Topic: STRANGE thing happened now.......Fuel line leak!

['78 LadyBird]

Now tell me this isn't strange. 
Frank came home this morning 1-29-2010, from work about 6am.  He started the car, and absolutely NOTHING leaked!  I swear, it was leaking and my boys even saw it dripping.  He even took my son to school, came back, and still nothing!  WTH!!!  I'm not going nuts, because my kids saw it too.   Should I still replace the line or leave it be?





Dang it!  Went to start the TA today and all of a sudden I got a real strong smell of gasoline.  Told my oldest, Tyler, to open the hood and he says "shut it off! SHUT IT OFF!"

Ok, so I looked, and saw gas dripping onto the valve cover then down to the block.  It is coming from the braided line.  So, I went to Auto Zone and they tell me that they don't have the "pipe" line, and "good luck" on finding that.

So, I said, can't I just use a rubber fuel line hose with clamps?  He said yeah, you could, but I'm wondering now, being this was a kid that I was talking to,

can I use a rubber line with clamps??

Note: The area in which my finger is pointing to, is the general area of the leak.  I did not see it spray out, because I had turned the engine off.  My son said it was coming from that area.

[LOMILETA]

Should be able to, Pics of the area in question would be good.

[jphillips3333]

Sure ... but you ought to have a solid fuel line from the pump to the Q-jet carb, right?  Neoprene fuel line works but I don't use it for long line lengths or next to sources of heat.

[ta78w72]

Don't splice a rubber line into it.  That shows no class!  In line tube sells the line for a stock carb as does classic.  If you're not using a stock carb, then you'll have to go the rubber hose route.

[LOMILETA]

She mentioned that a BRAIDED line was leaking. So i dont think she has the factory steel line anyways.

[ta78w72]

She mentioned that a BRAIDED line was leaking. So i dont think she has the factory steel line anyways.

That's why I'm thinking she's not running a stock carb.

[LOMILETA]

yes sir.

[jphillips3333]

I read the braided comment as well - but she ought to have the metal line routed from the fuel pump up.  I think it's a Q-jet but CYA only knows nail polish color vs. remover.

[ta78w72]

I'm biased against rubber lines.  The Y88 I recently bought had a chevy carb.  They cut the metal line and spiced in a rubber hose to conform with a side inlet.  Yeah, it leaked all over the place.  I threw out the chevy carb and Maryland Bandit is sending me a rebuilt Olds 403 carb.  

[ta78w72]

Well, CYA is AOK in my book.

[jphillips3333]

CYA is B-L-O-N-D-E 

['78 LadyBird]

Ok, it is not a stock carb.  It's an elderbrock.  Do you want me to take a picture of it?

You guys are too funny!

PS, we have the orginal carb, and plan to put it back, but this is how we bought it.

[jphillips3333]

Yeah, post the routing ...

 EDIT: ..oops, it's been updated.

[jphillips3333]

Suggestion after looking at the pix - get a Q-jet, a metal line and the right air cleaner assembly down the road. 

You can fix that line in the interim by pulling it and replacing it with noeprene fuel line.  If it leaks at the fitting, you might be able to get by with tightening it, maybe shorten it a bit to get it off the intake manifold.  If it's leaking where the "clean" fingernail is, halfway down the hose and split, replace it.

[LilSki]

Yeah that finger nail is awfully clean to be near the engine bay