Changing an engine can be a very frustrating process, not to mention messy and time consuming. Which is one reason many vehicles within the Power Automedia garage are equipped with Jiffy-Tite fittings.

“With Jiffy-Tite you can avoid stripping, cross threading, over-tightening, forgetting to tighten, stripping the hex or scratching the fitting,” explained Duane LaFleur of Jiffy-Tite Motorsports.

Jiffy-Tite replaces typical threaded fittings with quick-disconnect-style fittings. The Jiffy-Tite fittings are available with a valving option that minimizes fluid loss once the fitting is disconnected. However, if you have a system that needs to be quickly drained, you can order non-valved fittings that allow for a quick disconnect but will no longer seal the fluid at the connection. Either way, once they have been installed, you no longer need a line wrench as each fitting can be released by simply pulling on the quick disconnect.

Because they are so easy to install and use, we thought it would be fun to throw a list together of ten cool ways to use their fittings on a vehicle. So without further ado here are ten cool ways to use Jiffy-Tite fittings.

#1 – Replacing  The Fuel Rail On The Carburetor

One of the most frustrating jobs at the track or in the garage can be changing the carburetor. You have to disconnect the fuel-supply line from the fuel rail, which usually leads to fuel draining on the intake manifold. Many racers solve the problem by replacing the traditional fuel rail on the carburetor with Jiffy-Tite fittings.

We performed this swap in the Power Automedia garage by building a fuel rail with -8AN braided line and attaching two quick-connect plugs (part #32308) to the ends of the rail where they attach to the carburetor. We also installed a fuel pressure gauge to monitor the fuel pump operation.

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We installed the fittings directly into the carburetor so we could remove the fuel rail with ease.

#2 – Quick Disconnects For Your Transmission

Changing a transmission can be frustrating enough, but with the help of Jiffy-Tite you can eliminate having to drain the transmission fluid or clean up the mess when disconnecting the lines to the the tranny fluid coolers. These kits come with steel braided Teflon hose lines. Since the fittings connect and disconnect in seconds and restrict the fluid release, there is no need to drain the transmission fluid before changing or dropping the transmission, and there’s less time required to wrench on the line fittings to the external coolers or filters.

#3 – External Fuel Pump Connections

For the drag and few circle-track racers who use an external fuel pump, Jiffy-Tite fittings offer an easy way to disconnect the fuel pump without worrying about fires or a huge mess.

Simply screw in the male fittings into the fuel pump and you have a leak-free system that can be disconnected without wrenches.

“Once you install that fitting you’ll never need to use tools on it again” LaFleur explained.

Most of our top ten involves using Jiffy-Tite fittings on the fuel system components because they eliminate so many potential hazardous situations. Being able to remove a carburetor or a fuel pump without having to worry about fuel spilling on a hot engine or exhaust is just a safer option all around.

#4 – Replacing The Fuel Tank Supply Line

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The Biting The Bullit ’65 Mustang project car is equipped with Jiffy-Tite fittings on the fuel tank supply line. Some of you reading might wonder if this is really a time saver.  As Don Creason pointed out in the original story, this should save time if there are problems at the track: “This also comes in handy at the track should we need to replace or service our fuel pump or filter. A filled fuel tank will not be able to gravity feed raw fuel out of the lines as we try to make a change to a component in the system. This avoids a potentially dangerous fuel spill and saves us money on lost fuel.“

The beauty of these fittings is that the user can change out multiple components without having to worry about finding the right wrenches, spilling expensive fuel or liquid, and creating an all around safer way of changing the components. 

#5 – Radiator Overflow Line

The ’65 Mustang project also has Jiffy-Tite fittings on the radiator overflow line. We used two non-valved sockets (Part# 21604AE) with 90-degree fittings and two non-valved plugs (Part# 22802A). This allows quick disconnects to drain the overflow tank, when needed.

Similar to the fuel system, having a way to disconnect the radiator overflow without having to worry about spewing hot water is a much safer option.

#6 – Use Them To Create Some Bling In The Engine Compartment

The recognizable black and gold fittings of Jiffy-Tite give the engine compartment a nice, bright touch. Not only do they create a safe and quick way to disconnect lines but the black and gold also add a little bling to the engine bay.

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Look at how the fittings add a nice touch to the engine compartment

#7 – Vacuum Canisters Or Catch Cans

Similar to the radiator overflow line in Tip #5, any type of fluid catch can benefit from Jiffy-Tite fittings. This allows safer, easier draining of the catch can without making a mess.

Another use that many don’t consider Jiffy-Tite fittings is for vacuum canisters. These canisters need to be air tight to properly protect and assist the power brakes. A simple hose over the fitting with a band clamp isn’t always air tight, which when loose can lead to pulsating brakes. However, these canisters also need to be easily removable when pulling the engine for repairs or a quick swap.

These hectic situations make vacuum canisters perfect candidates for Jiffy-Tite fittings.

#8 -Mechanical Fuel Pump Line

We mentioned earlier about the external electric fuel pumps, but there’s no reason why the mechanical fuel pump users can’t install Jiffy-Tite fittings. Just like the other nine tips listed, it simply takes attaching the male fitting to the fuel pump and then a female Jiffy-Tite fitting on the carburetor supply line.

Most users who replace the fuel rail with Jiffy-Tite fittings will replace them at the fuel pump as well. This way the entire fuel supply assembly can be removed without the worry spilling any fuel and starting a fire.

#9 -Any Rear-End or Transmission External Radiator

Many circle-track and off-road racers use an external cooler to keep the rear-end grease from getting too hot and burning up the rear gear. However, this setup can be annoying when changing rear gear ratio as you have to undo the entire cooling system, often resulting in leaking hot and expensive fluid.

This cooler is just another area where the Jiffy-Tite fittings can be used to not only save yourself from burns but also speed up the process of changing a rear gear.

Truthfully, just about any external rear-end or transmission radiator can be equipped with Jiffy-Tite fittings to make at the track changes a quick process.

#10 – How About The Entire Engine Compartment!

The truth is you can use Jiffy-Tite fittings just about anywhere you would normally have a line. This is proven by the NHRA Jiffy-Tite Chevy Camaro. Besides the main rubber coolant hose,  Every line you see within this engine compartment has a Jiffy-Tite fitting. This entire engine can be pulled out of the engine compartment with minimal fluids being dropped on the ground.