The use of an angle drill made this installation possible.Ī pair of V8-806 3/16-inch bending pliers and an Imperial lever-type tube bender provided the tools for all of the bending while a variety of measuring and cutting tools were needed to complete the job. The project was more difficult because the engine was already installed but this made sure that nothing would interfere with the other components. I used a combination of tools to make the bends after making the wire mockup and mounting the clamps on the crossmember. A length of copper wire used as a mockup allows the clamps on the crossmember to be installed first, which simplifies the job. This simple brake crossover line has multiple angles and a step in the center to clear the u-bolts. To complicate it even more the ends bent downward at two different angles so that they could meet up with the fittings. But there had to be a step in the center to form around the spring u-bolts and two compound angles traveling upward at 15° and to the rear 10°. A straight line across would have been 22-inches long with two 90° bends at each end. The front brake crossover-line on my roadster seemed like a simple task but actually required multiple angles to route it cleanly along the backside of the front crossmember.

However, if you want a really professional looking job you have to calculate the angle for each bend and path that the line will take. Mocking it up with a soft length of copper wire creates a pretty good rough template as a guide.

So you have to be more accurate when measuring and calculating each bend.Ĭreating straight lines from one point to another or lines with a simple 90° bend are very easy to fabricate but most lines on a brake or fuel system have to snake around components on the vehicle before reaching their destination. Stainless steel tubing is not so forgiving when it is bent that is it. Story & Photos By Jim Clark (The Hot Rod MD)Ĭopper, aluminum and mild steel tubing is relatively easy to bend which allows for correcting some mistakes when you bend it in the wrong place.

Tube bending instructions chart