Copper air and fuel lines?

[George Lowry]

Hi Tim,

Can't say for sure when BB used the copper lines but GM used copper
lines on all their buses which had millions of miles on them. I have a
'62 GM that still has copper in it. I changed some of the lines to
plastic because of the ease of working with it as well as the lesser
cost. I will bet that the manufacturers did the same. I have seen
the plastic used even as hydraulic lines on some conversions and it
lasted longer than the copper.

Copper, if not properly supported and if allowed to flex will become
annealed or work hardened and then tends to crack. Have learned that
the hard way.

With labor prices much more than plastic material and the copper
prices so out of sight, it makes economical sense to use the plastic
whenever possible.

Back in the eighties the copper prices were extremely volatile. When I
would go to a supplier for a quote on a copper product, be it wire or
pipe, the best they would guarantee a quote was up to 5 pm of that
day. I would try to second guess by adding more and many times by the
time the contract was let, the prices had risen so much that I was
losing money. I would not be surprised that the vehicle manufacturers
found the same thing.

As to being a hazard, I doubt it. My old GM coach probably has more
miles on it than any Bluebird WL and I have found no problem...

George Lowry
"95 WBDA 4203 & GM 4106 (for sale)
Spearfish, SD

Tim Hannink wrote:

> How long did Wanderlodge (and Bluebird?) use copper tubing for air
> and fuel lines?
>
> Is there a problem with the copper tubing cracking and becoming a
> safety hazard?
>
> I have someone trying to tell me that my 'lodge is unsafe because it
> has these copper lines, he's telling me that most truck
> manufacturers switched over to plastic lines in the early 80's
> because of stress fractures in the copper lines. I think that he is
> full of **it, as he has proven to be so in the past.
>
> Any info would be helpful.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Tim Hannink
> Winter Park, FL
> 1981 FC-33SB
>
> BTW, we will be headed north on I-95 to Darlington this evening,
> flash your lights if you see me:>)
>
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