Well, boy did I really f*** up this time. I have a 350 TPI. I just finished replacing my intake manifold gaskets and was putting the fuel rail assembly back on. Well, while I was taking it off earlier, I stripped the fuel line nuts and never realized it. Now putting them back on, I stripped them even more, and now they won't tighten properly and i can't get em off. My wrench doesn't work anymore. I'm planning on getting replacement fuel lines but I can't get these old ones off? How do I get these nuts to turn now? Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Fred

 

You stripped it so your wrench doesn't work. Have you tried a pair of vice grips or channel locks? Those fuel lines are pretty soft, so be careful. I'm sure you can get something on it. If not, just cut the lines and try jamming a socket on there.

P.S. Don't use a hacksaw to cut metal fuel lines. Lock cutters would be great.

 

Fred , don't feel bad , I did the same thing last year with my fuel lines when I replaced my injectors , right now Im replacing my fuel pressure regulator , I got it back and its leaking because I have two stripped security torx on it . I really f*** up this time again , heh .

 

Sometimes you can take a dremal to the nut to create a couple of flat surfaces with a sanding drum, so a smaller wrench can get on it. You'll be amazed at how well this works.

You can buy some patch pipe thats flared with a fitting already on it(any parts store). Then cut a piece off your gas line and use a flare union to patch the new & old.
I think they even sale a kit called a fuel line repair kit, in the HELP section, that has the union & pipe.


Ron

 

Ron , are you sure thats a good ideau working a dremel around gas line ? I know they throw sprarks .Not to be a smartass but , I do have a dremel and thats why I did not use my dremel on my fuel lines . Not trying to be an *** or flame , just curious , dont want to see anyone get hurt working on there car . My dremel also puts out ALOT of heat , and that would make me nervous to around the gas .

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys. So Wayne, how did you get the fuel lines off after you stripped them? I went out and got a pair of vice grips today and I really hope to *** that they work. If they don't, I'm sunk...

Fred

 

I agree with you on not cutting through a fuel line, but with a sanding drum bit on the nut shouldn't be to bad, and if your worried use a little water on the area.
That and the dremal will make easy work of it in seconds.

Ron

 

I had it towed to the shop . Then the mechanic said '' I dont wanna ever clean up one of your messes again . Thank Go d thats the only mess up I have ever had with working on a car . It will come out fine Fred , just be paitent . Most likely a pair of vicegrips will work . Once you get it fixed just make sure there is no fuel leaking out on the fuelrail anywhere before you drive it and heat it up and cause a fire .

 

Well, I officially have no more $$$ so having it towed to the shop and have the mechanic clean up my mess is out of the question. Guess I'll have to stick it through and see if I can remedy this situation myself. I'll go and scour the junkyards tomorrow and see if I can score a new hard fuel line. Thanks for the help everyone.

Fred

 

I think your ganna have to get the whole fuel line Fred , because my mechanic told me that "your luck I was able to salvage those nuts , those fuel lines are expensive , I think the nuts are made to where you cant take them off the fuel line .Also , I have some of those fuel line nuts , because when I pulled my fuel pressure regulator from the boneyard I tore off the fuel lines and left the nuts in because I did not have the proper wrench to take them off , I had left it at home and I did not need it anyway . I KNOW what wrench goes on that line because its much bigger than all my other wrenches , Tomorrow I will go out to my shop and find and tell what size it is ........but wait .........WILL THE V6 FUEL LINES HAVE THE SAME NUTS AS A V8 ....If any of you guys know please answer so I can help this man out . ....Thanx guys .

This wrench wont strip them that I have I stripped two other lines with the wrong wrench .

TAKE THE WHOLE FUEL LINES that are under the hood Fred .

 

I'd advise against cutting a fuel line that recently had fuel in it, but if it's been sitting in your garage open for a while I don't see any harm. Gasoline is very volatile, it's likely it has all evaporated by now IF the line is open to the atmosphere.