When to replace flexible hoses to accumulator?

[bfloyd]

Got my first $1000 box of parts from Texas right before Christmas and slowly getting around to start the process of replacing the fuel system components. We've already drained and cleaned the fuel tank, removed the old fuel pump and the old flexible white braided lines that connect to the hard lines in the front near the fuel pump.

I've got #3294 in the garage up on ramps and jack stands and last night I crawled under for the first time to try to locate the mysterious fuel accumulator. I'll have to say the folks in Ireland were very creative in finding the most un-accessible location to place the fuel accumulator. When I first saw it, I immediately thought - "That really can't be it... tucked up in a hole that your fist won't even go through?" Determined that was indeed it, I noticed that the flexible braided fuel lines connected to the accumulator look almost covered in a black moldy looking substance, and appear to be "shedding". It looks as if this procedure has been done on this car before since the accumulator body is one of the smaller ones I've read about here on the forums.

I'll be attempting to tackle this swap out over the weekend and before I get to deep, should I replace those funky looking flexible hoses while I'm there?

[kings1527]

Got my first $1000 box of parts from Texas right before Christmas and slowly getting around to start the process of replacing the fuel system components. We've already drained and cleaned the fuel tank, removed the old fuel pump and the old flexible white braided lines that connect to the hard lines in the front near the fuel pump.

I've got #3294 in the garage up on ramps and jack stands and last night I crawled under for the first time to try to locate the mysterious fuel accumulator. I'll have to say the folks in Ireland were very creative in finding the most un-accessible location to place the fuel accumulator. When I first saw it, I immediately thought - "That really can't be it... tucked up in a hole that your fist won't even go through?" Determined that was indeed it, I noticed that the flexible braided fuel lines connected to the accumulator look almost covered in a black moldy looking substance, and appear to be "shedding". It looks as if this procedure has been done on this car before since the accumulator body is one of the smaller ones I've read about here on the forums.

I'll be attempting to tackle this swap out over the weekend and before I get to deep, should I replace those funky looking flexible hoses while I'm there?

The accumulator job really isn't that bad. The original fuel accumulator lines were thermocoupled onto the hard lines of the car. While effective, there's no way to get them off other than to cut them off with a razor blade. Just be careful you don't score the barbed connection on the hard line while cutting.

The key to the accumulator replacement is the right tools. A combination of long handled and stubby wrenches is what I used. But it's very easy to replace those fuel lines and that should definitely be done. They're standard size and you'll then use fuel injector clamps to hold the lines on. I've done more difficult jobs on the car and I think people make this one out to be harder than it is. Just have the right long/short handled wrenches and put the car up as high as you can and as long as you don't weigh 350#, you should be fine. Some of the stuff only allows for one hand at a time in the frame hole, so that can take a little patience and dexterity while going in there blind with one hand. But not a bad job overall. Just make sure you have no leaks afterwards.

[DMCMW Dave]

Just DO NOT try to unscrew the barb fittings that go straight up. You will kink the fuel lines that are strategically run across the top of the frame, I had one in here where the guy cracked the line. As mentioned, just cut the old hoses off.