DrWill
New Member
Hello.
I'm restoring a 1985 Toyota MR2. This is a mid-engined vehicle that has hard brass heater tubes that run from front to back - around 4-5 ft long. They have long been discontinued at the dealer and are difficult to find non-rusted ones.
Due to the age, the flares at the ends of the pipes have rotted away and were leaking. I can cut the ends off, but I can't seem to find a flare tool in this diameter of tube.
I've measured it at 17mm in diameter, which means it's not compatible with most of the lower-cost flaring tools out there.
Some mentioned soldering on an olive, but again I'm having trouble finding an olive in that diameter.
Can someone help me out with a solution? Would a compression fitting work? I'm concerned it might work its way loose with the vibration of driving. The tubes will connect with rubber heater hoses on either end. It won't be high pressure - around 15-20 psi max.
I am a DiY kind of guy and not a professional plumber, though I have done a variety of plumping jobs around the house (done a few sweating jobs on copper pipe).
Thanks!
I'm restoring a 1985 Toyota MR2. This is a mid-engined vehicle that has hard brass heater tubes that run from front to back - around 4-5 ft long. They have long been discontinued at the dealer and are difficult to find non-rusted ones.
Due to the age, the flares at the ends of the pipes have rotted away and were leaking. I can cut the ends off, but I can't seem to find a flare tool in this diameter of tube.
I've measured it at 17mm in diameter, which means it's not compatible with most of the lower-cost flaring tools out there.
Some mentioned soldering on an olive, but again I'm having trouble finding an olive in that diameter.
Can someone help me out with a solution? Would a compression fitting work? I'm concerned it might work its way loose with the vibration of driving. The tubes will connect with rubber heater hoses on either end. It won't be high pressure - around 15-20 psi max.
I am a DiY kind of guy and not a professional plumber, though I have done a variety of plumping jobs around the house (done a few sweating jobs on copper pipe).
Thanks!