Anyone Installed Repro Brake Line Kit

[w30bob]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone bought and installed the repro brake line kit from either VPW or Midwest? I assume they're sourced from the same place, so probably the same kit. Were all the lines bent properly and did they fit well? I also assume the lines are steel and not stainless. Did they have the correct armor spring wrap? Were the long lines bent to fit in the shipping box or were all lines ready to be installed.

I realize I could just buy brake line and bend to fit, but by the time I get all the materials, mess up a few long lengths and have to go back and buy more line.......it might be easier and less of a pain in the arse to just buy the kit and install. But that assumes the kit is a good one and doesn't need a lot of work to get right. Hence my questions.

thanks,
bob

[k8icu]

Bob, I haven't installed one myself, but I've talked to a few people who have and they all seem happy with the ones from MidWest. I can't speak for the VPW ones but as I said I've heard positive results from the MW ones. If you are going stock the kits are a good bet because everything is set and ready for you to put it in and is the right length etc.

Joe

[just me]

I did MWM brake and fuel kits. I recommend doing both at the same time as they follow the same routing. Do it once, do it right. Very happy with it. Very little fiddling with it to fit the same as the original. Some of the longer tubes are bent in half for shipping but are marked to straighten. Wasn't hard to unbend without tools. It is all armor wrapped. The only section that isn't the same as original is the MC to frame pipe. It is longer and with a 360 bend to make forming easier. I used it but later duplicated the short original pipe so it couldn't possibly get snagged off roading. Comes with the rubber lines for the vents and fuel if you get the whole kit. You will still need to purchase the 4 rubber brake hoses separately.

[pwrwagonfire]

I got my repro kit from VPW. Everything was the right length, etc. it was a pretty painless install, and at the time I had very little automotive experience.

If I remember correctly I had to buy the hoses separately.

Hope this helps!

-T

[oros35]

I just did all the lines on my truck. I don't know who's kit I have cause it came with the truck when I bought it. Naturally some of the lines have been lost so I had to fab a couple myself.

Big picture, even if they are not 100% bent right, it was still way easier to start with something close. Most did fit very well. I did have to tweak a couple I did have, but who knows who stepped on them with the previous owner!

Some of my notes:
You still have to reuse or find some parts. The rubber lines I got (had to buy 3 since I only had 1 new that came with the truck) do not come with the nut that holds them on. I was lucky and was able to reuse 3 of them but still had to find 1. Got lucky and found one in my nut bin. It's a large fine thread nut.
I also needed 1 additional wheel cylinder and found out they do not come with the crush washers. Have to buy them separate.
For the couple lines I was missing, I just made them with regular brake line and was able to salvage some of the armor coil from parts of the line I took off. Under the engine, where oil dripped the armor wire part was still in good condition. I cut it off and reused it over regular line. Worked great and still looks 100% original.

Now I'm going after the fuel lines. Hard to spend the money for the kit, seems like a lot of $ for some simple lines. Anyone know of other sources, or even sources of the armor wire coils that I could add to my own lines?

[Elwood]

I sourced both the hard lines (in bulk) and the armored coil (also in bulk) from Summit Racing.

[w30bob]

Guys, thanks for the comments.........great info.

Oros, I believe Inline Tube as well as Classic Tube sell the bulk line and armor spring in both steel and stainless. Jegs and Summit should have it as well, you just need to do a little price shopping and watch for those shipping charges!

regards,
bob

[oros35]

Got it from Summit. Finished the install last night. Worked and looked great and the price was good too. Thanks to you guys!!