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Brake Line Frustration! #1872394
07/17/15 05:08 PM
07/17/15 05:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline OP
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline OP
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
I've had it with all of these "perfect" reproduction fuel and brake line products being sold these days, I have yet to find one example that's truly accurate, some are close, others are closer, but some are outright junk! Case in point, the master cylinder lines for my 71 Duster, I bought a set from the two leading companies, neither product matches my originals, one of them could be bent and contorted to fit but won't look right and the other is generic junk and unusable.

So, I'm going to make my own. What can you guys suggest to get me started? I haven't bent up any lines in a while so I need info on current tools (quality benders, flaring tools, etc.) and the best source for fittings and tubing.

Thanks!

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872401
07/17/15 05:19 PM
07/17/15 05:19 PM

R
resq302
Unregistered
resq302
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R



Might it be easier to send out your originals to a reputable brake line company and have them bend them up to match yours?

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872405
07/17/15 05:23 PM
07/17/15 05:23 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline OP
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline OP
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Ok, I'm game....Name one.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872409
07/17/15 05:32 PM
07/17/15 05:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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RSNOMO Offline
Moparts Torchbearer
RSNOMO  Offline
Moparts Torchbearer
R

Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 18,880
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I see some things never change...

Had issues with a 'reputable' outfit 20 years ago...


(No names, but they're about 25 minutes north of here)...

This is after I talked to them very specifically about what I had...


They wanted to see the originals, which I still have...

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872427
07/17/15 06:00 PM
07/17/15 06:00 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,367
Iowa
burdar Offline
Owen's Dad
burdar  Offline
Owen's Dad

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,367
Iowa
Fine Lines didn't list any fuel pump to carb lines for my 73 318. They didn't have any originals to use as a pattern. I sent in my original lines and they made me a new set. I'm sure they would do the same for you.

I assume you already got a set of lines from them and they weren't correct. They should be able to use your originals as a pattern though. I said I wanted to keep my original lines and they sent them back.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: RSNOMO] #1872447
07/17/15 06:44 PM
07/17/15 06:44 PM
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 201
Waterford, MI
J
JAK Offline
enthusiast
JAK  Offline
enthusiast
J

Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 201
Waterford, MI
I had the same problem with one of the line companies this past winter.

Even took my originals to the place twice before they got (most) of the bends correct.

If you have patience and your original lines as templates then you can get good reproductions made based off the original lines.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872474
07/17/15 07:33 PM
07/17/15 07:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 768
Dry Heat AZ
A
AAR#2 Offline
super stock
AAR#2  Offline
super stock
A

Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 768
Dry Heat AZ
Now I'm afraid to say but the lines for my AAR fit great, got them from Inline Tube, seems some have issues with them but they were great for me. Now I'm waiting for the blast, am I going to have just mentioned one of the two Scott bought incorrect lines from?

That said, I do remember something funky about their order page and it being backwards, almost caused me to order the wrong part. I told them about it but never checked to see if they fixed it.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: AAR#2] #1872558
07/17/15 09:43 PM
07/17/15 09:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976
Chilliwack B.C. Canada
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RUNCHARGER Offline
I Live Here
RUNCHARGER  Offline
I Live Here
R

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,976
Chilliwack B.C. Canada
Ugh: I ran into this with my orange Challenger. Fortunately I had the old lines so I cut all the nice new plated fittings off the new lines and bent up new ones using the old patterns. Unfortunately I have to go down this same road with my new (but PB this time) Challenger but without the old ones as patterns. I feel your pain.

Sheldon


Sheldon
Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872636
07/17/15 11:45 PM
07/17/15 11:45 PM

R
resq302
Unregistered
resq302
Unregistered
R



When we had our 70 El camino SS 396, they did not have the original steel lines for the rear air shocks. We sent them to Fine Lines and they copied them exact !

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1872828
07/18/15 12:25 PM
07/18/15 12:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
62maxwgn Offline
master
62maxwgn  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
Scott,I don't think any of the suppliers can get it 100% correct, confused this one has been a nightmare with transmission cooler lines,fuel lines and brake lines.All from a major vendors that is supposed to have the correct lines.Transmission cooler lines were listed specifically 62/65 b-body,they didn't fit,when contacted they said well,they're close,you may have to do a little bending! shruggy

65 C.jpg
Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1873083
07/18/15 06:51 PM
07/18/15 06:51 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,093
Brookville Pa
C
crowbait Offline
super stock
crowbait  Offline
super stock
C

Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,093
Brookville Pa
Scott

I use Rigid Tools benders. Nice,tight bends. I make most of my own lines.Not to complain but new lines are like a lot of repop parts ....close,or almost right.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: crowbait] #1873233
07/18/15 11:37 PM
07/18/15 11:37 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,357
Omaha Ne
T
TJP Offline
I Live Here
TJP  Offline
I Live Here
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,357
Omaha Ne
Originally Posted By crowbait
Scott

I use Rigid Tools benders. Nice,tight bends. I make most of my own lines.Not to complain but new lines are like a lot of repop parts ....close,or almost right.


iagree

pricey but they work well,

https://www.ridgid.com/us/en/400-series-instrument-benders

We have a selection of them and some other Tight radius benders for smaller lines when the above mentioned unit won't quite get us there. And A multitude of flaring tools as well. Pricey but I bought then as I needed them size wise . beer
twocents

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1873234
07/18/15 11:38 PM
07/18/15 11:38 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline OP
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline OP
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Thanks all! beer

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1873653
07/19/15 05:54 PM
07/19/15 05:54 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,099
Rogue River, OR
Jeremiah Offline
master
Jeremiah  Offline
master

Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,099
Rogue River, OR
Get a Mastercool hydraulic flaring kit, use high dollar plated steel fittings, and get some tight radius benders. I gave up on having lines made years ago. If you are building a hotrod I'd use cunifer.

This is where I shop:

http://www.fedhillusa.com/

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1874070
07/20/15 01:49 AM
07/20/15 01:49 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline OP
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline OP
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Does anyone have a direct contact or link to Fine Lines? All I can find are distributors selling them online.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1874099
07/20/15 03:15 AM
07/20/15 03:15 AM
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 125
Iowa
D
dsp Offline
member
dsp  Offline
member
D

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 125
Iowa
I agree with the OP. I've has nothing but trouble with reproduction lines. Inline Tube is by far the worst. If you notice, all of the bends on a CNC-bent line have the same bend radius. Most OEM lines have a variety of bend radii. I think the CNC software is not sophisticated enough to recalculate the bend locations when using a different bend radius. The CNC bender needs to be able to duplicate the original bend radii in order to accurately reproduce a line.

Re: Brake Line Frustration! [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1874183
07/20/15 11:15 AM
07/20/15 11:15 AM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,336
Ball Ground, Georgia
Dixie Offline
top fuel
Dixie  Offline
top fuel

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,336
Ball Ground, Georgia
When I get back to the office today, I'll pm you my contact at Fine Lines. I highly recommend them.


Dixie Restoration Parts
Phone -(770) 975-9898
Phone Hours: M-F 10am-5pm EST
website: www.dixierestorationparts.com
email: mail@dixierestorationparts.com
Veteran owned small business

The Best Parts at a Fair Price.






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