Is there any reason the line from the mechanical pump to the carb has to be braided steel or can I just use 3/8 fuel line rubber hose held in place by regular steel screw clamps.

The fuel line I have right now is braided steel and I hate that thing. Some of the braids are getting frayed and every time I touch it, I get little steel splinters all over my hands. Very annoyingly painful.

 

I believe NHRA rules mention that only a certain amount of the fuel system can be rubber, rest has to be braided steel. But anyhow, if you're not going racing, no. Rubber lines will work just fine.

 

Ever seen a car sitting by the side of the road, on fire???

That's what happens when rubber fuel lines get old and burst.

Don't do it.

Sure, people will come on here and tell you, I had one like that for xxx miles or time, never caught fire. OK fine. Well I happen to personally know someone who was skydiving and their parachute failed to open, and they survived. Does that mean, you don't need a parachute when skydiving? Same basic deal: the amount of risk you are taking on by doing that (TOTAL DESTRUCTION of the car), isn't worth the tiny cost of avoiding the risk.

Don't do it. Do it right. Learn how to assemble braided stainless line properly, and just replace the hose piece and the 2 end fittings. Use the Teflon-lined hose so your car doesn't reek of fuel vapors 100% of the time.

 

Just use steel brake line. Screw it directly into the pump, bend it however you want, and use a small short piece of rubber hose as a connection point at the carb. All rubber is too much

 

I was going to say, you don't need steel braided line. Hard line is just fine.

 

Allow me to jump in on this one and tell you how much of an amateur I am..and learned from the mistake.

I had braided steel line which worked fine, but when I encountered the rusty gas tank issue, all the lines were pretty much contaminated. I wanted to replace the pump, return and main line to the pump with all new rubber lines. I decided to go with Dayco Abrasion King...it seemed harder and less likely to kink than their standard fuel line. I took the time to measure the exact length from the pump to the carb and thought all was fine. Driving the car for a few hours, I smelled heavy fumes, even with the windows rolled up. Checked underneath the hood and didn't see any leaks. This issue went on during the next day too.

I decided to drive the car up on ramps again and check underneath for leaks..and ughh the hose was barely touching the lower radiator hose but just enough to melt it and cause a leak. Ok, so I admit my mindless mistake but learned from it without causing a horrible fire or loss of life (or loss of a thirdgen for that matter)

I went back to the local hot rod shop in town and had them cut me some more braided steel line and things are back to normal.

Like the others say, run hard line or braided steel line, whatever you can manage.

 

Not to hijack the thread completely, but what adapter do you use to go from the barbed hardline end to steel braided line? I currently use about 4" of rubber from the barbed hardline (Original hardline) to -06an female adapter then braided line from the adapter to my regulator and then to the carb.