1957 BUICK CENTURY fuel leak help

MY57BUICK

Member
Hello, the car has developed a gas leak and i was looking online for a fuel line ready bent kit and can't find anywhere. Is there one available? I seem to have read the line is all rubber somewhere, is this true? Also, is it necessary to remove the power bake booster to rebuild it? thank you
 
My fuel line is all metal. You can buy the flex line for fuel, you would just have to change fittings.
 
Hello, your metal fuel line, is this original. i looked in the manual and for a 1957 it says that it is all rubber? Is the fuel line 7/16"?
 
I am not familiar with the '57 fuel line, but I expect it falls into the typical group where you are outa luck! You will probably have to buy a roll of tubing and a couple of benders, and a flaring tool and build your own. You will probably have to do more than one to get thing sitting right. It is a learning experience and nobody get it right the first time.
 
No guys do not fret. Yes for 1957 Buick ditched the metal fuel lines in favor of running an OEM factory rubber fuel line from the tank over the top of the axle and forward following the outer passenger's side frame, over to the inner wheel well then over to the fuel pump. The frame has clips about every 2 feet or so along the frame and a couple loop clips set into the wheel well skirt. No metal lines. Go buy Gates Green line fuel hose that is Corn-oh-ol compliant and you should be good to go. The fuel line is about 12 feet long from tank to fuel pump if memory serves me right. Here's a little useless facto trivia: The factory ditched the glass bowl filter that hung off the goose neck/thermostat housing from previous years and instead ran another separate rubber fuel line from the fuel pump to the carb with no additional filter before the carb. What Buick did which they thought was a good idea was to put the fuel filter inside the fuel tank located on the top exit port of the tank where the rubber fuel line attaches to then runs forward to the engine bay. However, it was not long before service techs took the in-tank one out or perhaps as time went bye left it in place probably not realizing that an in tank filter was installed and installed either the previous glass type or an in-line metal fuel filter just before the carb. Less hassles and easier access and replacing and installing a fuel tank based filter could lead to fuel leaks and trouble if not installed properly and easily overly torqued. When I bought my 57 Roadmaster the car had been sitting some 40 years last driven in 1970 and it still had the factory tank filter installed. It is made to remove and clean then reinstall or replace as needed. Since the filter and tank outlet port is located on the top of the tank the fuel level needs to be less than full.
 
Hello, and thanks for the info i'm getting ready to purchase the fuel line from the tank to fuel pump but unsure of the correct original size(diameter) of the hose. any help appreciated. T Y John
 
No the tank does not need to be drained as the outlet is at the top of the tank, just have it no more than 3/4 full or less and no problem. The I.D. of the hose is the same I.D. as your mechanical fuel pump inlet and the same diameter as the outlet nipple at the top of your fuel tank. Gate Hoses sells the Green Stripe alcohol compliant fuel hose lines. Get a string and route it from the tank over the axle, loop over to the passenger outer sill frame and forward up to and along the front frame then over to the passenger wheel skirt then over to the inlet of the fuel pump. Magic marker the end and use a tape measure to determine the length then add 4-feet cause you probably missed something. The upper axle upper body pan over the axle will no doubt still have their fuel line clips as will the frame sections. This is not rocket science.
 
The Buick Master Parts Book shows the fuel line is 5/16" id.

The fuel line comes off the bottom of the tank as shown in the attached pages from the Chassis Service Manual and some Product Service Bulletins. To replace the hose and service the in-tank fuel filter, the tank will have to be drained per the instructions on page 3-10 of the service manual.

The in-tank filter was used on early '57 cars. Late '57 cars don't have the in-tank filter. Instead those use the more familiar glass bowl filter just ahead of the carburetor. Engine serial number break points for the changeover are shown in the attached service bulletin.

If your car does not have the in-tank filter, the hose could be replaced without draining the tank. Once the hose comes off the tank nipple, gas will flow out unless the tank is empty. The procedure would be to pull off the old hose and quickly replace it with a short piece of new hose having a plug in the other end. Once the new long hose is cut to length and in place, swap over the plugged short piece with the new hose. This might require a helper. And obviously perform this operation outdoors.
 

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Thanks for this most important correction. I was looking at my tank but for some reason wrote top instead of bottom as I have done this procedure a couple times on my 57 and have reconditioned the tanks as well so don't know what I was thinking that you would not have to drain the tank. Old n tired is a good excuse as any o_O ... The top is the vented port.
 
Hello, the car has developed a gas leak and i was looking online for a fuel line ready bent kit and can't find anywhere. Is there one available? I seem to have read the line is all rubber somewhere, is this true? Also, is it necessary to remove the power bake booster to rebuild it? thank you
re rebuilding the power brake booster, I believe it needs to be removed. I sent mine to Booster Dewey. Came back working and looking like it was brand new.
 
Hello, the car has developed a gas leak and i was looking online for a fuel line ready bent kit and can't find anywhere. Is there one available? I seem to have read the line is all rubber somewhere, is this true? Also, is it necessary to remove the power bake booster to rebuild it? thank

Hello, the car has developed a gas leak and i was looking online for a fuel line ready bent kit and can't find anywhere. Is there one available? I seem to have read the line is all rubber somewhere, is this true? Also, is it necessary to remove the power bake booster to rebuild it? thank you
G'day ihave a 57 special and my fuel line is all rubber
 
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