Braided Stainless Hose

[CTX-SLPR]

I'm redoing the oil filter and cooling plumbing on my Riviera and decided to go all braided since the expense of supplies and tools for hardline is really high. I currently have Redhorse Double Braided line and it's very very stiff. I've got some left over -10 ultralite stuff off of a Craftsman truck fuel system but the inside is spiral wound and accepts only crimpon fittings. Were can I get -10 hose that is more flexible than the double braided Redhorse but still takes reusable swivel fittings?

Thanks,

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

seamless hard line isn't to costly.. and a good flare'n tool kit. is good to have..

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

I have good flaring tools. It's the cost of 1/2in hardline fittings, and bending tools.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

I have good flaring tools. It's the cost of 1/2in hardline fittings, and bending tools.

bending tools?
street light pole
my dad uses a heat wrench and alum baseball bat as it has tons of different dia. on the handle

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

[ponchoman]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

You'd better have a damned good flaring tool for seamless stainless. It better by hydraulic. I've got one, and it's a $300 tool. Even with that it's a PITA. Every line on my car is either stainless hard line or Fragola Braided Stainless. When you heat stainless, you're ruining it for line strength. I've got an excellent 3/16" stainless bender and it's STILL a PITA. You have no idea how many times I asked myself "why did you do this?" before I got the plumbing all in. And I have still not bleed my brakes :-[

[ponchoman]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

I'm redoing the oil filter and cooling plumbing on my Riviera and decided to go all braided since the expense of supplies and tools for hardline is really high. I currently have Redhorse Double Braided line and it's very very stiff. I've got some left over -10 ultralite stuff off of a Craftsman truck fuel system but the inside is spiral wound and accepts only crimpon fittings. Were can I get -10 hose that is more flexible than the double braided Redhorse but still takes reusable swivel fittings?

Thanks,

I wouldn't go to a lesser quality braided line because of the difficulty to work with it. I've seen on other forums where the cheaper and more flexible braided line (like some of the Summit stuff) breaks down over time. It's not worth it. Stick with the good stuff, grunt it out and you'll be happy and secure when you're done. I don't know of any qood quality braided line that is not stiff when you're talking 8an and 10an.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

lets start with what are u use'n the 1/2" line for..
not brakes...
so that leaves oil or tranny cooler lines.. and maybe heater core..
all low pressure.. even see a plumer run steel conduit and bend it..
yes if your looking at s/s line it be a p.i.t.a.

[ponchoman]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

lets start with what are u use'n the 1/2" line for..
not brakes...
so that leaves oil or tranny cooler lines.. and maybe heater core..
all low pressure.. even see a plumer run steel conduit and bend it..
yes if your looking at s/s line it be a p.i.t.a.

Ummm Fuel? I'm running 1/2" stainless hard line for fuel. If you're making upwards of 550hp you're probably going to need 1/2". You don't think there can be pressure there? I was under the impression we were talking about all stainless. Definitely stainless braided - and I got the impression stainless hard line.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

lets start with what are u use'n the 1/2" line for..
not brakes...
so that leaves oil or tranny cooler lines.. and maybe heater core..
all low pressure.. even see a plumer run steel conduit and bend it..
yes if your looking at s/s line it be a p.i.t.a.

Ummm Fuel? I'm running 1/2" stainless hard line for fuel. If you're making upwards of 550hp you're probably going to need 1/2". You don't think there can be pressure there? I was under the impression we were talking about all stainless. Definitely stainless braided - and I got the impression stainless hard line.

This is my oil cooler plumbing and since it would run inside a frame rail I'm very limited as to the bend radius I can use and still be able to snake i in there. I'm 99% certain that a hardline setup would have to be in a few pieces atleast to get it in and attached to everything.
I'm only debating now between braided stainless and the newer textile hoses.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

lets start with what are u use'n the 1/2" line for..
not brakes...
so that leaves oil or tranny cooler lines.. and maybe heater core..
all low pressure.. even see a plumer run steel conduit and bend it..
yes if your looking at s/s line it be a p.i.t.a.

Ummm Fuel? I'm running 1/2" stainless hard line for fuel. If you're making upwards of 550hp you're probably going to need 1/2". You don't think there can be pressure there? I was under the impression we were talking about all stainless. Definitely stainless braided - and I got the impression stainless hard line.

no I don't call 65 psi high pressure...
brakes at 2200 psi
or a n.o.s. tank feed line.. yes..
a fuel line of 70 psi tops ..no

[ponchoman]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

lets start with what are u use'n the 1/2" line for..
not brakes...
so that leaves oil or tranny cooler lines.. and maybe heater core..
all low pressure.. even see a plumer run steel conduit and bend it..
yes if your looking at s/s line it be a p.i.t.a.

Ummm Fuel? I'm running 1/2" stainless hard line for fuel. If you're making upwards of 550hp you're probably going to need 1/2". You don't think there can be pressure there? I was under the impression we were talking about all stainless. Definitely stainless braided - and I got the impression stainless hard line.

no I don't call 65 psi high pressure...
brakes at 2200 psi
or a n.o.s. tank feed line.. yes..
a fuel line of 70 psi tops ..no

High enough pressure to spew flammable fuel all over a hot exhaust or oil all over a track ..... Exactly why tech rules prohibit running flex line "hidden" and require visibility of all connections. If you ever get a real tech inspection and are running braided line for example routed through a boxed frame you fail. I like staying safe. There are enough failure points that I don't need to add blowing up to them. Course, I'm probably a little paranoid after having one car burn up...... Bottom line is like everything else, stainless has application instructions. They do not include heat and specifically caution against work hardening.

[ponchoman]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

For 3/8 I can see that, for 1/2... first find me some that isn't a lot per foot. Second show me were that worked for something that big around.

lets start with what are u use'n the 1/2" line for..
not brakes...
so that leaves oil or tranny cooler lines.. and maybe heater core..
all low pressure.. even see a plumer run steel conduit and bend it..
yes if your looking at s/s line it be a p.i.t.a.

Ummm Fuel? I'm running 1/2" stainless hard line for fuel. If you're making upwards of 550hp you're probably going to need 1/2". You don't think there can be pressure there? I was under the impression we were talking about all stainless. Definitely stainless braided - and I got the impression stainless hard line.

This is my oil cooler plumbing and since it would run inside a frame rail I'm very limited as to the bend radius I can use and still be able to snake i in there. I'm 99% certain that a hardline setup would have to be in a few pieces atleast to get it in and attached to everything.
I'm only debating now between braided stainless and the newer textile hoses.

You going to be racing the car? I understand your issue. I'm pretty sure you could snake good braided stainless in - it is just a real PITA. You may need to put the hose ends on with the line routed. I've had to do that . Tough working conditions but at least you know it's right. You'll also probably want to somehow protect it where it comes through the rails so it doesn't chafe. I used some heater hose slit and slid it over the lines in those areas where rubbing might end up causing a problem down the road.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

Maybe racing it, though that's not the real point of the car. More open road oriented if anything.
The oil filter is mounted low on the front frame horn, just behind the radiator crossmember. The oil line run into a cutout and down the rail around 1ft (you can see it down the rail as the end is open) then turns up just as the rails open to spread out for the bumper brackets. Then it runs over to the cooler in front of the wheel just a few inches away. I could do the turn off of the filter bracket and down the framerail to the upward bend fine in a single piece of 1/2in tubing. The next turn would not be able to make it in 1 piece and still be installable. I guess I could run it in hardline and then the last bit in hose but still a bender for 1/2in is like $150 and the tubing isn't cheap.
The return to the block is simpler, just over the top of the frame rail and pops out next to the oil inlet from between the frame and the inner fender.

[DanStokes]

Re: Braided Stainless Hose

We used the teflon lined braided SS a lot at EPA. To use it properly required a hydraulic jack setup sort of like what you use for A/C lines. Once you've determined the lengths the folks who sold you the line and fittings should be willing to press the ends on for little or nothing. As long as you have the dies it only takes a minute - otherwise, it's impossible.

Dan