Home made fuel log

[rodneym]

Of all the parts in my Cobra, probably the only actual Ford part was my 2x4 fuel log, and I'm not a huge fan of it to boot. I called Gessford to order one of those shiney ally numbers but they don't make them for non Gessford builds. Fair enough....but he did tell me where to get the parts!

We have a small, old fashioned machine shop at work with no way of welding aluminum. So I bought them a tig welder and went to work. I hadn't welding anything since high school. My HS had a pretty decent metal shop. We brazed, had spot welders, oxy-acetalene, arc welding and even heliarc (Mr. Johnson never called it tig).

I regulate 5 psi of fuel from a Holley black (14 psi). I figured if the regulator tore (which it had, recently), I should have double the psi as a safety factor, so I tested the log for 30 psi. It failed at a weld so I repaired the leak and polished away. The welds aren't perfect or very 'professional' but I'm happy with it. I welded an Earl's 8AN boss to the rear of the log (since I have an electric pump) and capped the front. I can always tap it later for a gauge. I didn't have much luck with the old gauge at operating temps, so there isn't one for now. I also extended the legs 1". I know I could have welded 6AN fittings to the dual fuel feeds but I'm going part old school, part new. When I get it mounted I'll post a pic.

[rodneym]

Here's the pic...



WTF!!!
My "[IMG]http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/all-cobra-talk/......[IMG]" link from my gallery is in my original AND reply post but doesn't show up!!
What am I doing wrong?

[rodneym]

I've corrected the link a few times and it shows up 'live' different. Oh well.

[rodneym]

Finally got it.

[FWB]

get rid of the IMG in the front and back and try that, unless you aren't using the insert image tab at the top........that will cause weirdness if you just copy the link and try to paste

[FWB]

[patrickt]

I think it looks great. Nice job.

[rodneym]

Thanks, pt. Hopefully it'll look even better installed.
But the installation will mean a new regulator, fittings, braided line from the pump, etc. All good improvements but I may wait for rainy season.

[DanEC]

Man - that looks nice. Are you leaving it natural finish or having it cadium plated?

(Just noticed you made it out of aluminum not steel.)

[roadrod2000]

Boy that looks familiar. I did the same thing for my build (289 with dual quads). I ended up building three of them before I was happy with it. But, and you may not want to here this, I had a vapor lock problem with the car and ended up removing the fuel log and building a different setup that did'nt bolt to the manifold.

[rodneym]

Dan,
I'm just going to leave it polished. My engine has a few pops of polished bling, namely the Paxtons and carb hats, so it'll match ok.

roadrod,
Did your steel one work fine and your aluminum vapor lock? I was considering using extended fittings from the carb inlets and just sort of building a fuel 'log' out of T-fittings, elbows and braided line. Also, my fuel is fed from an electric pump that's basically plumbed to the firewall. I think that would reduce some vapor lock issue. No VL to date but have had heat soak at the gas station.

[roadrod2000]

The engine in my cobra came out of my 65 mustang from 20+ years ago (long story) I never had the steel one that would have been original but just a Holly style splitter for the two carbs, when the engine went into the cobra I wanted the fuel log so I made my own just like you did. I never had vapor lock with the mustang, had it with the cobra with the fuel log, don't have it now. I highly recomend isolating the fuel log somehow if you use it.

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by rodneym

So I bought them a tig welder and went to work.

You're a good boss.

Nice work, BTW. So when can I borrow the Tig?

[PLDRIVE]

Nice job!

[rodneym]

I finally got the fuel log installed last night and also made a new braided line with fittings. Now that I can make braided lines the perfect length the first time, I probably won't need to make one again until I forget!

[IMG][/IMG]

BTW, I got the rubber fuel line (off the log, to the carb) to not crimp. I put a piece of Stainless Steel spring inside of the 3/8" line, keeping it from collapsing. Now the effective inner diameter is roughly 5/16". The coil probably isn't good for the best flow BUT wouldn't you say it's better than crimping? Thoughts?

[Frank Messina]

Why don't you bring it to Cars and Coffee tomorrow morning so we can tell you what we really think?

Frank

[dcdoug]

Originally Posted by rodneym

BTW, I got the rubber fuel line (off the log, to the carb) to not crimp. I put a piece of Stainless Steel spring inside of the 3/8" line, keeping it from collapsing. Now the effective inner diameter is roughly 5/16". The coil probably isn't good for the best flow BUT wouldn't you say it's better than crimping? Thoughts?

I had the same problem, but if you buy higher quality fuel hose, it shouldn't crimp. I found this Goodyear hose works better than some of the others and the radius from my fuel lot to my carb is a lot worse than yours......to fix it though I'd have to cut the brackets off and re-braze them, wrecking the coating, etc and I don't really want to do that.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/gtr-65123 (this is 5/16 line)

[rodneym]

dcdoug,

Do you consider Goodyear fuel line better than Gates? I always heard Gates was better. The previous Gates hose, being at the end/core of the roll, had a pretty tight radius but over time it would still crimp a bit

Frank,
Long time no see. I moved west so Irvine C&C is off my radar. Hope you're doing well.

[Frank Messina]

Rodney,
C'mon, how far west can you go before you have to put the pontoons on? Okay then, if C & C is too much how about Cobra Owners Club of America-Orange County. COCOAOC
We meet the first Wednesday of the month at the Rib Trader in Orange. On the 24th were cruisng up to Oxnard to the Mullin Museum. The club needs a Cobra with two blowers on it. You'll have fun.
Frank

[ACademic]

Rodney,

I would guess that after repeated heat cycles your hoses will eventually take a set, thus allowing removal of the springs and no worries of kinked hoses. Then you'll get that 1/16" back and the full flow will allow you to keep up with me.