So i think that some people including myself would like clarification. Installing AN fittings with SS lines how hard is it? I found a video on youtube is this basically it? Do all of the elderly MT.net guys recommend getting it professionally done at a shop or can it be done in a shed and not have any problems with it. Any useful links on this subject? Any tips, tricks, or not to do's when it comes to turbo lines and oil cooler lines?

 

It's easy. Just remember to tape around the hose and cut through the tape, and to mark the hose before you tighten the nut so that you can check that it's pulling the fitting into the hose, rather than pulling the nut off.

--Ian

 

Definitely tape...use a brand new cut off wheel on and electrical grinder. Don't even think about trying to snip it with a tin snips or cut it with a saw.

 

If I remember right, AN Plumbing had some good videos on putting these together. Caroll Smith's books had some good info, too.

I use a diamond cut off wheel on a Dremel to cut mine.

 

I tape them, then use a cut off saw. Call me crazy but this is what I do, I use cheap dollar store duct tape because it doesn't stand up to the heat well. It seems like the glue from the tape gets hot enough and somewhat flows into the braids helping them to hold from fraying when you pull the tape.

 

See if you can find a local hydraulic shop. My local shop will build my lines for me for free as long as I buy the parts from them.

 

This... hydraulic shops use crimp on fittings which make a much better seal than the build it yourself kind, and they are usually about half the cost of the aeroquip type stuff.

 

If you want the AN fittings to stay pretty, buy a cheap set of AN wrenches and an AN adjustable wrench. Your normal (hardened steel) wrenches will mar the soft, anodized aluminum finish of your fancy AN fittings.

If you keep the fittings to one or two sizes, then you can just buy those wrenches instead of a set, but you don't save that much. I think the AN wrenches I ordered recently from Summit were less than $50 for the set.

 

The shop I go to only has aeroquip which I am fine with. I pay a bit more for it, but the fact that they have every fitting I need generally in stock and will put on one end and let me come back the next day to after measuring to cut to perfect length and install the other end. If I did not have them available I would get all my lines from bat Inc. They are cheap and do the crimp fittings. After being spoiled I doubt I will ever make another line in my life.

 

I make sure to buy Mocal fittings because they go together easier than most of the others I've tried. I use two aluminum crescent wrenches, a cut-off wheel on a chop-saw is awesome, and lube the connectors when you assemble them. I always build them on the car because they will always fit tighter than getting them made by someone else. I've never understood why people think this is so hard and I'm one of the dumbest members on this board.

 

they are easy to make, here is a tip, make sure you use a paint pen to check for slippage.

russells fittings are very easy to put together but they corrode
aeroquip fittings are higher quality but a bit more difficult to assemble

your first one will take some time, after that they go very fast. absolutely no reason to take it to a pro. the whole point of these fittings is to make them easy to work with and replaceable in the field

 

Agreed, it's easy and it works well. Plus the shops are never open when I want to work on my car.

--Ian

 

Use a block of aluminum, big hammer and a sharpened heavy chisel to cut the ss lines.

Saw this on a vendors instruction video, works very well.