3800 Swap Fuel Lines (Page 1/1)
spooky_simon DEC 02, 02:33 PM
Hey All,

Im in the middle of my 3800 NA swap on a shoestring budget. I thought I'd share what I did for fuel lines since I havent seen anyone do this on here.
Having helped a friend debug a leaking braided line fuel system, I thought I would reuse the nylon stock fuel lines from the Grand Prix. The problem has been finding off the shelf components that fit the stock fiero fuel lines and can connect to the nylon ones. I bugged a Dorman sales rep for the past few months and think I have a decent solution that doesn't break the bank. I used a metal fuel line sold as a "repair kit" that had the right fiero side fitting, and used a steel to nylon compression fitting to connect to the nylon Grand Prix line.

Fiero Side:
Supply: 3/8" Saginaw Fitting (female)
Return: 5/16" Saginaw Fitting (female)
Source: These were on the car, did not need to purchase.
Cost: $0

Gran Prix Nylon Fuel Lines:
Supply: 3/8" Nylon Premade Fuel Line
Return: 5/16" Nylon Premade Fuel Line
Source: Salvage Yard. Cut in the engine bay near the ABS box right after the nylon tube comes off the steel tube.
Cost: $3 per line
Note: These come pre-bent as well, a careful use of heat gun can be used to partially unbend it, but its very hard to get it perfectly straight. If you do not have a heat gun, i was also successful at using my oven at 200F for 5minutes to reach glass transition temp. If you put them in the oven, it is very easy to unbend them, but they will return to close to their original position if you put them in the oven again.

Connector to Fiero Supply lines:
The key here is to find something with this style end, to connect to the fiero lines:



Supply: there are a few Dorman options that will work listed below
118-346 3/8 In. Tube x 12 In. with 16mm Compression Fitting - Not recommended, does not come with O-ring
55180 and 800-153 Two part numbers for the same exact part. As far as I can tell, these two part numbers are the same as 118-346 with o-ring included
800-157 3/8 In. x 30 In. w/ 16mm Fitting, If you need 2.5 feet of line, or want to bend it yourself, this is for you
800-162 3/8 In. x 12 In. w/ 16mm Fitting, 90 Degree End, the right angle thins out and fits inside a nylon fuel line very snugly. I think with a crimp clamp this could suffice as-is. However I don't have the tools to confidently install a crimp clamp and went with the compression fitting.
800-233 3/8 In. x 4-3/4 In. w/ 16mm Fitting, 90 Degree End

Return: Similarly, there are multiple options
800-030 For 5/16 In. Steel to 5/16 In. (8mm) Nylon Tubing. This is a barb that converts from steel tubing to nylon. Does not come with o-ring. Not recommended as it does not come in 3/8" size, would not match.
800-151 5/16 In. x 18 In. w/ 14mm Fitting 1.5 ft long
800-156 5/16 In. x 30 In. w/ 14mm Fitting 2.5 ft long.. unless you are bending your own lines, this would probably be a waste
800-166 5/16 In. x 12 In. w/ 14mm Fitting, 90 Degree End
800-231 5/16 In. x 4 In. w/ 14mm Fitting, 90 Degree End

Connectors:
800-135: 3 pack of nylon to steel fuel line compression adapters 1 of each 3/8", 5/16", 1/4". I recommend this one
800-223: 3/8" nylon to steel compression adapter 5 pack
800-222: 5/16" nylon to steel compression adapter 5 pack

Source: I bought through amazon for all of this to take advantage of their generous return policy to troubleshoot and find the right connectors. Could be found anywhere online, and even in person.
Cost: Depends on where you source it, I spent just about $40 for a supply ($15), a return ($17), and a set of adapters ($7)

Result:

I have added some corrugated covering to the metal section to avoid chafing.

Anyone have experience with these styles of fittings and lines?
shemdogg DEC 02, 09:59 PM
I tried to do mine with Fi hose and clamps using the locking nub and the flare of the 2 hoses with the ends of the metal lines right next to each other, but it looked terrible lol. Thats really shoestring, did it w stuff I had in the garage. Didnt leak just looked super janky. I wound up spending about 100$ on mine but I ran 6an all the way to the tank. Used my tubing cutter to cut off the flared ends coming out of the fuel pump housing and used compression to 6an and ran that back to the motor. I dont like that factory plastic tubing for the fuel line, and the 6an conversion wasnt too expensive. Bonus is everything is new and looks good. I got all my stuff off of ebay. Ran thru a bunch of threads and the compression fittings were generally frowned upon, so I got mine down to 2 where they attach to the gas tanks metal lines.

quick connects $13
braided 3/8 15' hose kit w 6 fittings $30
fuel fitting threaded adapters (fuel filter)$30
2 comp fittings $20
fuel filter $15

shem
spooky_simon DEC 03, 11:08 AM
hey shem, do you have any pictures of what you did?
shemdogg DEC 03, 12:34 PM


Still need to clamp it to the firewall, but its hooked up and no leaks. Did it all when I installed the fuel pump, took a few times to get the right fittings.

shem