Normally, the rails are coated with fuel resistant epoxy and, the base metal is cold rolled steel. To ID this: simply look at the inlet weld area - dead giveaway as far as it being molded or welded.

CM

 

There are only 2 different style connectors at the fuel rail. You either have the one similar to the 2 pics on the left(which is used on the steel rail) or the style in the illustration on the right(which is used on the composite/plastic rail).

The other connectors we have shown you, are on various other components of the vehicle. As CM has stated.

 

Here is another illustration of the plastic/composite style

 

Man, that's as cheap as cheap gets. I've yet to that POS setup.

 

I know huh? And I highly doubt the rail itself is any kind of good grade composite. Just looked like cheap old plastic to me! LOL Actually if you look in one of the original pics I posted, the second pic and the one to the right, even the illustration shows that the (plastic)line is connected to the connector by way of shrink tube. The whole line is plastic no flex line first like what you are used to. And the worst part is, I had to buy a special adapter to check the fuel pressure on that 97, because there is NO test port on the composite/plastic rail! LOL Actually, even the last pic I posted shows it. The illustration is just better in the FSM.

 

It's definitely a pile for sure. Good thing I didn't step into it. Those ends are heat molded. First problem with that is fatigue and, the second is material hardening with thermal cycling so, when you go to remove it - the f-ing thing ends up cracking at the elbow or in the line itself. Then, the thing that really sucks, is, since they didn't make too many with that configuration, I will bet getting parts is difficult.

If I had those lines- in a heartbeat, I would trash the whole thing and put in all new fuel rails, all new line all the way back to the pump if it wasn't hard-lined. That's just complete junk that should have never went into production.

Hands down- that is the biggest POS setup that they stuck on a Dodge. My lawnmower has a better fuel setup that what is represented in that pic.

CM

 

+1.... I'm sure they did away with it right away and only had it on some or maybe all 97's. I don't know.



EDIT: And actually, the way things rust up here, I almost kind of wish mine was composite/plastic too! LOL As you can see my fuel rail in this pic.





Here is a better pic that shows the supply connection too, sort of.





Not that it matters, but tomorrow those rockers are coming out of the motor to be installed on my newer truck.

 

Yep thats mine.

Gee thanks!

Ok got some pics of mine and I found the other clip...sorta. It came from the dealer and was very difficult to find. Ended up not fitting because the clip was too thick. And I got fed up, went to our drum sander and skinnyed it up. Fits like a glove and I have no leaks. I am going to switch over to the old style when I have more time to mess with it. I just need it to run so I can get out from driving my dads truck home every night. Anyways here are some pics before I put the clip in:

 

So what was the problem to begin with then? A bad clip or incorrect clip causing the leak?

Also, do you know what size o-ring you replaced yours with?

 

The problem was that the primary clip was missing at the fuel rail where the fuel line connected.

I bought a package of various sizes at Advanced Auto Parts and picked the closest size but I ended up using the stock one that was on originally.