After a lot of looking online to figure out the best way to route the brake lines I dove in this weekend and installed all the brake lines and ran the fuel line from the filter to the engine bay. I ordered the motor and transmission from The Engine Factory Monday with delivery in late March. I chose to go with a complete turn key system from them as they do a lot of FFRs and I have yet to read a bad review from anyone who used them. I am going with a 351W mated to a TKO 600.
The picture above was my method for roughing in the brake and fuel lines. I used some leftover four strand house electrical wire I had. I removed the sheath and used one strand of the red wire cut to 60", the length of my stock brake lines. I used this as a pattern to fit the brake lines and bent the 3/16" brake lines based on the pattern. I didn't plan it this way but every brake line I needed to run ended up using exactly the 60 inch length. I figured for sure I would need to cut and reflare a line but I didn't. FYI, AL fuel lines need to be flared with a 37 degree flaring tool. Most other lines, including brakes need to be done with a 46 degree flaring tool. It took me a lot of website viewing to figure that out - and Summit had the kit I needed to flare the lines for the AL. Everything I've ordered from them has shown up in one working day too, and that is with standard ground shipping. The house wire worked well for both the brake and fuel lines. Altogether it took me about 6.5 hours of dedicated time this weekend to route all of them and cleco them in place. I also had to buy yet another batch of clecos as well. I think I finally have enough with a total of about 200.
The fuel line was quite easy once I figured out the right combination of 6 AN to 3/8 fittings I needed to join the outflow of the fuel filter I got from Summit Racing to the 3/8 AL fuel line. I left the AL line in one piece and ran it from the filter (see photo below) down the square downtube, forward along the passenger side of the main frame tube, crossed it over at the athwartship main tube and then forward again along the drivers side main frame tube. I left this piece long as I will need to eventually run it to the fuel pump on the motor when it arrives. I have about one foot of stainless braided fuel line I will use to connect the 3/8 AL line up to the fuel pump on the motor. Overall the Summit kit Chris from Engine Factory recommended was exactly what I needed.
This coming weekend I will reinstall the AL cockpit panels and if I have time I move on to installing the electrical wiring. Time to think about putting some rubber on the wheels too as it won't be long before I have to check the tires and wheels for proper fit and ensure they don't interfere with anything I've installed. My only concern right now is how I chose to run the main brake lines in front of the driver's side footbox. The lines from the front wheels run on the outside of the stiffening arm on the left side of the engine bay.
Also had a couple of visits from some friends. A friend of ours for several years came by with his grandson after going to Cars and Coffee, a monthly car show here in Jacksonville. He has a sweet 1985 Porsche in great condition. Then my friend from Bahrain came by in his 1951 Chevrolet truck he restored. It is a fantastic looking truck done on a real-man's budget. The blue color and interior are superb. He was even followed into my driveway by a couple who just picked up a 1948 Ford truck project and wanted to take a look. It was a mini car show right in the driveway. I appreciate the great support. Also nice to be in Jax where it was at least 75 today. Considering it is mid-Feb and Boston was just clobbered by a couple feet of snow it wasn't a bad day.
If you are reading this and working on a car of your own I have lots of additional pictures and as I move along I am borrowing heavily from others. Let me know if you have a good idea, or want to know how I did it wrong so you can do it right. I bookmarked cbergquist1's flickr page as he did a great job documenting his Coupe build. If you have a question, he probably has a picture of it.
