[DT]

Anyone have any tips on replacing the main fuel line tank to pump? Looks like its not gonna be fun!

[KevinW]

I did mine on a lift, getting the old out was easy (bent the cr*p out of it). The new going back in took two people and plenty of cussing! Make sure you clean and paint while it is out. Take it out and install from the side, remove from the back first. Install the front first, only half straighten it, because you need that bend to get the rear in. Once it is in, then straighten it while you are fitting it in. That is why you need 2 people, 3 would be better!

[DT]

Thanks Kevin, I figured as much.

[Luwi67]

I did mine by myself. Straitened it first then sent it in through the back over the axle and worked it into place.

It was a lot easier than I thought it would be.

[DT]

Thanks Bobby. I'm going to gave that a try because I will be by myself also. I'm just not sure exactly how you did that though? I guess you had to roll it to get the front in??

[camarodude67]

Yes was a lot easier than it looked , did 3 of them, no problem.

Jeff G.
69 Verts
69 Z/28

[Luwi67]

The front was the hardest part. It took me a bit to snake up around the subframe, I think I just pulled down on the center of the line under the rocker until I could get the front past the body and subframe into the engine compartment. Then it was just a matter of massaging it to fit all the fuel line clips with no tension anywhere.

[69CamaroRT]

did you have to drop the subframe down a bit in order to get the line in? i would imagine the rear subframe mount has to be loosened. im going to be doing this same thing soon. thanks for the info bobby

[larryh56]

You should not have to drop or loosen the subframe. I bent my own out of 3/8 stainless line working from the front to the rear. The stainless was hard to bend and I broke one bender and bought a long handled bender for the job. Mild steel would have been ALOT easier but I got it done with some patience. I used the old line as a template to get it close then fine tuned it on the car or after trying it and removing to bend it. Good luck!

[Steiner]

Did mine on jack stands with stainless line. Really wasn't that bad. About the only thing that would've made it easier would have been removing the passenger side header. As it was I just wrapped the end with a big ball of masking tape and let it poke away. Now the front half of the front to rear brake line.....that was a bitch.

[Lobstah]

What's the size of the line coming out of the stock tank pickup? The guy who did my 383 upgrade said I should run 3/8" line, but it doesn't seem like the stock pickup is that big?

Jim

[KevinW]

There are 2 line sizes 5/16 for 6 cyl and possibly lowpo SBs and 3/8 for higher HP SBs and BBs. 3/8 for a 383 should be fine.

[Luwi67]

Originally Posted by 69CamaroRT

did you have to drop the subframe down a bit in order to get the line in? i would imagine the rear subframe mount has to be loosened. im going to be doing this same thing soon. thanks for the info bobby

No, did not drop the subframe. The only thing I removed was the tailpipe hanger to make it easier to get the line in.
I should say I used a pre bent 3/8" stainless line (worth every penny). Surprisingly it was softer (annealed) than I expected and, able to be massaged in where needed without cracking.

I guess it seemed easy to me because I was expecting the worst when I started. It was my first time replacing a full length line. I read just about every thread on here about installing fuel line for a week before I started and gleened tips here and there.
Time and patience around the front subframe and body area is what I remember most, same withe the brake line.

[Steiner]

Originally Posted by Lobstah

What's the size of the line coming out of the stock tank pickup? The guy who did my 383 upgrade said I should run 3/8" line, but it doesn't seem like the stock pickup is that big?

Jim

I believe all V8's had a 3/8" fuel line. Is your VIN a 1243 or 1234? If it's a true SS with original sending unit it would also have a 1/4" vent line. Easy way to check the line size is just get a piece of 3/8" tube and see if you have to push it on or not. If it's 5/16" it'll just fall off. When you're used to looking at hoses instead of hard line, the hard line may look small initially.

[Lobstah]

My VIN is a 1243...

Original pickup and sending line is long gone...
I'll measure the one on the new tank later this weekend.

Jim