Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I need to create an entire brake line setup for my car, I figured I'd just use braided lines, but I need like 30ft, anywhere I can buy it in a spool or something? If not braided hose, what do you guys recommend? I also need a flaring tool and hose bender I believe. I'm also trying to find large sheets of aluminum so that I can make panels out of them. If anyone has any recommendations for stores/shops to buy these things from that'd be helpful in my build, cheaper is better but by no means should it compromise quality. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rally Pat Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Home Depot Motorsports? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nurkvinny Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 What kind of car? What usage? Street? Race? What "panels" are you trying to make? Standard brake tubing and a cheapo double flare tool will work in 90% of the situations out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 It's a Shelby Cobra Kit car, using foxbody mustang parts. It will be a street car but will also see race courses/tracks occasionally, but mainly race-type stuff on the street, lol. I'm trying to make the floor, a firewall, a trunk, and just some misc. panels to block stuff. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Removed Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 plain old brake line. jegs sells rolls of aluminum. 4x8 sheets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desperado Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I would NOT run braided line throughout. Run your hard lines to the frame locations that the factory used then go with braided from the lines to the wheel cylinders. Brake line is NOT the same as other braided line. Most braided line is rubber or Viton, neither can be used with brake fluid. Brake lines need to be PTFE line. The other thing with this is that the lines don't do well with hand assembled fittings, they need to be crimped with a crimping machine. Those are about $2800, not something a guy is gonna just go buy. The other thing with any braided line is that it will have a bit of expansion as you put pressure in it. With the amount that you are talking about it's going to be pretty significant and it's going to make your brakes feel spongy, even when properly bled out. As far as your metal, I would look in the phone book for metal shops or talk to Tinman. Buying the shit at the big box stores like Lowes is going to be really expensive, not to mention it's cheaper in full sheets. I bought a sheet of 24 gauge today that is 36X96 to build some duct work for a furnace. The 36X96 was $33, the sheet that was 36X36 was $18. you do the math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Yeah, I plan on buying large sheets to cut down myself, not only save money but because I'll need to make weird shapes, not just squares/rectangles. I found a double brake flaring tool at harbor freight, is that all I need? Anyone have any idea on what I should expect to pay/not overpay on brake lines? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 We buy very large sheets of aluminum to make 400 gallon water tanks out of and guards for our saws. Let me know what size your after and thickness. I will get you a price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I'm pretty sure I need .040" thick, and maybe 4ft x8ft or 5ftx10ft. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaplay1647545503 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I'm pretty sure I need .040" thick, and maybe 4ft x8ft or 5ftx10ft. Thanks Would that be considered a certain gauge thickness? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Would that be considered a certain gauge thickness? Not sure, I can ask my dad tomorrow as he knows all about this stuff. That's just how they advertise what comes in their kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Total Sign Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Go to Research Alloys for any metal. Best prices out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 I just bought (Monday) a 36" x 96" (3' x 8') .063 sheet of aluminum at Research Alloys for $35 + tax. They have a boatload of thicknesses in large dimensions sheets. You wont find sheet aluminum any cheaper in the city. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 sweet, i'll look them up in the phone book tomorrow. thanks for the headsup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rotarded1647545491 Posted November 30, 2006 Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 sweet, i'll look them up in the phone book tomorrow. thanks for the headsup! Just stop in. 4 of thier employees are off deer hunting, so the rest are very busy in the yard. Research Alloys Co. Inc. 729 W. Goodale Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43212. One block west of Olentangy River Road. 224-4404 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted November 30, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2006 Well I was going to look up their address in the phone book, but thanks for being a swell guy and posting for me! I'll take my measurements and head that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawnman Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 Bam , p.m. me and I will give you my number. I have built 3 Shelby kit cars { ffr's } alot of aluminum pieces and I built my own brake lines . Maybe I can help you out. Jeff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Removed Posted December 10, 2006 Report Share Posted December 10, 2006 the sheet metal you need, is it for a certain racing class? nhra steel is like .022 gauge and alum has too be like .03x gauge (a little too tipsy too remember) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitgeist57 Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Just out of curiousity: I've been a fan of ffr for years...don't the kits come with all of the body sheetmetal pre-cut? I know it was an option in the past but I thought they are now sent with all the panels you need to complete the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Yes all the kits come with the sheetmetal pre-cut, but I didn't buy a kit. I bought a used frame online and therefore all I really am starting with is a build manual I bought and the frame. Also, they sell the aluminum pieces pre-cut separate, but its $2000 for all the pieces and not worth it to me. I'm building a cobra kit car but I doubt it'll look like a cobra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawnman Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Yes all the kits come with the sheetmetal pre-cut, but I didn't buy a kit. I bought a used frame online and therefore all I really am starting with is a build manual I bought and the frame. Also, they sell the aluminum pieces pre-cut separate, but its $2000 for all the pieces and not worth it to me. I'm building a cobra kit car but I doubt it'll look like a cobra. Are you using a ffr frame? If so there are many web-sites that sell pre bent lines already flared . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bam Posted December 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 Yes, and I have seen the pre-bent flared lines on a few websites, but I think I can do mine for less than $175 + shipping cost they are asking. I'm not in a huge rush, I'd love to have it on the road in 07 but I'm content with 08. I'm using an mkI ffr frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawnman Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 I have built 2 MK II'S and 1 MKIII. There are fun building, just wear your gloves when working with aluminum. Don't ask me how I know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1647545494 Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Yes, and I have seen the pre-bent flared lines on a few websites, but I think I can do mine for less than $175 + shipping cost they are asking. I'm not in a huge rush, I'd love to have it on the road in 07 but I'm content with 08. I'm using an mkI ffr frame. spend the money on the brake lines you'll be happier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawnman Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 If you still need them I have the old ffr brake lines that was sent with my second kit. You would still need to bend them, but they already are flared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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