose on.

 

[DanWheeler]

You can cut the flare and fitting off but I think a small flare will hellp hold the hose on.

damn, figures I would overcomplicate things by bringing brass and nipples into the mix as usual.

I'll just put a single flare on it and double clamp it and should be good to go.

thanks!

 

[marty]

i think i am going to run the factory type plastic fuel line that the mustang uses. very flexible and would probably be a whole lot easier to run.