Fuel and brake line rubber insulators

[240znz]

Hi all,

Just thought I'd share with you the lastest issue with the resto. There are quite a few small hills to climb over that set you back days but nothing too large so far. Well, apart from the horror of finding rust and the invoiced due, yeah plain sailing really.

I have new fuel and brake lines to go in. After collating all the little brackets and rubber insulators I find that I am missing four brackets and insulators for the tunnel section. That must have occured the panel shop removed the lines. As I picked up the old line they had been separated. Now I have to either find some or make some up. The parts car ones are munted.

Spoke with our tool maker today and he recalls making similar insulators some years ago. Best method is to cut the rubber to size then freeze it. As it's far easier to drill rubber when it's frozen. Can anyone else confirm this? Sounds like a good idea to me.

Anyway, just thought I moan a bit to ease the frustration. Yet another one. Who'd rebuild one of these cars.........:eek:

[LanceM]

Yes freeze it, at work we did something similar but used CO2 or nitrogen because it was fast and handy.

[beandip]

I don't know if you are open to checking the bone yards . I just pulled some from a '77 280 and they were in decent shape. Just clean with lacquer thinner and look like new. Just a thought. If you have the metal part making the rubber to fit is a easy thing. As you said freeze then drill . Gary

[240znz]

Well, after scouring many car wreakers and my local Nissan dealer (got the usual, "a 240z? What's that....checked computer and NLA) I have had to make my own rubber insulators also the missing brackets.

Found a rubber sponge section with the eaxct dims. Yes, once frozen, it is easy to drill, but it does thaw quickly. Managed to find some galvanised plate slightly thicker that the orginal brackets but bent up OK.

Now in the process of figuring out how to use a pipe bender without having to waste enormous amounts of pipe. Slowly does it. Cocked a large bit up and now need more pipe. I'll keep going, it's kinda fun in a frustrating kind of way (if there is such a thing).

Got out all the fasteners out that I got re CAD plated. Missing so many it's not funny. No steering knuckles, gone. To the parts car to grab those then off to the fastening supplies to pick replacement bits. May as well go stainless under the car. Should have gone with my instinct and wired them myself. Oh well. Getting there.

[240znz]

Murphys Law at work.

Went the panel shop yesterday for a catch up and to tell him to expect it back for final panel assembly and paint in Jan.

While there, he said "Oh, found a box that I think might be yours". Guess what I found. All the missing rubber insulators and brackets. Bastard. Too late, nevermind. I now have spares....schesh.

[swflaz]

James in NZ. Talk about a timely post! I've spent the last couple of days wrestling my new brake lines into place on my 72 240Z. I'm having the same problem with broken insulators and clips. Now I know how to make my own. No doubt some will show up after I'm done. Thanks all.

Rodger