The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop brake lines in the boxed frame or out

hey guys really thinking about putting my brake lines inside of a boxed frame with connectors coming out just by each wheel and the master cyclinder. then running a nice braided line to each component. what do you think.

will you be able to replace the lines should that be necessary in the future? if so i would think that would be slick...

It would certainly make a clean frame, but how do you keep the main lines from rattling around inside the box and getting abrased?

i was going to use the same clips that you would use normally. also thought i would use stainless steel for longevity. if and when one goes down i would just run a replacemant on the outside of the boxing.

forgot to add that i would do this before and during the boxing process.

...I'd suggest buying a roll of the tubing so there is no connections inside the boxed frame and get someone that has a nice double flare tool to flare the ends for you.

Yee, you can put clips on the chassis that reach inside the frame and hold the line up....especially to keep it off the bottom of the frame. I'm not sure what those little zip tie lo0king things are called. They go inside the hold, around the line and back out and you pull it tight.

I just replaced the line on my step son's Dodge pickup. 1999 or 2000 I think, and the line was inside the chassis. The line was a one piece 128" long!!

It should last more than a life time so do it if thats what you want.

did some more thinking and i think i would put some access holes in strategic locations then have a flush mount plate to screw on over the access hole. that way the frame is still clean and smooth but have access to lines and fittings when i need too. this would also be benificial for running the wiring in the boxed channel also. what do you think? mo

I agree Mo.
I'm in the process of boxing the frame of my 1940 truck.
I'll use a nice hole saw and make holes down the sides for wires and tubing to enter and exit.
That way i have access to the lines if needed.
I remember reading somewhere that the holes don't take any of the strength away from the boxing.
I could be wrong tho LOL

Barry

I have probably built a dozen or more boxed frames during my dirt track racing days, and I've come up with some decidedly biased opinions in the process. There's one basic principle when building a dirt car- - - -make it three times as strong as you think it needs to be, and don't be too surprised when it breaks! At the same time, weight is the mortal enemy of the "Go fast- - -turn left" crowd. We built 'em light and strong by cuting a series of football-shaped holes in the boxing sections, and actually had less distortion from crash damage than the ones we left fully boxed. If you use a template and a plasma cutter to make the holes, it looks pretty good, too.
Jerry

I ran my wiring and brake lines down the left rail and fuel line down the right rail. I notched out access points at the top and bottom of the box for cab mounts and a means to secure wiring and lines.

Gman do you have any pics of your boxing and notching

If you click on the build link picture 52 shows the cab but no engine. You can see the notches on the right rail just pass a access plate that I used on each side for the through fittings for brake and fuel lines.

I like the idea of running the tubes inside the frame. On an episode of "Trucks!" on Spike TV, they boxed a Ford Ranger frame and punched holes in the plates. I would think something like that would work pretty well. It wouldn't compromise strength, it would lose some weight, and it would provide some access.