I am about to plumb my upper fuel system. I am not sure how the new black rubber fuel line performs. Anybody use this stuff? Earl's makes it. It looks to be much easier to work with and the braided steel hosing is a PITA to cut. Any suggestions?
As long as you buy high pressure hose in the proper diameter, and you run it safely, it's going to perform just as well as braided, unless you're running like 70psi for turbo or supercharging.
One problem with rubber hose is if you run it through a hole in the sheet metal, it can cut the hose. Plus some people don't think rubber hose looks as nice.
You could try Spectre's braided hose sleeving. It should protect it fairly well.
My car has used high pressure rubber hose (rated to 80 psi) for the supply and lower pressure hose (rated 40 psi) for the return since it was converted to 5.0L power in 1996. As a matter of course, I replaced them with new stuff when I pulled the motor for a topend performance rebuild 2 years ago. I've had no problems whatsoever with the hose before or since the rebuild. The car runs stock fuel pressures (38-40 psi). I simply used the oem style ribbed plastic wire loom to protect the hoses on their run from the fuel filter (which sits above the brake master cylinder) down and around the engine to the point where they connect to the metal tubing/fuel rail (down below the alternator).
As long as you're careful with your routing (you should be with any fluid line made of any material), and protect it where it makes sense to, you shouldn't have any trouble with the proper grade of rubber fuel line. Probably wouldn't help you any, but I can send a picture to you if you'd like to see what it looks like in the compartment inside the plastic loom. Email me at myount@senndelaney.com if you'd like to see a pic.