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  • ClemSparks

    Oct. 23, 2011 7:54 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

    I've got an '86 F150 with fuel tank woes...

    Short story question: How do I splice these ford fuel injection hard plastic fuel lines which are molded plastic (not standard hose or metal tubing)?

    Long-ass, verbose, typical-Clem version:

    The front tank is leaking (too bad, because I think it's the bad one) and I can't tell if/when my fuel selector switch is working but what I can tell is that it's drawing fuel from the rear tank and returning excess back to the FRONT tank. Not good.

    So...Because this thing is a $1,000 truck on a GOOD day (I doubt I could sell it for that even on a good day...), I was thinking I could remove the selector valve and the front tank from the system. Just bypass (physically remove) the selector and plug the supply and return line from the rear tank directly to the supply and return line to the engine. Can it be done on the cheap (~$25)?

    I envision the Ford quick release male adapter to hose barb (in 4 places...sheesh) and some high pressure fuel line and clamps, but I'm betting I won't find those adapters at NAPA (though, I'm hopeful!).

    What do you say? I can't be the first guy who's been through this.

    Thanks, Clem

  • novaderrik

    Oct. 23, 2011 9:38 p.m. novaderrik Dork

    any decent auto parts store will have repair kits for plastic fuel lines, and maybe even sell the barbed fittings to splice two chunks of line together.

    go to www.dormanproducts.com and look thru the selection of fuel line stuff- you will find what you are looking for.

  • 44Dwarf

    Oct. 24, 2011 8:03 a.m. 44Dwarf Dork

    Ford-trucks.com Crap loads of info on this problem. I had issues with one of mine doing just that. I pluged the line to the leaky tank as a temp fix but sold the truck a few weeks latter with the new tank reay to go in.

  • ClemSparks

    Oct. 24, 2011 1:57 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

    In reply to 44Dwarf:

    Thanks 44. I didn't even realize I'm already a member there. I've researched this one in the past, but it seams like there are a lot of variations over the years...and not many folks know what was on an '86 anymore. I bet some digging over there will get me what I need to know though. Grabbing shovel...preparing for digging.

    Thanks again, Clem

  • ClemSparks

    Oct. 25, 2011 4:20 p.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

    Yeah...what they have at ford-trucks.com is predominantly people wanting to REPLACE the fuel selector valve and then the ensuing conversation about how much they cost and who got a good deal on one, yadda, yadda, yadda.

    So...I think I'll just have to dig in and see what it's going to take to splice this thing together.

    Ideally, I think what I'd like to find (but probably won't) is a double male quick release to plug the two lines together without cutting.

    Anybody know if such a product exists?

    Failing that, a male quick release to hose barb adapter would be my next best option (again, I doubt that exists).

    Thanks,
    Clem

  • ClemSparks

    Oct. 26, 2011 6:55 a.m. ClemSparks SuperDork

    Update:

    I DID find a male-to-male splice. They ain't cheap though, at about $16 bucks each! (and I needed two of them, of course.

    Oh well, at least I have a running truck again...for now.

    Thanks for the help folks (and Dormann)!
    Clem

 
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