Replacing my fuel lines

[Georgia Flash]

Guys out of all the hard jobs that I have tackled replacing the fuel lines on my new 76 Z has to be the worst of them all!

 

First off let me start by saying I do not know how I made in home from Cumming GA to Rome on the day of purchase. The next day when I was able to give the car a good once over in my garage with my shop light I was horrified to find the top fuel line inside the bundle of three inside the engine bay was rusted completly through! Yup there was a big hole in it. Apparently the battery dripping on this spot over the years caused it.

 

Now I knew that line was the vent tank line (no fuel inside) that goes to the canister. However the other two fuel lines under the vent line had serious rust on them as well and they did carry fuel!

 

I replaced them with the old lines out of my 75 and man has this been a tough job. For starters the right front brake line in the engine compartment had to be removed as well as the right rear brake line near the junction box. The exhaust system had to be lowered and the rear sway bar dropped down. The hydraulic clutch line also had to be removed in order to snake the lines into place.

 

It took me about 2 1/2 hours to remove them from the 75 and that car has no engine or exhaust system in the way.

 

It took me all day Friday and part of the day Saturday to get them in the 76. Man my arms and knuckles are cut and sore. I drove the car tonight and the brake warning light is glowing. I guess I will have to re bleed the brakes to correct this problem.

 

This rust problem has never been discussed on the board before at least I don't think it has. Guys take a close look at your fuel lines in the old Z when you get the chance. This could have caused a horrific fire in the engine bay that would have destroyed the entire car and maybe even roasted me in the process. :flamedevil:

[JustAFantaZ]

Thanks!

 

I had a '76 Z that suffered horrible battery problems(corrosion) when I still had the inline-6. It rusted a hole down there iirc. BUT after I had the V-8 in there for a while, my friend mas28O helped me put new 5/8" aluminum fuel lines in there to match up with the electric fuel pump we installed in the back. We just went to some store and got a few feet of aluminum lines and cut them to fit. However, I think we kept the original fuel return line, but I forget which stock one we kept. Early on before the swap, he helped me route the fuel lines outside the fender sheet metal and back in near the front of the motor, I guess to keep the fuel away from the heat of the V-8 headers. This might have helped prevent problems for me. Who knows? But I thank God I'm still living!