> From: MPRICE@KeystoneSystems.com [mailto:MPRICE@KeystoneSystems.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 15, 1999 10:07 AM
>
> I seem to recall someone replacing theirs with a length
> of copper tubing with a couple of coils to account for
> vibration and engine movement. Here's the questions....
> can the original fittings be used, and if so can they be
> soldered to copper? (I believe they are aluminum.)
> Different fittings needed? And if so, what size?
Mark,
This topic is kind of a favorite of mine so I'll give you my $.02...
I recommend using SS/Teflon line instead of copper tubing. This is what I
have used on my TR6 and the results are great so far. I no longer fear
losing all my oil due to a plastic line breaking unexpectedly. (Of course my
original lasted ~20 years so who knows, maybe this is overkill --
nonetheless it was neat to make up the SS/Teflon line myself).
Benefits of SS/Teflon:
- more durable than original plastic
- copper tubing is solid -- even with the coils, what would you do when you
want to partially remove the dash into the "service" position (Bentley's
words, not mine)
- the fittings are standard (once you get the BSP one -- see below) and
reusable, no brazing is required
- definitely looks cool, just like SS/Teflon brake lines and clutch lines!
The original fittings used on my engine are as follows:
- engine block port is 1/8-27 NPT
- the block takes an adapter to convert the 1/8-27 NPT to a 1/8-28 BSP which
the fitting at the engine end of the oil line
- the gauge also takes a 1/8-28 BSP but the actual sealing surface is
different from the engine end (straight instead of tapered, hence the need
for the leather sealing washer at the gauge)
Getting a 1/8-28 BSP (btw, BSP is for British Standard Pipe thread) fitting
for the SS/Teflon hose is not easy but they do exist. I got mine from Think
Automotive in England
<http://www.thinkauto.co.uk/Thinker1/ed/frames120.htm>. Prices were
reasonable.
Note: make sure to ask for the fitting to use on Smiths Oil Pressure gauge
-- otherwise you'll get a standard 1/8-28 BSP fitting which won't work. For
US listers, these fittings are also available from Pegasus
<http://www.execpc.com/~pegasus/> and Truechoice
<http://www.truechoice.com/> albeit at a higher cost.
The other fittings are commonly available from your local Aeroquip dealer.
And the hose size I would recommend is -3 AN (that's "dash three" for those
not familiar with the AN sizes).
This is what I used (starting at the engine and going towards the gauge):
- 1/8-27 NPT to -3 male-male adapter
- female -3AN reusable hose fitting
- adequate -3 SS/Teflon hose (Aeroquip racing TFE hose IIRC)
- 1/8-28 BSP Smiths gauge fitting at the gauge (I used a rubber o-ring
instead of the leather washer)
The hose can be made up very easily using no special tools and looks real
good in the engine bay. I don't have any pictures but if anyone wants I can
probably make some up this weekend and put them on my web.
--- Peter Zaborski CF58310UO ---
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