Fuel system upgrades

[driller]

I am considering upgrading the fuel system on the Blue Flame. The car currently has a Walbro 255 fuel pump and stock fuel lines. After some consultation, the following components were suggested:

• Weldon A600-A Fuel Pump
• -10 pickup line
• 45 micron pre-filter
• -8 high pressure fuel line from pump
• 10 micron high pressure filter
• -8 return line back to the tank

The fuel pump is a self priming external pump. The stock filter sock in the tank will be replaced by the pre-filter and -10 line to the pump. Both the feed line from the pump and the return line will be -8 fuel line. Adapters from Russel will hook the AN lines up to the stock fuel rails for now.

The pump needs to be powered via a 30A relay switched from the stock fuel pump wiring. The fuel pump wiring needs to be 14 gauge minimum (I will likely use 12 gauge).

This will support fuel requirements for future mods by swapping the fuel rails, injectors and fuel pressure regulator in the engine compartment when the time comes.

It sounds simple enough but after searching, it seems a level above what others have done on this platform. Opinions?

 

[DLF]

Can you even get a -8 return line fuel rail adapter? I think that -6 would be enough.

 

[mlschultz]

Looks good, JP. I have read that a 3/8 id line with the right pump can support 1000hp, so a 1/2 id line and this pump should be good enough for whatever plans you have. I would only suggest to make sure this set up can support the power adder, and type of fuel you plan to use.

I am curious to see how you will like an external pump. I have yet to hear one quiet enough to put in my car.

 

[97MarkJA]

I've done quite a bit of research on the fuel systems for a e85 set up. One thing you may want to think about is those external pumps have 0 cooling. The rebuild rate seems high, if you search SVT or Corral you will find plenty of them "just rebuilt or refreshed" plenty of the aeromotive a1000 pumps also.
You may want to think about the new walbro dual turbine pumps and just run a twin set up.

 

[driller]

Can you even get a -8 return line fuel rail adapter? I think that -6 would be enough.

If necessary, couldn't I use a -8/-6 adapter for now?

I would only suggest to make sure this set up can support the power adder, and type of fuel you plan to use.

I am curious to see how you will like an external pump. I have yet to hear one quiet enough to put in my car.

I would think this upgrade would be all that I would need for a long time. As far as being quiet, my car is no where near as quiet as yours - I doubt it would be loud enough to bother me. LOL

One thing you may want to think about is those external pumps have 0 cooling.

I realize that but I do not think it would be driven enough to be a primary concern? I have seen several guys run external pumps on street/strip cars, some which are driven much more than mine.

 

[DLF]

If necessary, couldn't I use a -8/-6 adapter for now?

Sure, that would work.

 

[FLM Fan]

Are you planning a power adder? Otherwise the system you're running now should be sufficient for what you have. I'm running 410 to rear with basically the same setup you have now. I'm not seeing any starvation.

 

[driller]

Are you planning a power adder? Otherwise the system you're running now should be sufficient for what you have.

Anything more than I have now would require upgrading the fuel system, so it would be a head start to do it beforehand.

 

[FLM Fan]

I'll be interested in the results. I'm going to need to upgrade this winter.

 

[ricky8]

do you really need more than the walbro pump and why?

 

[driller]

It's a foundation for whatever the future may bring.

 

[94m5]

Twin in-tank pumps John......


the hat can be modified EASILY.


I built a triple pump Hat for a buddy's Cobra, -10 supply, -8 return, Areomotive regulator 105lb injectors, and Fore billet rails. This was an e85 setup though.



I'd do twin 190's a -6 supply and return and a good quality regulator. It'll support what ever you'll do to it.

If not, it's a tank drop and 2 GT supercar pumps away from overkill.


Mike

 

[driller]

The lines and fittings are in the garage and after much research and consultation, I decided to go ahead with the original proposal and ordered the new fuel pump today.

At almost $400, this better be good.

Now if I could just buy some time to work on the car.

 

[driller]

Most parts for this upgrade, including the fuel pump are on the shelf now.

Thinking ahead, I'd like to pre-fab the fuel hat and sending unit assembly to accommodate the -8 AN return line and -10 AN suction line along with the gargantuan pre-filter. Searching the forums for pics of the fuel pump assembly, I think it will be pretty straight forward.

What I am still searching for are tube fittings to replace the stock size lines in the hat.

I need to have male AN fittings coming out of the hat for the new fuel lines.

Does anyone know of a source for these fittings? I've searched all the popular websites to no avail.

BTW, see my post in the classifieds looking for a fuel pump hat to start this process.

EDIT: I wonder if this would work?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/grn-gm-ti7998/overview/

 

[DLF]

Does anyone know of a source for these fittings? I've searched all the popular websites to no avail.

Russell, but they only come in -6 sizes.

Since you're set on using an external pump, make something from the stock hat, similar to the last item you pictured. Or weld that part to the stock hat and shorten the tubes as required.

 

[driller]

Since you're set on using an external pump, make something from the stock hat, similar to the last item you pictured. Or weld that part to the stock hat and shorten the tubes as required.

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I found one with a -10 tube for the pickup and a -8 tube for the return. If the lid would be the same (which I doubt), I may be able to swap over the sending unit.

http://www.glennsperformance.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=145

 

[chris2523]

why an external pump over an internal pump (or pumps)?
multiple internal pumps seems to be the norm and can certainly produce enough flow.

 

[Sierra3]

Pretty cool project John,

That's exactly what I'm thinking. I found one with a -10 tube for the pickup and a -8 tube for the return. If the lid would be the same (which I doubt), I may be able to swap over the sending unit.

http://www.glennsperformance.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=145

This piece is what im missing on my setup. Im running the twin walbros inside the tank as well, even though i did fuel rails and braided lines up front to the fuel filter area only. The rest is stock factory lines to the tank. This will be pretty cool when you get that piece modded to fit stock gas tank sending unit. Then youll have the real deal with fat lines all the way back.

 

[driller]

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why an external pump over an internal pump (or pumps)?
multiple internal pumps seems to be the norm and can certainly produce enough flow.

1, I like being different and 2, two pumps are twice as likely to have a problem.

I ordered the second hat assembly and will either make it work or steal the inlet/outlet tubes from it.

 

[DLF]

1, I like being different and 2, two pumps are twice as likely to have a problem.

1. You've got that covered already.

2. You're looking at that issue from the wrong perspective. If a single pump fails, you stop. In a dual pump setup, if 1 pump fails, you're still running.

I just installed 2 Aeromotive 340 in-tank pumps in my soon to be blown Cobra. 1 pump running constantly, the other will come on @ 2 lb. boost. If the primary pump should fail, all I have to do is ground one wire to make the secondary pump run constantly.

However, there's no getting around the fact that an external pump is easier to service.