Peerless GT
Filler necks and ethanol-friendly hose complete fuel system
Irecently finished fitting the GT’S inner rear arch filler neck panels and was greeted a few days later by the arrival of the special hoses I’d been eagerly anticipating from Samco Sport. The filler neck assembly uses two pieces of 48mm diameter hose – one top, one bottom, bridging the filler cap and fuel tank.
The lower section of hose is at the same height of the fuel tank, so when it’s full, the lower hose contains fuel. Ethanol in fuel will wreck standard rubber hose, leading to dripping fuel leaks – not ideal. A specially lined type of hose is the best solution. Profuel hose from Samco is engineered with a special fluoroelastomer lining that withstands constant contact with fuel and oils. It’s available in a huge range of sizes, including differing diameters at each end if necessary. I provided details of the length and angle of the originals for Samco to replicate perfectly in black.
In addition to the larger filler neck hoses, I also received two lengths of Profuel 13mm bore hose to act as vent hoses from the top of each fuel tank. Originally, fumes from the tanks were vented to the atmosphere via the wheelarches from smaller bore pipes and via the filler necks through vented fuel caps. To reduce the chances of fumes entering the car and to prevent fuel sloshing around I decided to improve the original set-up. Other Peerless owners have reworked their cars’ system using various solutions, including a Rover Montego filler neck with an incorporated vent pipe. Keen to keep my new stainless steel filler pipes, I chose to modify them to create a similar set-up.
This meant adding an inlet to the metal sections and the unlikely source for these was the steel tubes found in Triumph Herald/spitfire front trunnion bush kits. I had a few new bushes among my accumulated spares, so why not?
Stainless to mild
It is perfectly easy to weld mild to steel stainless steel using a gas MIG welder and standard steel wire so long as you remember the joint will not be stainless and further rust protection is required. For an unstressed component such as these inlets, I’m happy to use this approach. To create the correct angle, an oblong hole is required.
This was achieved using a 14mm drill bit and round files to enlarge and shape the aperture. A pivoting double magnet clamp maintained the angle as I applied the first tack welds. I’m the first to admit that I didn’t create the neatest initial welds and having checked the joints for leaks using penetrating oil inside the pipe, I had to run more beads to get the seals leak-free. Not pretty, but sealed. That done, two coats of zinc phosphate primer were applied for protection.
Clean cuts
Fitting the filler neck assemblies was then a simple task of aligning the Samco hoses and the pipes, before tightening the securing clips. The breather hose was looped up as far as it could go inside the wheelarch before dropping back down to the new inlets on the filler pipe. Any fuel that somehow manages to surge up that high will be redirected back down the filler necks.
Small bridging pieces of the 13mm Profuel hose also bridged the tanks’ lower fuel outlets with the reducer joints connecting to the 8mm pipes running to the fuel filters and pumps.
To cut Profuel hose to size, it’s critical not to undermine the green lining. If this barrier layer is breached by fuel, the surrounding silicone hose will be wrecked and the hose fail. I used a cutting knife blade, making slow, firm slices to achieve a clean cut. For larger size hoses, the use of a Jubilee clip is advised to act as a blade guide. If the green liner lifts then a fresh clean cut is required.
The rear end of the wiring loom carrying the fuel pumps’ feeds and rear lights had been disconnected as far back as the sills while the new sills’ end caps were fitted previously. The wiring was refitted and routed properly out of the sills to the boot area. Much of it will hide behind carpet and sound insulation.
‘It’s critical not to undermine the lining, as the hose will be wrecked’