Anybody else still have their original tunnel fuel lines? Options

[Larmo63]

Mine are still in, but will be going soon.

I like to live dangerously.

[pilothyer]

I replaced all of mine with Tangerine Racing SS lines. The only ones that were still good were the black ones from 75, seems as though that is the year the lines were subject to operating pressure from the front mounted pump and going through the tunnel and Porsche decided to upgrade the lines..... All the others were gravity fed through the tunnel.............but why take the chance..........all the early lines were as brittle as glass, so it's a no brainer.

[hcdmueller]

My 76 still had the original lines when I bought it. They seemed like they were the same plastic CIS injection lines were made from. They were in outstanding condition and still as flexible as can be expected from thick plastic. I had already bought stainless lines, so they were replaced.

[7TPorsh]

One line now. Bye bye brittle tubes and gas smell.

[jeffdon]

I upgraded to the SS lines, but I gotta say, the OEM plastic lines were NOT brittle. In fact, they were tough as hell. I was probably fine with them, seeing that I run carbs, with the pump in the engine compartment, and so was not putting much pressure on them. That said, I love the SS lines, and it was actually pretty easy to install them.

[jeffdon]

I upgraded to the SS lines, but I gotta say, the OEM plastic lines were NOT brittle. In fact, they were tough as hell. I was probably fine with them, seeing that I run carbs, with the pump in the engine compartment, and so was not putting much pressure on them. That said, I love the SS lines, and it was actually pretty easy to install them.

[Cuda911]

I have the original lines in my '73 and '74. I know I should go stainless, but just haven't gotten around to it yet. Let me know how the upgrade works out, Lawrence. Not sure what all is involved to change them out.

[ndfrigi]

Replaced mine on the 75 FI. Purchased it from member here and got few rubber lines from Napa. Buying another set for the 71.

[struckn]

When I had my rebuild done a couple years ago TranslogGT replace the Fuel line with Stainless. It's a Carb car so we replaced only the Fuel line with Stainless and left the Plastic return line in the tunnel disconnected. Return lines are not needed on Carb cars. Also the flexible lines in the engine compartment were replaced with new Ethanol (Alcohol) Proof Lines. The old plastic lines between age and the effects on Ethanol Fuel will crack.

[patssle]

I replaced my original lines last year and was really surprised how durable and solid they were. Saw nothing that showed degradation. But no doubt it should still be something that is done to all cars.

[Dave_Darling]

I have the original style lines in my car. Not sure if they are the same pieces of plastic that were in the car when it left the factory, but they are certainly the same kind of line.

I did replace the two lines that go up through the engine shelf with SS a couple of years back. Those plastic lines had gotten brittle. The center tunnel lines have not yet.... They probably will at some point, though. Then it's stainless time.

--DD

[bigkensteele]

The lines in my '75 broke into 3 pieces each when I pulled them out. I replaced them with Rotary'14 kit, which I am extremely happy with. His thread even has a video showing just how easy it is to do the swap with the engine in the car.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=110158

[1TRICK6]

Bought mine from forum member, Robert, (Rotary'14) also. Need another set for my other car soon, next time I see him.

[76-914]

My 76 still had the original lines when I bought it. They seemed like they were the same plastic CIS injection lines were made from. They were in outstanding condition and still as flexible as can be expected from thick plastic. I had already bought stainless lines, so they were replaced.

Same here.

[flylarry]

I still have mine, you want-em? Free!

[Big Len]

I'm afraid changing the fuel lines to s/s will hurt the originality.

[oakdalecurtis]

I still have the original hard lines in the tunnel. While I'm not overly concerned about them I will get to replacing them one day. All of the rubber/cloth lines get replaced every few years.
I've never heard about a fire starting from a leak in the center tunnel. Seems like they are all from the soft lines in the engine bay.

As a newly elected Councilman in a small rural central California city, I was asked by to bring my '76 teener to drive in the annual city Christmas parade through town. I pulled into the parade line and began slowly idling down the main street route with another Councilman in the passenger seat. We hadn't gone far when a man on the sidewalk approached the side of our little yellow ride and told us we were "leaking water under the car real bad". That's an interesting comment since there is no water onboard a 914 to leak! I opened my door and leaned out to look under the car, only to see gasoline spraying down mid tunnel and rapidly pooling under the car! I quickly told my Council colleague to get out of the car fast! Then I franticly waved to onlookers to create an opening among the sidewalk crowd of people, and slowly drove the still running 914 to a dirt field and finally shut it off. I had left a trail of gasoline on the ground behind the car that was at least a foot wide as I idled towards that open field!
After having my 914 towed to my mechanic, as you probably already guessed, the fuel line, under high pressure from tank in front to the engine in the rear, decided to split after 30 years, at that inopportune moment during the parade. I had the fuel line repaired, my car was returned to me and all was fine.
I was invited to the city Christmas parade again the following year. When I pulled up in my teener to get in the parade line this time, my Council colleagues were standing nearby on the curb with lighters, flicking them repeatedly and saying they were "ready for me this year!" That's how you know who your friends are in politics!!!!
After reading all the posts about fuel line fires and my parade experience, I think I will make an appointment with my mechanic to replace all the rest of the fuel lines now. If I was smarter, I would have done them all then. Thanks to my fellow teeners here for the additional motivation to finally get them all done now!

[oakdalecurtis]

When I get the rest of the lines replaced, besides the fuel filter, anything else I should replace?

[injunmort]

yup

[pete000]

Got rid of mine last year. No need to loose sleep wondering when they are going to start leaking !