[Joel Koontz]

I have been working on some brake & fuel lines recently and came across a product that I had not seen before.

It is a copper alloy tubing for brake and fuel lines. I initially got a piece of the brake line at AutoZone and the brand they sell is NiCopp. It was a good bit more expensive than coated steel line(IIRC I paid $13.44 for a 60" stick of 1/4" and the same size in Poly Armour was $7.88), but they told me it does not corrode and bends easier than steel lines so I decided to give it a try.

Bends easier is HUGE understatement. It bend VERY easily by hand and is MUCH less likely to kink than steel line. You can just wrap it around your finger if you want to.

I have not tried flaring it yet, but I have read that it is also much easier to flare than steel tubing. So far I have just used pre-terminated sticks. Since it is so easy to bend I just put a loop or loops in it to get it to be the length I need. I have ordered some in rolls so I will get some flaring experience in the near future.

At first I thought it was a product that just came on the market, but after doing some research I discovered that it has been used for decades. It has been used as OE on Volvos since 1976 and is currently used as OE by several European brands including Porshe.

It is called Cunifer in Europe and from what I have read, it NEVER corrodes. 76 Volvo brake lines are still like new. (75 Volvo lines needed replaced in 1980)

I have found the product available under the brand name S.U.R.&R. and have ordered some 25' rolls of the material.

After using this product, I doubt that I will ever fabricate lines out of steel again.

[Torquewar]

Yes Joel me and my buddys have been using this product for a few years now, we get it from NAPA.
The ease of fitting this stuff with regards to bending makes it a treat. The lines also take a flare very well.

[paint guy]

I also used this material to fabricate some lines on my 69, as I installed 4-wheel disc. Bought it at Brake and Equipment Warehouse in Mpls. They called it "Easy-Bend". A little spendy, but well worth it, IMO.

[Skip Fix]

I thought copper would fatigue and crack so is not to be used on brake or fuel lines, maybe a special alloy this is OK to use?

[Tom Vaught]

http://www.agscompany.com/automotive...ssion-lines/11

DOT APPROVED
FOR BRAKE AND GENERAL
AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

NiCopp® is a nickel-copper alloy brake tubing that meets SAE Standard J1047 and ISO 4038, meeting all international and U.S. requirements for brake tubing. This alloy is approximately 9.2% nickel, 1.4% iron, 0.8% manganese, and 88.6% copper. Under the UNS system, this alloy is designated as UNS C70600. NiCopp® therefore has the strength and structural integrity of steel lines, but with the added benefit of being much more corrosion resistant. NiCopp® is also easier to bend and form than steel tubing. Nickel-copper, commonly referred to as '90-10 copper', has been used on several European vehicle brake systems since the 1970's, including: Volvo, Audi, Porsche, and Aston Martin.

NiCopp® has been used on hydraulic/fluid transfer systems on vehicles where steel lines and tubing are commonly used. This includes brake, fuel and transmission systems. NiCopp® is considered the super-premium brand in brake lines and should be considered where the underbody of the vehicle is subjected to the harshest environments, where the longest life-span for lines is required, and/or where direct OEM replacement is desired.

* • NiCopp® Does Not Rust or Corrode
• DOT Approved for Hydraulic Brake Systems
• Bends 58% Easier than Steel Tubing
• Available in Coils of 25' and 100'
• Finished Lines Available for Domestic & Import
• Black Oxide Fittings 2X Corrosion Resistance

NiCopp® lines and tubing meet the following specifications:
SAEJ1047
ISO 4038
SAEJ1650
DIN 74234
BS2871

Tom Vaught

ps If it will pass the "Gorilla Stomp" test by the Scrutineer/Inspector from the SCCA you are good to go. Have seen many "copper brake lines" fail that test. NiCopp MAY pass that test.

[cnc]

Originally Posted by Torquewar

Yes Joel me and my buddys have been using this product for a few years now, we get it from NAPA.
The ease of fitting this stuff with regards to bending makes it a treat. The lines also take a flare very well.

What is the name NAPA is calling it same as above...^^^^ NiCopp

[67drake]

Just out of curiosity,what color is it?
Just would look kind of weird if it is copper colored if you want to keep a car looking stock.

[Joel Koontz]

I looks a lot like typical copper tubing, not quite as orange, but it looks a lot more like copper than it does steel lines.

Not the thing to use for a 100% correct restoration, but I never plan to work on anything that I plan to keep 100% original.

The S.R.U.&R. version of the product is called E-Z Bend.

[mchell]

doesnt look like they do 1/2" ???

[Joel Koontz]

Would be nice if they made 1/2", but 3/8" is the largest I have found.

[Joel Koontz]

Well I apparently had not looked hard enough. I did a search and it appears that they do have it in 1/2".

http://store.fedhillusa.com/cnf8.aspx


Not cheap, but it is available.

[mchell]

hmm......thats the same nicopp ??

[russosborne]

What connectors do you use on these? I didn't see any listed for this type line, other than what comes with the pre flared ones.

Hmm, from the second site listed above, looks like it can use standard fittings?
Figures, I just spent a lot of money on a steel fuel line.
Thanks,
Russ

[performerrpm]

hmmm, i made some -ok- lines for my 66 with steel, but since imma change over to hydra boost, i think im gonna get a roll, and run some new lines, that steel stuff was a pita to bend in tight areas

[vidguy]

These would work for Tranny Cooler lines?

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Might want to check this stuff out. I'm using it to plumb my fuel system with it. They also have the regular stuff and fittings much cheaper than other places. I bought all my hose and fittings for my fuel, oil, and trans cooling lines from them.

http://www.aeroquip.cc/aeroquips-twseriesfc807hose.aspx

[Joel Koontz]

Vidguy, it should work great for Tranny Cooler Lines

[russosborne]

Just re-reading this, and noticed the S.U.R.&R. thought that sounded familar. Googled it and it turns out they are about 1 mile from where I used to live in Akron. I passed the place dozens of times but never knew what they did.
Going to have to make a road trip there soon.
Russ

[vidguy]

Joel, Thanks! I'm gonna try some right away.