Stainless Steel Lines and AN Fittings?

[Dusty_Duster]

I was flipping through the Summit Racing catalog on my lunch break. I saw a whole section devoted to braided stainless steel lines and AN fittings. I know I've seen these used a lot on muscle cars at car shows, and I really like the look. I'd like to redo all the lines in my Duster in stainless steel and AN fittings, but I must admit I don't know much about them. I gots some questions:

1. Can you use stainless steel braided lines for things other than fuel (such as coolant, transmision fluid, and vacuum/boost)?
2. What are the AN fittings for exactly? How do they connect to other components in your engine bay?
3. How do you cut the braided line? Do you need a special tool?

I know some of you guys work on muscle cars and might know what I'm talking about. Thanks in advance!

[dds78910]

AN fitting is also known as JIC fittings, that is the style of the threads. We use them at work on all kings of things, such as heater hoses and some hydraulic hoses. They should work fine for using them in other locations, the hard part is finding the adaptors to convert it from what it was originally to JIC or (AN).

[dds78910]

For cutting it I just wrapped it where I wanted to cut in electrical tape and used a cut off wheel on a die grinder to cut it. Here is a pic where you can see the fittings I had to get for each end of my fuel pump and Accufab AFPR

Then got a hard tube adaptor to make my fuel rail accept the AN fitting.

[Turbodave]

1.) Stainless line can be used for a lot of things besides fuel. Coolant and oil lines are very popular uses for it.

2.) The AN fittings clamp sescure the ends of the line and provide an even clamping pressure on them. to make them fit into factory holes and on factory accesories will require various adapters. Be aware that this can get expensive pretty quick when you start putting it all together.

3.) I've never worked with it myself, but I seem to remember that you can cut it using a hacksaw, but that you need to wrap the line in masking tape first to keep it from fraying while you cut it.

[jamesmonty]

Don't know much about AN fittings but I did see a good way to cut them in car craft a few years back. They put a sharp edge on a masonary chisle and with one blow against a hard surface they cut the tubing. I think they wraped it elect tape first.

[mo' parts]

Be aware that this can get expensive pretty quick when you start putting it all together.

most definitly. i just got done pricing the ends/lines/fittings and such for the 5 lines needed for my 16 valve conversion...... about 250$
i didnt think it would be quite that much.

[dds78910]

If you look in Summit Racing they have thier own brand of AN fitting that are about half the price of Russel or Earls fittings.

[cordes]

AN fitting is also known as JIC fittings, that is the style of the threads. We use them at work on all kings of things, such as heater hoses and some hydraulic hoses. They should work fine for using them in other locations, the hard part is finding the adaptors to convert it from what it was originally to JIC or (AN).

I know that you work with them, so honest question here. Don't JIC and AN fittings have different specs. I know that they are interchangeable, but I thought that AN was more strict of a specification if you will. I also thought that all AN fittigns were Al as opposed to JIC which are steel from what I have seen?

[BadAssPerformance]

...and I really like the look....!

Although AN fittings and hoses do look cool, they are more for making custom lines and performance applications. My old settup on the Z I had over $400 into it for fuel, oil and coolant lines. The new 2.4L setup I am scared to add it up but am sure it is over $800

[dds78910]

Yeah from what I know that sounds right, An is made from aluminum and JIC is made from steel. The thread patterns are the same and they are interchangeable, but I think the JIC fittings can handle more pressure. Other than that I dont think there is any difference.

[Dusty_Duster]

Hmm, I might look into it, depending on the cost.

There was one type of hose in Summit racing that was braided nylon and rubber, so it was much less expensive than the other types. It was also a shiny black, which would look better in my engine bay.

[BadAssPerformance]

Make sure whatever hose you buy is NHRA or SCCA approved if you ever plan to take the car to a track. For fueal at least, most rubber hose (if used longer than a foot like the stock fuel injection hose) is not certifed unless it is Stainless or Kevlar wrapped.

[t3rse]

Yeah from what I know that sounds right, An is made from aluminum and JIC is made from steel. The thread patterns are the same and they are interchangeable, but I think the JIC fittings can handle more pressure. Other than that I dont think there is any difference.

yup! often hydrolic hose isn't lined inside too...but works dandy. much much cheaper to have a local transport truck place make them for you, pretty much identical to the vendors' brake kits. jic and rubber can take over 1600psi, i can't remember what jic+stainless is rated at, but its up there.

as for the chisel comment, it's called a cold chisel, and it is specifically designed to cut metal

[WVRampage]

All oil feed,coolant feed and coolant return have been braided stainless AN lines for years now.

[Anonymous_User]

Didn't see it mentioned yet, but....

the sizes, if you are not familiar with them, are in 16ths, so a -8 is 8/16 or 1/2 inch. Likewise, a -3 is 3/16.

AN is aluminum and JIC is steel. AN is usually anodized as you see in red or blue although polished is available also.

Cutting with a hacksaw is practically impossible. Use a cut-off wheel or a cold chisel, be sure to tape where you want to cut and cut in the middle of the tape.

Putting the connectors on the hose can take some practice. Once you get the hang of it, it's easy.

If you use aluminum AN, be sure to get a set of wrenches designed to be used with them. Standard wrenches will work, but they will scuff up the anodized aluminum.

There are seemingly unlimited numbers of fittings, straight, various degrees, swivel, non-swivel.... plan your hose well so you only order once.

The Summit brand parts are by far the cheapest available but do not seem to be of any lower quality than the name brand stuff.

[johnl]

Here are three docs that explain it - bottom line it's OK to substitute/mix JIC with AN so long as it is not for aviation and the user knows/consents. The other critical points are: no mixing of 45* SAE with 37* AN/JIC, no mixing of straight wall AN/JIC with tapered NPT, and when adapting from NPT to AN/JIC - aluminum adapters can be more restrictive as their ID is less than that of steel adapters.