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The technology of the AN-style piping department is changing because it involves making A to B fluid connections in your car. We reviewed the use of Earl's Performance Plumbing components in the revised "Project Evil". Mustang is being updated to become the Vortech supercharged 1,800 horsepower monster for the X275 race.

With the redesign of the Mustang project, the piping system of the fuel, oil and cooling system has undergone a complete change. The combination of Earl's UltraPro series hose and Auto-Crimp hose end is being connected.

The new power unit consists of a KBX steel billet 351 Windsor equipped with FuelTech FT600 electronic fuel injection system to supply the methanol fuel required for this horsepower. For the pipes of large EFI systems, the hoses and ends are assembled using Earl's Performance UltraPro series PTFE lined hoses and Auto-Crimp hose ends.

We discussed various hose ends with Jim Szilagyi, senior sales manager of the Holley Performance/Earl's Performance Plumbing brand, as they were combined with Earl's AN-type fitting series.

There are braided stainless steel and polyethylene braided outer sheaths to choose from. The polyethylene hose used is carefully cut to a certain length with a sharp knife. One advantage of Earl's UltraPro hose products is the ribbed design of the PTFE lining. Compared with the traditional solid liner design, this liner allows tighter bending.

"Earl's UltraPro is lined with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which can withstand all known fuels, oils and coolants used in automotive and racing applications, including harsh methanol and ethanol," Szilagyi describes. "Due to durability, our PTFE lined hoses are becoming more and more popular."

The double helix rib on the inner lining is unique to a few manufacturers, including Earl's Performance. Ribbed lining makes it more flexible than some straight cast PTFE linings. This flexibility is valuable when it comes to the sharp bends of the pipes inside the car.

"Any hose series that are not compatible with ethanol or methanol are clearly stated in our catalog and website," Szilagyi said. "These hoses that are incompatible with rubber will start to deteriorate. The hose will then allow steam to escape through the hose and eventually leaks will occur."

After installing the crimp ring on the hose, lubricate the joint and install it into the PTFE liner of the hose. The hydraulic crimping machine is equipped with crimping dies matched with hoses and joints. For economic racers, Earl's Performance offers a manual crimper suitable for placing their Auto-Crimp hose ends on many different hose designs.

The Auto-crimp hose end used in the Mustang project is a technology accepted by more and more high-end teams hoping to invest in the safest AN connector. Equipping your store with a hydraulic crimping machine (such as Earl's D100 series crimping machine) is a big expense.

The hose end assembly is carefully placed in the crimping mold, and a clamping force of approximately 35 tons forms an absolute connection between the hose and the joint. Then use a set of calipers to check whether the final diameter of the crimping collar is suitable.

"Earl's provides a manual crimping tool to install our Auto-Crimp hose ends," Szilagyi said. "However, for the combination of PTFE hose and crimped hose end, I personally recommend the use of a hydraulic crimping machine and the 35 tons of clamping force it provides."

Buying your own hydraulic crimping machine may be too costly for many people, but many racers use a friend’s device or a commercial store in their area so that they can use a crimping machine to get the job done.

Jim Szilagyi of Earl's Performance strongly recommends their pressure test kit to check the crimped or screwed fittings. Just cover each end with a suitable adapter, fill with compressed air according to the hose pressure level, and then immerse in water to find any leaks.

Although it is not recommended to be used with the hoses we use, Earl's manual crimping tools have gradually become popular for use in pipes ranging from Earl's Perform-O-Flex braided steel hose to Pro-Lite 350 braided nylon hose series Install the end of the crimping hose on the job. Earl's provides an informative "How to Choose Fuel Hose" video to help you with the product decision-making process.

"Our traditional threaded compression hose ends are still the most viable option for all pipes, including UltraPro PTFE hoses," Szilagyi concluded. "The maximum pressure rating of our products is based on the hose capacity. If you look at the specification sheets for many of our hose options, the pressures they can handle are all specified in the hose, regardless of the end of the hose."

In the past, there was a trade-off between the durability of PTFE hoses and the lack of flexibility of the hoses. Between the double spiral ribs of the UltraPro hose and the crimped connection at the end of the Auto-Crimp hose, the wicked extreme task of plumbing is an achievement of durability.

No matter which hose and end combination you choose for fuel, coolant or oil injection applications, Earl's Performance has many options.

Whether it is a crimped or threaded hose end, combined with various hose materials, the correct assembly procedure is the key to creating a foolproof piping job.

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