WingsOnWheels
Well Known Member
This is a writeup of how I installed my primer plumbing, that does not mean it is the best (or even good) methond for the installation. Feel free to poke holes/ let me know what I can do better.
There were three major considerations for me when I was planning how to install the primer lines.
A) No copper from the engine to the firewall (your results may vary, but I just don't like that solution)
B) I don't like using flared fittings on line this small, it is just prone to cracking.
C) SS hard lines are a great option, but for cost reasons I will stick with the copper.
I decided to use a hose from the primer valve to the engine, but how to connect that hose to the copper lines? I thought through a number of possibilities, but didn't have an answer. At the same time I was looking for a local source for the copper tube, but hadn't found any yet.
So the other day I was walking around autozone and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a package of coiled copper tubing. On closer inspection it was 6' of 1/8" line and came with a few compression fittings to adapt to male and female NPT fittings. This turned out to be a hookup line for sunpro mechanical pressure gauges P/N CP7584 for $10.99. What really caught my eye were the compression fittings that came with the line. The fittings are the exact same type as the primer fittings on my previously-enjoyed engine. Now I know what type of fittings those primer fittings are...yay.
While I was at autozone I bought the line kit and also bought a couple compression union fitting (straight through with a compression fitting on each end). The compression fittings have 5/16-18 machine thread for the caps and come with the compression sleeve for 1/8" tube. These were $3 for two.
I went about making a distribution block that will connect a single incoming hose to three outgoing ports for the copper primer line. For the outgoing ports I tapped for 5/16-24 and the incomming port is 1/8 NPT. The distribution block mounts to one of the bolt holes for the oil pan.
I fabbed the distrubution block out of a solid piece of 6061-T6 that I happen to have around. I would liked to have made it from brass so I could just silver-solder the fittings in, but with the aluminum I just used pro-seal to seal the 5/16-18 machine threads. The 1/8 NPT fitting can just use the same sealant I am using for all the NPT fittings (Perfect Seal No. 4).
Here is the completed distribution block:
I routed the copper lines. I used the self-fusing silicon wrap to protect the oil lines and some small tubing over the copper line to protect them. The zips ties here aren't my favorite thing, but I couldn't think of anything better. I added a line clamp. I would like to have another line clamp closer to the distrubution block, but there is much I can mount it to in that area.
I played around with the fittings and the best routing worked out to be with the 45* at the primer distribution block and the 90* at the valve. I used cushion clamps to keep the hose away from the engine mount and the cabin heat ducting
There were three major considerations for me when I was planning how to install the primer lines.
A) No copper from the engine to the firewall (your results may vary, but I just don't like that solution)
B) I don't like using flared fittings on line this small, it is just prone to cracking.
C) SS hard lines are a great option, but for cost reasons I will stick with the copper.
I decided to use a hose from the primer valve to the engine, but how to connect that hose to the copper lines? I thought through a number of possibilities, but didn't have an answer. At the same time I was looking for a local source for the copper tube, but hadn't found any yet.
So the other day I was walking around autozone and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a package of coiled copper tubing. On closer inspection it was 6' of 1/8" line and came with a few compression fittings to adapt to male and female NPT fittings. This turned out to be a hookup line for sunpro mechanical pressure gauges P/N CP7584 for $10.99. What really caught my eye were the compression fittings that came with the line. The fittings are the exact same type as the primer fittings on my previously-enjoyed engine. Now I know what type of fittings those primer fittings are...yay.
While I was at autozone I bought the line kit and also bought a couple compression union fitting (straight through with a compression fitting on each end). The compression fittings have 5/16-18 machine thread for the caps and come with the compression sleeve for 1/8" tube. These were $3 for two.
I went about making a distribution block that will connect a single incoming hose to three outgoing ports for the copper primer line. For the outgoing ports I tapped for 5/16-24 and the incomming port is 1/8 NPT. The distribution block mounts to one of the bolt holes for the oil pan.
I fabbed the distrubution block out of a solid piece of 6061-T6 that I happen to have around. I would liked to have made it from brass so I could just silver-solder the fittings in, but with the aluminum I just used pro-seal to seal the 5/16-18 machine threads. The 1/8 NPT fitting can just use the same sealant I am using for all the NPT fittings (Perfect Seal No. 4).
Here is the completed distribution block:
I routed the copper lines. I used the self-fusing silicon wrap to protect the oil lines and some small tubing over the copper line to protect them. The zips ties here aren't my favorite thing, but I couldn't think of anything better. I added a line clamp. I would like to have another line clamp closer to the distrubution block, but there is much I can mount it to in that area.
I played around with the fittings and the best routing worked out to be with the 45* at the primer distribution block and the 90* at the valve. I used cushion clamps to keep the hose away from the engine mount and the cabin heat ducting
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