Homemade fuel lines

[wrecktec]

I have a '65 Mercury 650 I recently got running after I think it has sat for quite awhile. Pretty much as soon as I got it to run a couple of the fuel lines from the fuel pumps developed leaks (no suprise due to age). I am wanting to build new lines from brass barb fitting and auto fuel hose. It looks to me like the original lines are "3/8 I.D. I was wondering if it would hurt to make the lines from "5/16 or even "1/4 I.D. fuel hose barb fittings and hose since they are a lot eaiser to find at the hardware store and a little cheaper. "3/8 hose is huge and seems a little overkill, but I really don't want to starve the engine of fuel either cause that could really be disasterous. I know people have done this before, but I would like to know if running a little smaller line would hurt anything.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Homemade fuel lines

Sure you can. Use 5/16 up to the fuel pump and 1/4 after the fuel pump. 3/8 is definately overkill and more stress on the fuel pump than necessary.

 

[wrecktec]

Re: Homemade fuel lines

I have posted this subject on another forum and had a lot of responses. Yours makes the most sense to me so far. Thanks.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Homemade fuel lines

Yep, 5/16ths fine. If you need a fitting you can't find..these people have them all

http://www.fittingsandmore.com/

 

[wrecktec]

Re: Homemade fuel lines

I was not able to read all of your posts before I built my new fuel lines. I went ahead and used "1/4 on all of it. I cut a piece of the old line and compared it to a new piece of "1/4 line it they are identical. The 1/4 fittings were readily available so I went ahead and bought 'em. I did use a 1/4 X 3/8 at the fuel connector which I am not so sure if it is big enough, but I wanted to run the same size line everywhere (It was a tight fit as it was for a couple of em). At least now I have no leaks and I'm glad I did all of em cause they were all probably original and were pretty much shot.