Im setting up a tpi conversion and have hard lines for my fuel feed. i was wondering if anyone knew what kind of pessure goes through the return line and would it be safe to use a short piece of rubber line to connect back to the tank since I dont have any kind of way of connecting a hard line to it.

 

Yes, you can use flexible fuel line but make sure you use fuel-injection fuel line and fuel injection hose clamps.
That is what I did when I converted my Monte SS to TPI, and if I run the pump (I use an external Bosch) I can actually see the fuel hose 'swell up' slightly and I am running 5/16" (brake line) all the way to the tank (I even added a return line into the tank because the carb line was way too small).
So go ahead, it works great.

 

Thanks for the reply. I will check into getting the clamps and line. I will be using 5/16 hardline back to the tank then I will need to connect the rubber line.

 

I dunno...excess bleed/return line pressue should equal the main line pressue, eventually...but I've not monitored it.

Just for goodness sake, I'd rent/borrow a flaring kit and make it right.

 

Has nothing to do with flaring it since their isnt enough meat coming from the tank itself to flare. Its literally a nipple. I believe Wulff understands the situation better.

 

Yes, in your mind he may understand it better, but read this in his post:


::::and if I run the pump (I use an external Bosch) I can actually see the fuel hose 'swell up' slightly and I am running 5/16":::

FYI, I converted my'59 to TPI-ish, and ran metal line the whole way through.

I don't see any swelling in my lines...and I'd also think swelling is a sign of failure waiting to happen.

But hey, it's your fireball

 

BTW, I soldered a nipple into my tanks, as well as a return line.

Yes, ther's many a way to "get around things", and then there's the correct way.

 

Ok well thanks for your input. If it fails it will be my fireball your right. I have seen the rubber fuel injection line with clamps run before without fail even on a factory situation. Just because its not what you did doesnt make it not the "correct way". I was trying to see how others experience with it turned out. I was really trying to avoid it but I have been told on many occasions the specialty fuel injection line is safe and Im at a situation of nessecity.

 

there should be very little if any pressure on the return line, maybe 1 or 2 pounds tops, the return side opens up inside the tank. if there is any kind of real pressure on the return side then there is a restriction in it. as long the rubber hose used is for high pressure fuel injection & the right clamps are used & the metal lines have the small flare to hold the rubber hose on, there should be no problem. there are plenty of cars that use the high pressure rubber fuel hose with hose clamps on the return side from the factory. the imports used to even do it that way on the high pressure side. some may still do it that way.

make certain that it is no where near the exhaust , where it could get cut or pinched off or near any moving parts. also, the hose you get probably won't be near the quality of what comes from
the factory, so you will want to check it from time to time for any leaks, cracks or other problems.

 

Dude, if you've seen it "done that way", then why even ask, unless you want to validate "your way".

Must be my age, I dunno, I recall the '64 Fairlane I had that the rag joint in the steering was shot and I used bailing wire to tighten it up.

Did it work?

Yes.

Was it the correct way?

No.

Good luck, be safe.

 

Thanks for the informitive reply Denn and for your time. I swear I hear a buzzing noise around here dont know where its coming from. Oh Well.

 

Crimeny sakes I'm not that stupid.

FU and your buzzing noise.

My kids are more direct and to the point than you are.

 

I think Denn says it best and he's right, there are a LOT of factory cars running flex line for both service and return lines and they work great.
As an engineer I am well aware of pressures and lines and if you use the proper line (it is marked as to what it will take in PSI) and the proper clamps you are okay, I always use 2 clamps on each at each end. (I am working at an aerospace lab that is testing at 10,000 psi (within a caged area) and we are using hose clamps on the lines (at this pressure we put a small flare on the end just so it will bite into the rubber but in 7 years of testing it never moved).
Another way to look at it is the return line is simply a dump just like it was running onto the ground except we are dumping it back into the tank.
I like to use metal brake line (Arizona TPI gave me the tip when I was visiting them) it bends easy and you can slip your rubber (yes the "experts" do it too) line well onto the tube.
I think someone stooping to post "FU" is rude and not very professional... in my opinion lots of posts doesn’t give someone the right to automatically become an expert in all matters.

 

Ummm... if you look at the return line as it goes into the tank on a stock TPI car... they use some rubber hose, with standard hose clamps. Also, one of the fuel injection books says that the return pressure should be no greater than 3 psi, otherwise your return line is too small or the line is blocked somewhere.