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By rexbd - 14 Years Ago
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Been a while, but back to work on the Tbird. trying to figure out how to pull the gas line and brake lines under the car forward of the axle. Seem to be trapped between the body and frame. Am I missing something? Nice to be back working on the car. Hope to have undercarrage done next week or two and start putting back together over next couple of months and back on the road this fall. I wish I had a lift to pull the body would make this a lot easier.
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By bird55 - 14 Years Ago
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No, you're not missing anything. Not one of FORDS better ideas. The fuel line does run between the frame and body in the area just below the drivers side door. So if you are trying to get a factory formed line in there or out of there-body needs to come up.  Not worth it. What I did is form a line from the nickle/copper alloy material that is available. It is bendable by hand without kinking. Not stock if that is what you're after though, but you will be able to snake it through there and bend it as needed.
Someone else on here may have done it but I was never able to figure out any other way. BTW I would add put it back in the same spot as opposed to dropping it below the frame since it it close to the wheel in that area. just my 2cents.
On the brake line I don't remember there being any issues.
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By oldcarmark - 14 Years Ago
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Just wanted to ad a little of my own experience about bending line.If you use a piece of round pipe to bend the line around as you shape it,it wont kink done properly holding the line tight to the pipe.You might want to use a piece of coat hanger wire to make up form that will fit the space prior to bending the actual line.
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By 55Birdman - 14 Years Ago
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The fuel line on my bird was worthless when I tried to remove it so I just broke it into pieces to get it out. When new line was installed I started at the front of the car and ran the line to the back working just at the body/frame juncture. It was a bit tedious but i think it worked better than pushing it toward the front as it does get bound up every now and then.I used line from Inline tube . It was pre bent and is hand bendable and worked very well. The brake lines were an easy redo no issues there as it runs along the frame. Still it wasnt that bad just take your time .
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By paul2748 - 14 Years Ago
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As you know, there are two pieces to both lines. The junction is about under the drivers side door. I had to replace the rear half of the brakes line. What I did was use two pieces for the one. The first piece went from the front piece to just up about two inches where the stock second piece went. The second of the new pieces made the curves and went up between the frame and body to the junction with the flex line. Still had to work at the second new piece to get it around all the parts. Used a junction to join the two opieces. Worked great.
You can do the same thing with the gas line. Might be a bit harder since its bigger.
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By BPoland858 - 14 Years Ago
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Having just replaced the entire fuel system on my 57 T-Bird, I can tell you that the two piece fule line from the tank to the flexible line was a pain in the butt. We may not have been as patient as we could have been, but getting the line from the tank, snaked up and around to the frame under the driver's door, just wasn't happening. Since we had a couple of fittings from the line we took off, we decided to turn the two piece line into a three piece line. Thanks to a couple of newly created flair fittings, the new line went in much easier. I'm still not a fan of flair fittings, as in my personal experience, they are prone to leak until they get tightened more that you think they should need to be. Usually at 1:15 in the morning with a puddle of gas on the garage floor (Don't ask me how I know this). If you are looking for concourse correct, you will have your work cut out for you, when you try and feed the second part of the line, back to the tank. Good luck.
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By charliemccraney - 14 Years Ago
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With any flares, the flare must be square, and the fittings must not be damaged. In every instant that I've had to resort to making a connection ridiculously tight, either the flare was bad, or the fittings had been damaged by previous over-tightening. Much of the time, you can see where the steel line has cut into the fitting. Some of the cheaper flair tools make it very difficult to get a good flare. When good fittings are used and care is taken in forming the flares, I've never had to over-tighten.
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By PF Arcand - 14 Years Ago
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There are 2 or more companies that advertise brake & gas line replacement kits for mid 50s Fords. I think Stainless Steel Brake is one. What they don't say in the advertisments is that they can't be installed as made, except on a Body off restoration! A friend drove himself batty trying to do a factory like install on a 56 Ford. Even on a hoist they had to cut & alter the kit to make it work.. I had the main brake line on my 57 car replaced. It was made up with standard pre made piping & couplings as needed, to make it fit something like a factory install.
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