I have to replace my intake manifold gaskets to stop the dreaded oil leak and I'm wondering about the fuel lines. A Haynes book says that a special tool is required but can they be disconnected without the tool? Any input will be well appreciated and I will be working on it tommorow evening when I get home from work. I will try to take pictures for those who want to see what the top end of a 176,000 mile LT1 looks like. Thanks guys.

 

Go to any parts house they will have sell you the tool you need.

 

http://www.shbox.com/1/quick_connect.jpg

looks like this


or this

 

Thanks for the help. That's what I needed to know.

 

Can also look like this

 

Just go to your local autoparts store and you can get a pack of all the sizes for like $5. They're really cheap and good to have anyway incase you ever need em again.

 

You don't even need to release the fuel lines. Just release the clamp that holds the two hard lines to the bracket on the bolt on the intake manifold, remove the 4 bolts that hold the rails on, remove the big plastic clip that holds the fuel line bundle to the throttle linkage cover, and lift the rails off with the lines intact, and flip it back on the windshield out of the way.

 

How do you bleed off pressure before removing the lines? I need to replace my fuel line cover.

 

Remove your gas cap to relieve pressure in the tank and then depress the schrader valve on the back of the fuel rail (kinda like a tire valve) press the middle gently with a small screwdriver and have a towl covering it to prevent gas from dripping or spraying.

 

Thanks!

 

Well I forgot to grab the camera before I traveled to the shop so I didn't get any pictures but everything looked really good under the intake as far as I could see. The pushrods were tight and the valley was pretty clean. I just wish I had the money to rebuild the motor totally. But thanks for all of your help, I really appreciate it and the whole job took about 6 hours, thats doing everything by myself and no more dreaded intake oil leak.

 

I am struggling terribly to get the quick disconnect uncoupled. I've just about scraped all the skin off my right forearm on the cowl seal area I bought the assortment pack of tools pictured earlier in this thread, but I cannot get the darn thing to release. Any tips?

 

Depending on whether or not they have been off before, it may take some effort. Make sure you're pressing evenly and using the right size for the right fuel line.

 

Does this help (courtesy of Shoebox):

http://shbox.com/1/quick_connect.jpg


Are you keeping the tool in place, while trying to pull the lines apart?

 

Shoebox did help. Based on his drawing, I went back to town and exchanged the plastic "tools" for an aluminum device that was much more substantial. Both line came off with ease.

Then of course, I could not slip the second line through the fuel line cover -- no matter how hard I tried. I even got a extra set of hands with my son. We were kinking the plastic fuel lines and got pretty nervous. We finally split the cover from the existing slit to the rear and snapped it over the two fuel lines.

How in the world are you supposed to slip that cover over the fuel lines anyway?