Hi guys,
The time has come to do a vacuum hose job on my stock R2 car. It\'s had a rebuild and most of the duff pipework was replaced at that stage. Please, nobody ask why I didn\'t get it done at the time as I don\'t want to think about it!
The plastic crossover pipe on the Y-pipe is now leaking so the time has come to sort the whole lot out. I\'ve been looking around for a kit or what to use / order based on what other peope have done but get conflicting opinions on the pipes. Some say use maily 3.5mm with a small amount of 4mm where the 3.5 won\'t go, some 6 and some 8. Some people have used ties, some glue and some use both (as in I think rob robinette\'s site).
I\'d be greatful if any of you guys have done it before and can give me a few pointers on what to order, where to buy it and if glue or ties are required (one person suggested using 3.5mm it tight enough without but not sure of this).
Will the 3.5mm tube be a real fiddle or too tight?
Cheers,
Andy
My advice would be to not use silicone vaccuum line to do it, but proper rubber automotive OE hose. I had loads of problems with tiny splits in my silicone rats nest lines that were just about impossible to spot. Until you put them under stress the splits stayed shut and were invisible, but obviously when the engine\'s running they open up and give erratic problems. In addition, silicone is really bad at making tight bends and can crimp rather than curve, thus given erratic problems....in fact, since the idea is to presumably eliminate those pesky erratic problems, not create more, I\'d definitely say go for OE quality stuff. May not look as pretty, but it will work better :Thumbs-up
I\'ve just been reading a thread on RX7 Club on replacing vacuum hoses. I think the best hose to use is Viton, but it is a lot more expensive than normal silicone. A guy on RX7 Club got his hose from Hose Techniques but obviously they are based in the USA. He said it was good and cheaper than Viton but as you need it posted over here the postage might wipe out the saving...
Here is a link to the thread http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=904277
Viton will resist going gooey with the oil that will contaminate the inside of the hoses where normal silicon will not, however there is still the problem that they can fall off unless cable tied on.
As Nik says O.E type hose made by gates is by far the best for fit and forget,
Here are a couple of diagrams that will help,