1971 350 oil line to block

[Patrick H.]

Hello all,

In putting the top of my engine back together, I noticed the end of my plastic oil line was bent, and the ferrule was quite smashed. I purchased a new ferrule that goes around the oil line, as well as a new fitting to hold it to the adapter fitting on the block.

My question is: should my plastic oil line have one of those T-shaped brass "liners" inside the end of it to keep the plastic from becoming bent? I know that some oil lines like this have that T-shaped piece, with a barrel that inserts into the plastic to keep it from collapsing and/or deforming. I didn't have one in there before, but that doens't mean it didn't belong.

Thanks,

Patrick

[Pat Bush #35083]

Re: 1971 350 oil line to block

Patrick -

Now this is something I have fiddled with on the 73 forever as that fitting always seeped no matter what I did. What I found was the plastic is too flexible to use a standard 1/8" brass compression fitting. It would seal, but then start leaking again.

After rummaging around in my garage, I found two things that worked well -- One of the fittings had a aluminum type sleeve that fit on the tubing and had a seal at the top. This worked although I have never been able to find another one of those metal T pieces. The other was an air line fitting for a pump. This is a plastic fitting with paws on the inside that seal it. That is what I used since I do not need to use a wrench to undo it, finger tightening seals it perfectly all the time every time. Not terribly original but exceedingly functional and stopped my leak dead. It is about the only thing working correctly on the 73 motor right now!

Hope that helped.

Pat

[Roger S.]

Re: 1971 350 oil line to block

I broke the oil line on my 73 L-82 when I replaced the intake manifold gaskets. I went to the local Advance Auto Parts and purchased an oil line kit complete with the fittings needed. Cut the tubing to length and no leaks. I did not use any of the old tubing fittings.
Roger