Brake line originality

[nm9stheham]

I'm looking for opinions on if stainless steel hard brake lines are a good idea or not on a car that is over 95% original. I am trying to keep this car as close as I can to original so would standard steel lines be the best? I am only looking at the SS hard lines as a rust preventative measure, nothing else. Opinions welcomed; tnx!

BTW, car is 1962 Dart, plain-jane 4Dr, /6, 3-on-tree....I just liek the idea of preserving a few of these are they really were.

 

[texas69bee]

The originals probably lasted forever, why change it?

 

[HawkRod]

The originals probably lasted forever, why change it?

X2. At this point, your car will be well taken care of. Stainless is harder so it is harder to work with. My $0.02 is to go with the regular old steel lines...

 

[Propwash]

X2. At this point, your car will be well taken care of. Stainless is harder so it is harder to work with. My $0.02 is to go with the regular old steel lines...

I agree..The SS can be a real treat, especially if you need to flare them.

 

[nm9stheham]

Good comment on the SS and hardness; I was wondering on the SS flares and just getting them seated on the wheel cylinders might be a challenge if they were not perfect. So, OK, regular steel it is.

And the why as to replace them? Just being cautious; this car sat in a garage undriven for almost 20 years from '72 to '90 or '91, and has been only driven 3k miles since then. SO, I am kinda thinking that these could have gotten moisture in them pretty easily in that time. The brake have had attention (the rubber lines have been repalced), but it is time to go through the whole car; the PO (2nd owner) took good care of it but is not mechical.

 

[Cranky]

SS isn't harder......but it's a LOT tougher and that's what makes it more difficult to work with. That said, I bought SS lines for my 66 from Finelines and shouldn't be any problem making it seal. Worked with SS tubing for years in the oil industry.....and machined a lot of SS parts for making mechanical pump seals etc.

 

[idrivemopar]

I did stainless on my 73 RR, was a bit more difficult installing, but I too didn't want anything that would rust out or rust internally, so that is why I did them, but yes, they can be a bit tricky. I had a local shop fab most of my lines, and did an outstanding job.

 

[khryslerkid]

You can not be too cautious when it comes to the safety equipment on an older car. Wheel cylinders and master cylinder should be new also.

Nice looking 4dr! Keeping it original is a good thing. Love those '62s!

 

[nm9stheham]

Yep, the MC will become dual which is the only change I plan for the car. All wheel cylinders, shoes, etc. will be worked over and/or changed out for new. The PO kept meticulous records for the 27 years he owned it, but the work was done just now and then, so time to go through it all.

Cool on the 62 Polara 500 above; I remember riding with my dad when I was 8 in a '61 Polara 500 on a test ride. He told me not to tell mom when he hit 95 in < 1/4 mile from a dead stop; I was one pretty excited kid.....! He owned a radio station and the local Dodge dealers were one of his best advertisers so he got to try out all the new Dodges!

Thanks to all again for the inputs.

 

[khryslerkid]

Cool story !

 

[sleepar]

I like the green bendable lines they are real friendly to work with and I thought about saving the original wire wrap off the old ones and hiding the green inside...

 

[AMX364]

You can get new tubing covers from Summit.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rsd-ggs316s-20/overview/
Have either Right Stuff brand or Summit Racing brand.

 

[red 69 runner]

I just got new steel ones from inlinetube.I figure if the old ones lasted 45 years and the car never sees rain or snow these will outlast me.

 

[nm9stheham]

The new steel lines I got from Inline Tube fit great.