Home page
SPONSOR AD

Topic: Leaking fuel line

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems

Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/15/10 1:02pm Message 1 of 11
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 5/27/2007
Posts: 16
Vette(s): 79 L-82, 72K miles, burgundy
Just noticed my 79 is leaking fuel on the passenger side near rear tire. What is the difficulty factor on replacing the line on my own? Do I need to drop the tank?
 
Thanks
Mike



SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)

Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/15/10 3:22pm Message 2 of 11
Former Member
Send PM
sonoma, CA - USA
Joined: 8/9/2002
Posts: 784
Vette(s): 72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe

all you might have to do is drop the spare, on the 72 the rubber hose connects to the steel line from the sender to the steel line going forward to the fuel pump,  located at the opening at the right rear corner of the frame, dont know why they would change it, but I could be wrong, start there, if you change one change em all, good luck 




Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/15/10 7:10pm Message 3 of 11
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The '79 is different, but the fuel lines will still go to the pass side of the frame in the rear. Jack it up(and use jack stands for safety!), and see if you can determine exactly [b\where the leak is originating. It may be a fuel line, but it may also be a hole in the tank.
The rubber lines are not that hard to change....just hard to get to. You should not have to remove the tank, but it really depends on where the leak is...



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/15/10 8:39pm Message 4 of 11
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Send PM
Sykesville, MD - USA
Joined: 4/27/2008
Posts: 4239
Vette(s): 1979 Corvette Coupe Corvette Light Blue Midnight Blue interior Mirrored Glass T-tops
Hey, before you do too much. check the rubber lines where they come out of the sending unit. Mine had a new clamp that broke and was causing a steady drip of gas behind the passenger rear tire. Just a thought.
 
Barry
 
Wink



"Down on the Boardwalk...

(Click image to see a larger version}
 
Lifetime Member #181

Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/16/10 1:21pm Message 5 of 11
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 5/27/2007
Posts: 16
Vette(s): 79 L-82, 72K miles, burgundy

I just dropped the spare and the tank seems pretty dry. Looks like the leak is in front of the rear tire where the cross member attaches to the frame, The fuel lines are right above and they feel corroded 




Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/16/10 2:40pm Message 6 of 11
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 5/27/2007
Posts: 16
Vette(s): 79 L-82, 72K miles, burgundy

Just went looking to purchase the fuel lines and found this note on the "ZIP" website

Note: 1963-1982 gas tank to fuel pump fuel lines cannot be installed without removing the Corvette body from the frame.

IS THIS TRUE!Censored
 



Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/16/10 5:34pm Message 7 of 11
Profile Pic
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
yeah....great idea, eh?
The lines, as they are run, go into the rear frame area at the kick-up. You can snake a short section in, if you want to splice a piece in, and use compression fittings. Otherwise, you'll need to pull the body up off the frame. Same deal with the brake lines, but using a compression fitting on brake lines is a no-no.
 A fuel line can get by with a compression fitting/splice, since the pressure is not very high. Actually, anything before the fuel pump has no pressure to speak of, except in the '82s.
You should, however, check the entire length of the fuel line. If it is corroded enough in one spot to be leaking, chances are it has other problem spots.



Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/16/10 5:41pm Message 8 of 11
Former Member
Send PM
sonoma, CA - USA
Joined: 8/9/2002
Posts: 784
Vette(s): 72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe
I have not ever replaced the steel  fuel lines but by all accounts you have to raise the bodyCensored the reason is because the back 1/3 of the fuel line tucks  under the body from the rear x-member rearward, with the prebent replacement line because of all the bends its suppost to be impossible to fish it under the body because some other bend is hangin up some where, but all is not lost, I'also read that instead of useing prebent line you buy a coil of the correct dia. fuel line and use it instead and it is available, the way you do it is get the car up on jacks with plenty of room to work, uncoil the line and starting at the front of the car  fish the line rearward straightning the tubing as you go, when you get to the back it should be able to slide in between the frame and body, when you get to the back and it can't go back any more work your way back forward and make your bends as you go, make sure you have extra up front  to allow for bends, cut off the extra when your doneCool....if working by yourself its easier to uncoil the line out in front of the car about 20' of it and fish it over the suspendsion and pulling it rearward, like I said you can cut off the extra later after your bends are done, good luck.  anips2010-05-16 17:58:36


Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/16/10 7:26pm Message 9 of 11
Former Member
Send PM
Joined: 5/27/2007
Posts: 16
Vette(s): 79 L-82, 72K miles, burgundy
Silly question..... Can the body be raised without taking it completely off, I am pretty good with the  nuts and bolts stuff but raising the body is another issueWits End
 
Thanks for the inputs



Leaking fuel line

Posted: 5/17/10 7:00am Message 10 of 11
Lifetime MemberLifetime Member
Moderator
Send PM
BINGHAMTON, NY - USA
Joined: 7/19/2003
Posts: 3808
Vette(s): ......
Well if your not worried about originality,you can just run the new lines right along the inside of the frame rails.


C3VR Lifetime Member #93

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems


SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)