Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
Post Reply
Message
Author
Dave Whittick
356 Fan
Posts: 376
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 4:14 pm

Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#1 Post by Dave Whittick »

New to 356 and trying to decipher the little differences to ensure I've got the correct parts. In tearing down my motor, I noticed how long the soft fuel line was from the pump to the hard line which splits to the carbs. After a little research online, I discovered that there seems to be different lengths. Can anybody shed some light on it for me? Mine is similar to the second image. Running Zenith carbs if that makes a difference.
Image
Image
Image

Jon Bunin
356 Fan
Posts: 1800
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:06 pm
Location: Vista, CA

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#2 Post by Jon Bunin »

Dave,

If your engine has Zenith carburetors, you should disregard comparisons to Solex fuel lines, which are different and continued into the 912 era.
Please tell us the model year of your car & engine, and identify the fuel pump for us.
Early Zenith fuel lines did not have hose sections. There was also a fuel pump change during the B/C era.
Jon Bunin

Dave Whittick
356 Fan
Posts: 376
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 4:14 pm

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#3 Post by Dave Whittick »

Thanks for the reply. The car is a 64c

Jon Bunin
356 Fan
Posts: 1800
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:06 pm
Location: Vista, CA

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#4 Post by Jon Bunin »

Here is a period photo of a 356C engine with an original fuel line, from the Conradt book.
You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

Here is an old C fuel line with original hose fittings, currently in the Samba classifieds: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds ... id=1782966
Attachments
DSCN1553.JPG
Jon Bunin

User avatar
Wil Mittelbach
356 Fan
Posts: 1019
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 8:58 pm
Location: Huntington Beach, CA

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#5 Post by Wil Mittelbach »

Dave -
Not knowing the year or model of your engine (or your location), perhaps helpful as a reference may be the below photo of my C engine in its original configuration, showing the short hose and fittings from the fuel pump to the tubing feeding the Zenith carbs.
- Wil
Attachments
373-1.JPG

User avatar
Vic Skirmants
Registry Hall of Fame
Posts: 9278
Joined: Tue Oct 27, 2009 5:02 pm
Location: SE Michigan
Contact:

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#6 Post by Vic Skirmants »

Pretty much a short hose with the metal end cap. All the long ones I think are repairs from removing an after-market fuel filter.
Go short.

Dave Whittick
356 Fan
Posts: 376
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 4:14 pm

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#7 Post by Dave Whittick »

Vic Skirmants wrote:Pretty much a short hose with the metal end cap. All the long ones I think are repairs from removing an after-market fuel filter.
Go short.
That's what I guessed had happened since somebody added a fuel filter between the pump and hard line which I hate. Based on the original finish on the hard line, under where the hose was pushed on, however, I was confused. Somebody had obviously cut this a long time ago to add the filter. Once I started searching online, I discovered a bunch of different lengths and asked for clarification. Confused even more once people started asking for the year of the car. I figured that they should all be hardlined as close to the pump as possible with just a short hose for vibration tolerance.

Dave Whittick
356 Fan
Posts: 376
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 4:14 pm

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#8 Post by Dave Whittick »

So, who has a correct line they can sell me? :)

User avatar
Jim Nelson
356 Fan
Posts: 2138
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:18 pm
Location: SoCal

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#9 Post by Jim Nelson »


Dave Whittick
356 Fan
Posts: 376
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 4:14 pm

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#10 Post by Dave Whittick »

Already sold by the time I contacted him. Thanks for the link.

User avatar
Jim Karaba
356 Fan
Posts: 1027
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:34 am
Location: Lafayette, LA

Re: Length of fuel line from the pump to carbs

#11 Post by Jim Karaba »

Why not buy new. It is not that expensive.
http://www.stoddard.com/61610805901-nla.html

Post Reply