> can I run a longer rubber fuel line
> from (I presume) the fuel tank
> fitting to a fresh cut on the steel
> line? Can steel lines be coupled
> together using a flare or
> compression coupling?

Almost. Just one caveat -- it is NOT a slip-on fitting! There is typically some sort of bulge or barb in the steel to prevent the hose from sliding off. You do not want to trust a simple hose clamp to keep a rubber hose attached under typical fuel injection pressures. (Imagine a geyser, then imagine a fireball.) If you can make a new bulge (use a flaring tool part-way, perhaps) that would be good. If you can get a brass fitting with a hose barb on one end and a compression fitting on the other, that would be excellent.

Having said that...

There's no reason why not to make a fresh cut and intall a slightly longer hose to the steel... remember that some of the factory's choice in lengths was dictated by steel line being cheaper than rubber hose (substantially cheaper, if you're talking about the special high-pressure rubber stuff.) The steel hose is more protective against road debris, as well. As long as you have enough hose to allow for a flexible coupling between components, and it's protected from road hazards, you should be OK.

Unless you can clearly discern whether this is supply (high pressure) or return (low pressure), I would advise spending a couple extra $ to get the high pressure stuff. Yea, it was about $4/foot last time I checked, but you don't want to risk blowing up the regular stuff by putting FI pressures through it.

If some issue compels you to keep the rubber hose a short length, you certainly could splice steel lines together, probably a compression fitting union would be the easiest. Remember that the more junctions you make, the more chances you have for a leak. If you're talking about changing the junction by only a couple of inches, I'd just run a slightly longer rubber section.

- Erik