In the "For What Its Worth" category:
Lots of years ago, we made hundreds of fuel lines for multiple carburetor set-ups (this before so much of the pre-formed stuff was available).
We made both exact reproduction O.E. lines as well as custom lines.
At that time, researching found that aluminum, brass, copper, and steel had all been used by the original car manufacturers as original material. At the time (this may have changed, I do not know) no original manufacturer had ever used stainless as original equipment.
Di-Acro was the supplier for the best (I could find) bending tools.
We bought tubing by the hundreds of feet in both aluminum and steel. At the time a few enthusiasts were starting to use stainless; so we ordered some along with our other order.
i got a call from the chief engineer of the tubing supply company asking me what were our intentions with the stainless. When I explained that we planned to do fuel lines, he stated they would NOT sell me the stainless tubing, and explained.
At the time (again, this may have changed with different formulations of stainless) STAINLESS COULD NOT BE FLARED TO 45 DEGREES, requiring special 37 degree fittings. Trying to use original fuel fittings would result in engine fires; one would be required to machine all new fittings (this included a bunch of original fittings that were not available 50 years ago, let alone today). And while custom fittings could be machined (I have machined LOTS of special fittings using 45 degree flares, had custom tooling produced to make these flares) at 37 degrees, there was always the possibility that someone who did not know better could mix the flares with the resultant fires!
We listened to the engineer, and have never used stainless. Also, I have had to repair a lot of carburetors with zinc castings that had been stripped by someone using stainless screws. We would automatically double the estimate to rebuild any carburetor where someone had used stainless screws.
Please understand I am not arguing with anyone, simply making additional information known.
Edited to correct a typo.
Jon
Last edited by carbking; 09/30/2025 3:24 PM.
