The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Need '46 fuel line size confirmation please

Weren't the tank to pump lines on '46 pick-ups with a 216 engines originally 1/4" and the pump to carb lines 5/16"? For some reason on the truck I'm working on they are both 5/16".

I have a 1946 2 ton with a 216. I'll check and let you know. Though I would not be bothered that everything is 5/16" now.

Unless you want a 100 point truck.

Thanks.

Just so happened that yesterday I did away with the fuel shut off valve because the new one from Jim Carter's had to be adapted because it had 2 male ends.

Where the original valve had a male end to go into the tank and a female end for the fuel hose to fuel pump line. So I had to buy a double female adapter to connect the fuel hose threaded fitting.

After all that the shut off valve leaked.

Then I ordered a shut off valve and line from Bow Tie Bits. The valve would not fit into the tank and the hose would not fit onto the fuel pump line. I just returned it all back to them.

Down to the old time parts store and I bought two one piece line fittings with a 5/16" x 1" tube end, one with a male thread for the tank and the other female for the steel line and a length of new 5/16" in dia fuel hose.

So this morning I went and measured the steel fuel lines. The outside diameter is .316"

5/16" = .3125"

This truck has 37,000 original miles and was garage kept. With the patina consistent I do not think any of the fuel line were ever changed.

Tubing is measured by OD, so you have 5/16" steel line. It should be available in various lengths at any parts store, with male inverted flare fittings installed on both ends. Use male pipe thread to female inverted flare adapters at the tank and the fuel pump to adapt the line to the existing plumbing. If you have to cut and flare the line to accommodate an oddball length, be sure to do a double flare- - - -steel lines crack if you attempt a simple single flare on them.
Jerry

Fuel lines are sold by the outside diameter so your truck calls for 5/16" lines and hoses.

What were the lines originally? I'm pretty sure the '46 216 tank to pump line was 1/4" and the pump to carb line was 5/16" as I previously mentioned, but I need a need a confirmation of this as this truck had 5/16" tubing used for both lines. I know the '41 trucks had 1/4" tank to pump lines and I'm pretty sure the '46 was the same, wasn't it? The little flex hose (from the parts suppliers) from the tank valve has an adapter on one end to screw into the flare fitting for 1/4" tubing. That's another indicator the line should be 1/4" and not 5/16".

My son's 1946 2 ton with a 216 has 37,000 original miles and was garage kept it's entire life.

The patina on all the fuel lines matches which to me proves that they are original and never were changed.

The parts man, born in 1943, helping out in his dads auto parts store since he was 12 and is still there today.

When just this past week I went to buy the fuel hose between the tank and the fuel pump steel line I asked him for a rubber fuel hose. He did not look up the size, he instantly said they take 5/16" hose, how long do you want the hose.

Then I saw your post. So I measured the steel fuel lines from between the tank rubber hose to the fuel pump. Then the steel line from the fuel pump to the fuel filter. There is no line between the filter and the carb because the filter directly attaches to the carburetor.

All the steel lines were measured with a micrometer.

All the steel lines are 5/16".

It does not make sense to put in a 1/4" line before the fuel pump and a 5/16" line after the pump. 5/16 can not flow more then what the 1/4 is supplying it.