Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi , I want to replace my fuel line , not because it leaks but it's 45 year old plastic tubeing , the modern fuel line is much thicker 15mm dia. So getting this through the various grommets in the chassis looks difficult with the body on and running gear in.

I,m also replacing the carpet and under felt so have the interior stripped back to the fibreglass , so am wondering if there's any reason not to run the new fuel line ontop of the tunnel and go in near the gear stick opening ? I would think the under felt would hide the line profile.

Am I missing any good reasons not to do it this way ?

Thanks Steve

I have spent about an hour thinking about this and realise it's not such a good idea , for safety reasons mainly , so back to plan A , refitting in situ fuel line , are there any hints and tips for doing it with the body on and engine gearbox etc in.

Thanks Steve

I now have my fuel line inside he cabin running under the rightside door sill.

An employed specialist garage fitted a rubber/nylon pipe with stainless mesh covering it, but I always had a smell of petrol in the cabin, so I replaced it with a cunnifer bronze pipe (of greater diameter than a brake pipe).

Now no obvious smell.

Details from this point in my main topic: lotus-elan-f19/getting-ogu-roadworthy-again-t26101-90.html#p178305

I taped my new to my old and pulled it through from the trunk side. I think I used a plug at the junction - it was 30 years ago. I guess I was lucky as the old fuel line crumbled as I pulled it out.

I pulled a new line through by using a self-tapping screw with the head removed, this effectively joined the two together without increasing the O/D of the line.
Clearly the name of the game is for any joint not to come apart half way through the operation, so test almost to breaking point beforehand.
Ron.

Thanks for a great tip , it worked.

It does seem odd the fuel line squeezes between the chassis and the body , I hope it lasts as long as the old stuff.

Steve