Engine: Oil flex tube- where?

[valleyguy]

I remember reading a comment in a recent post about
the the need to replace the oil line running from the block to (oil pressure gage?), which can fail due to wear/age, causing loss of oil and engine failure. It's not listed/shown in my manuals.

Just where is this line located? I have a hard type line running from the right side of the block on my V8 through the firewall, which I assume is the line in question ... but the line found listed in SI ("oil flex line"), is a rubber flex one, rather short.
Just what should I be replacing? tks,

Joe D.

[41 Frank]

It is a rubber line that comes off the back of the right cylinder head and attaches to the metal line going through the firewall on a V-8 about 6 inches long. Someone may have modified the line and eliminated the rubber hose at some point if you don't see it.

[BShaw]

Right after I got my Hawk I heard about the flex hose and a visual inspection looked good... right before it gave up the ghost and spewed Rotella all over the engine compartment! Now I carry a spare...right next to an extra fuel pump.

BShaw,Webmaster

60 Hawk. 49 2R5, 39 Champion
Woodbury, Minnesota

[Roscomacaw]

I've grabbed ahold of them to see how much flexibility they still have - only to have the SNAP at my touch![xx(][xx(][xx(][8]

Miscreant adrift in
the BerStuda Triangle


1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe

[DEEPNHOCK]

You know...
I don't think I have ever succesfully removed one to inspect it.
I have broken them all...
(Maybe it's just me)
Jeff[8D]

quote:Originally posted by BShaw

Right after I got my Hawk I heard about the flex hose and a visual inspection looked good... right before it gave up the ghost and spewed Rotella all over the engine compartment! Now I carry a spare...right next to an extra fuel pump.
BShaw,Webmaster

DEEPNHOCK at Gmail.com
Brooklet, Georgia
'37 Coupe Express (never ending project)
'37 Coupe Express Trailer (project)
'61 Hawk (project)
http://community.webshots.com/user/deepnhock

[Eman]

You can kind of see mine to the left of the disconnected accelerator linkage (passenger side of the distributor), running down near the firewall.



Hope this helps.



[img=left]http://www.bulletshots.net/images/stella3.jpg[/img=left]1951 Commander Starlight Coupe (aka "Stella")
www.bulletshots.net
www.bulletshots.net/blog
www.alabamastudes.com

[bradnree]

My flex tube burst last week on a '52 Stude V8 and I thought that the engine really blew this time. The tube was very old but looked good and lasted for about 60 minutes of run time...........Brad

[bondobilly]

The one in my 47 Commander Coupe let go mid-span of the Tappan Zee Bridge. I tied up traffic for over 90 min.

BG

[garyash]

Do not buy an NOS oil line. Get a NEW one from a Studebaker vendor. Oil- and oxygen-resistant rubbers are much better now than 50 years ago.

[img=left]http://www.studegarage.com/images/gary_ash_m5_sm.jpg[/img=left] Gary Ash
Dartmouth, Mass.
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
web site at http://www.studegarage.com

[John Ratliff]

There is another flex line you should replace as well. That runs from the oil filter canister to the oil fill tube. If you have a full flow filter or no filter then disregard this line. Mine looked very good but had a crack at the fitting. When I went to remove it it just fell apart.

John Ratliff

[sbca96]

Yup .. we had one break on my brothers 1964 Daytona, it emptied the
crankcase in just a few seconds. If you dont want to carry a spare,
you can at least bring a pipe plug.



Tom

'63 Avanti, zinc plated drilled & slotted 03 Mustang Cobra 13" front disc/98 GT rear brakes, 03 Cobra 17" wheels, GM alt, 97 Z28 leather seats, soon: 97 Z28 T-56 6-spd, Ported heads w/SST full flow valves, 'R3' 276 cam, Edelbrock AFB Carb, GM HEI distributor, 8.8mm plug wires

[valleyguy]

Well, mine has been modified at some point, there is no rubber flex line, all hard line.
Wonder what the implications are since there is nothing to absorb engine vibration; should I
replumb this thing? Tks for the tip on the oil line from the oil filter as well; I'll
change that one. Joe D.

[R_David]

Glad I saw this thread, mine is also a hard line. Probably replaced by the guy who rebuilt the motor 20 years ago. I too wonder if there will be a problem for me in the future having a hard line going straight from the block to the oil gage. Haven't had any problems yet...

[BobPalma]

Glad I saw this thread, mine is also a hard line. Probably replaced by the guy who rebuilt the motor 20 years ago. I too wonder if there will be a problem for me in the future having a hard line going straight from the block to the oil gage. Haven't had any problems yet...

YIKES!

Under NO, repeat NOcircumstances should you have a hard line from the engine block to the oil pressure gauge feed line on the car's cowl. It's astonishing that it hasn't broken yet.

Jim Turner of Turner Brakes now markets replacement oil pressure engine-to-cowl flexible hoses in stainless steel with a black covering, so it looks like OEM "rubber" hose. These are a permanent investment because they will literally last the life of the car. he has them available for both six and V8 engines. BP

[rockne10]

Motor mounts, radiator and heater hoses, fuel lines, vacuum lines, oil pressure lines; there is a logical physical reason why any motionless items associated with the body or frame are attached to the engine with a flexible connection.
The original type oil pressure hoses are still widely available and a spare should be carried or, as Tom said, at least a pipe plug.
Use one of Jim Turner's stainless replacements and you should be good for as long as internal combustion is still legal.