Air Lines

[6772owner]

Ok fella's I did a search to try to answer my question, but didnt find anything, so here goes....

Has anyone used aluminum tubing (like the coiled fuel line stuff) for the air lines on a truck?? I have seen a lot of stainless steel hard lines done, but I wanted to do something dofferent on my C10 and thought that I could use the alum line. (Or maybe even copper, now that I think about it....) What do you guys think??? I would think it would be a nice, clean way to plumb the system without the difficulty of flaring the stainless steel lines.

Thanks for the input....

[Tri5Nerd]

I've seen it done with copper and stainless but never aluminum.
Maybe the pros can chime in.

Tri5

[Shane]

Without the flared ends I think you will find it difficult to get an air tight seal. I don't foresee any problems using aluminum other than that ... plus it's much easier to polish aluminum lines versus stainless steel lines.

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by Shane

Without the flared ends I think you will find it difficult to get an air tight seal. I don't foresee any problems using aluminum other than that ... plus it's much easier to polish aluminum lines versus stainless steel lines.

Stainless doesn't need to be polished. That's the beauty of it. Yes, you can use aluminum with AN fittings. Bentfab (I think that's his user name) can hook you up with Redhorse AN fittings.

[Twisted Minis]

I've done it before with aluminum lines from the parts store that was rated at 300 PSI. I use some stainless fittings on it from Summit that use a double flare like a brake line.

[Shane]

Originally Posted by jlaird

Stainless doesn't need to be polished. That's the beauty of it. Yes, you can use aluminum with AN fittings. Bentfab (I think that's his user name) can hook you up with Redhorse AN fittings.

After polishing more than a few 50 foot roll of 3/8" stainless trust me when I tell you that if you want stainless to shine then it has to be polished.

[jlaird]

Originally Posted by Shane

After polishing more than a few 50 foot roll of 3/8" stainless trust me when I tell you that if you want stainless to shine then it has to be polished.

not the stainless from inline tube or swagelok. There's different stuff out there.

[Shane]

Again, that depends entirely on the grade of stainless you buy and the finish you specify.

I know Swagelok all too well ... I worked for their number 1 competitor for over 10 years at a facility that specialized in 304, 316, & 316L stainless fittings and tubing.

[fixit-p]

I've worked on some older heavy trucks and the plumbing for the airbrakes back then were mostly all copper tubing with compresion fittings. A common problem was when the tubing was attached to something that wasn't ridgid or loose the tube would crack at the compression sleeve or flare from the vibration.

[6772owner]

Thanks for the reponses guys, I guess I should have specified, I planned on using AN fittings and doing at least a single flare. (I just did that with all the fuel lines for my LT1 swap) I was worried, however, about the cracking issue. I thought that if the bags were frame mounted, and the tanks are frame mounted, I wouldnt really have a problem with that. I dont know that I was worried about polishing it so much, I will daily drive this one in Colorado LOL

[Shane]

if it's a daily driver and not a show truck then I would just go with the DOT plastic/teflon tubing ...

[NZSquare]

Ive never used these fittings on trucks but Im a helicopter mechanic so have used them plenty there. Generally with an AN type flare and aluminium tube we would use on lower pressure systems , up to 1500 PSI .Anything above that is stainless, so for a max of 600 in a truck youd be fine. FLares dont crack and are super reliable if they are formed properly, polished (just the flare) and not over tightened. There are also the MS type unions which are flareless and self-foming, either works good, the MS ones may be harder to get commercially. Make sure when you start flaring them the angle of the flaring tool is right, I think aircraft AN fittings are 37 degrees.
There are also a few different tempers of tubing, I think the only thing that would concern you is getting the O-state or annealed stuff if its ex-aircraft stock (like from boeing surplus or something) its designed to be tempered after froming and wont hold pressure if it aint.

Ill end up doing the same for my truck as they are alot cleaner.

Hope this helps

[6772owner]

Shane,
I agree, I am debating whether it is even worth the trouble or not. I wish I could say it was for show, but I need to use this truck so its purely function for the most part. (Not that i dont try to have it look good too)

NZSquare,
Thanks for the insight, I was hoping that it would be able to hold 300 psi or so (and I really doubt I will ever even see that much pressure with my planned set up) Also in my experience I havent been able to find a flaring tool that is made for 37 degree flares???? I had to use a regualr flaring tool and just trial fit the double flare to an actual fitting. Any advice on finding a dedicated 37 degree flaring tool?

[fixit-p]

Here's where I get my flaring tools item B would probably do it for you I have items L and M the quality is excellent and it's branded by Imperial
http://www.mcmaster.com/#flaring-tools/=1ttyim

[NZSquare]

I dug up a 'Standard aircraft handbook" circa 1792 and it says an Aircraft AN flare tool produces a 35-37 degree flare and automotive tools form a 45 and wont work with AN fittings.
That said the AN name is used thoughout the aftermarket auto industry so either auto parts have gone to 37 for AN or theres an AN for aircraft and an AN for vehicles, I guess youd have to make a 37 degree gauge and have a hunt. It entirely depends on what the angle of the unions yourre using are.
The aircraft AN flares are a single flare so much easier to do and get right the first time, and the tubing comes in straight 5 metre lengths so its easier to form and have looking nice instead of uncoiling the stuff and trying to straighten it.

[NZSquare]

there you go, the link that last guy posted says the tools will produce a 37 or 45 degree flare, so Bobs your mothers brother. All you can do is try it and see.

[fixit-p]

here's an economical one from Summit http://store.summitracing.com/egnsea...&autoview=prod
I work with JIC fittings (hydraulic) which is the same as AN fittings 37* basically just fewer dash sizes and different matl. the 45 degree fittings are SAE fittings are used on low pressure lines (air brake, trans oil and diesel).

[jlaird]

Those other tools will work on regular steel, but if you use stainless, this is the tool you want

http://www.toolup.com/ridgid/41162.html

[6772owner]

Cool thank you to everyone for the help, I will check into this more and let you know what I figure when my bags get here and I dive in.

[bentfab]

Hey guy's check out my web site. It will give you a ton of pics and ideas. Also check out the media section it will give alot of the answers your looking for and also I sell alot of the product your looking for minus the tools. Any questions feel free to call.

[6772owner]

Thanks for the info, I forgot about you LOL

[XXL]

Originally Posted by NZSquare

I dug up a 'Standard aircraft handbook" circa 1792...

Is this the one the Wright Brothers' used during their early 20th century experiments in flight?