Thread: ***Some advice on getting my flathead running***

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Originally Posted by Fordfanatic415

From what I hear... the aluminum lines are cheaper but the fittings are more expensive whereas braided lines are alot more expensive but the fittings are cheaper. In general braided lines are more $, but if you have alot of drastic bends and tight spots to run them through then I'd get the braided lines. Me personally I'm getting the aluminum lines that bob suggested because I'm on a budget and it will save me $ and will work fine untill I'm ready to upgrade.

Just as a suggestion - until you make a plan as where you want to end up with this car, just make up the fuel lines 'in kind' so you can at least start and drive it around. That is, use some good old steel tubing and fittings that you can buy very inexpensively from any auto parts store. My recollection is that early Fords are only 1/4" and a 6 foot length of standard brake tubing is only 3-4 bucks(if they are 5/16, a buck or so more). Aluminum is fine for temp use, but don't even think of SS braided lines until you are in the final build as you can drop several hundred dollars very quickly - fittings are NOT cheap( 90° FLARE UNION, AN4 EA $6.95 plus 2 tube sleeves and 2 tube nuts for a $1 ea end - info from SPEEDWAY) and often you need 2 or more fittings for a single connection and the line is in the range of 7 to 10 bucks a foot. You may need a 37degree flaring tool as well - very expensive - my RIGID set was over $200 I've attached a photo of what you can get into as far as braided hose.