I've got an 87 GTA that could likely use a new fuel filter. The car has been sitting for approx 3 years, and we have done a minor overhaul on it (plugs, distributor, oil and filter, air filter, and some other little things). The car has about 230K on it, and I doubt the original filter has been changed judging by the condition of the lines on the existing one. Basically, I'm just wondering what you guys think... should I try and take off the old filter, possibly damaging the already rusted bolts and fuel lines, or should i try and start this thing and maybe take it to a shop to have them do it? Any good advice on dealing with rusty fuel line bolts (I've already drenched them in penetrating lube for a couple days btw).

 

PB Blaster is your friend. In this case, your BEST friend. Drown the fittings with the stuff, let it soak for a while, drown it again, tap a little with a hammer, smoke a cigarette, drink a cup of coffee, whatever, and use the CORRECT wrench on them. (Flare nut wrench) One on the filter, one on the nut. Maybe tap the wrench on the nut with the hammer a few times, the vibration helps the lube penetrate better, and also may just shock them loose. When spraying, make sure you get the threads, AND where the pipe goes thru the nut.

 

I've seen posts about the wrench size, but it seems asthough 16mm is too big, and 15mm is too small for the fuel line nut.. and the same goes for 19mm and 20mm on the fuel filter nut... 16 and 20 were the measurements mentioned in a previous post... as for the Flare nut wrench, i don't have those... so what should I do? are vice grips a bad idea???

 

they can be if you slip them off. From my experience...nothing in the world was getting my fittings off in one piece. I just simply cut the tube, got a $30 flaring kit, and learned out to make my own lines. The kit will pay for itself if you work on brakes or gas lines on even a yearly basis...you can then go ahead and get the huge roll of say brake line instead of paying $2-$5 for precut...usually just too short or way too long lines. Just my ...a lot of people hate the idea but it's not difficult and in my situation was my only option as i tried a week of pb blast and then the correct size flare wrenches with nothing but stripping and twising because the metal was just too rusted and weak. Good luck!

 

Where in the line would I begin chopping and splicing, if that was the route i took..

Oh an a side question: when jacking up my car should i be using the notches in the rocker panel flange even though it's quite corroded? I'm kind of afraid it could crumble at any moment... anywhere else you would recommend as a jacking point?

 

with mine it was rusty just up to the 90* angle to the filter. And then the 90* bend after the filter was rusted as well. I would suggest to cut about an inch past the rust to a very clean spot (no rust). I then cut on both ends the filter out, and then sand papered gently the lines to get rid of any road grime that may be on the lines from being outside. I then picked up the $30 kit and put the fitting on, double flared the ends, and just got replacement piping. You can either get a pre-cut piece or you can get like a 25' reel of it. You will need female to female connections of the appropriate size. I'm not positive of the size of the line so i would suggest taking in your cut out line into the auto parts store with you if you are uncertain. Put the male fitting on, female to female connection, new piece of line install the male to that female, connect the other male to a new fuel filter, and then do the same thing on the other side of the filter.
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i've used sub-frames before...it does flex the floor so it's probably not good, lol. All depends on how bad the floor is. I don't suggest the rockers just becuase i'm worried of the same thing. I just jacked my car up the other day to get under neath it and i used the axle to lift it and then put a jack stand under neath the lower control arm. Just be very careful and give it a little shove to make sure it doesn't want to fall down on you. BE CAREFULL!!! Good luck.

 

Well, we've got the car started now, without changing the filter... it was just too rusted on.. it runs fine, but we will probably end up changing it at some point anyways. And yah, we jacked the car via rear axle and centre rail, which worked great. Thanks for the help guys!

 

Advance (and probably others) sells a kit that has 18" of line with the right fitting for the filter and a compression fitting for connecting to the old line. It's a cheap and safe fix for the often rusty filter connections.

 

is this the reason why mine leaks??? lol whats special about brake fittings vs. gas fittings???

 

Nothing really, a compression fitting is a compression fitting.... However, in some states, it is Illegal to use compression fittings on brake lines, considering the pressures they operate at, can't say I am surprised. (though folks do it anyway.....)

 

oh ok, when you said compression fittings i thought maybe you were talking about something different than that. Yea i've seen people use compression fittings even tho it's illegal in NY. So brake line fittings are persay gas line fittings as well? I just have a messed up one that doesn't want to seal?

 

We're talking about the fuel line, not a brake line. It's a perfectly reasonable fix on a fuel line. Much better than the hose and clamps many people resort to.

 

oh i understand that, what i'm saying is i cut my filter off due to too much rust and i replaced it with the appropriate size brake lines, and i have a leak on one end of the filter so thats why i was trying to see if there was a difference in brake fittings and fuel fittings, or if there was actually such a thing as fuel fittings. I used the appropriate size brake fitting on my fuel filter and i have a slight leak and i didn't know if i was just having a sealing issue or if i'm using completely the wrong stuff. Thats all, i understand this thread isn't about brakes...i'm talking fuel lines.

 

He asked what was the difference between brake, and fuel line compression fittings. I told him, and went on to suggest that it was a bad idea for Brake lines. Nowhere did I say not to use them on the fuel line. And yes, it IS perfectly reasonable to use them on fuel lines.