Fuel line change to 1/2"

[GBowman]

Need to run a 1/2 fuel line from the tank, the new engine has higher fuel delivery needs-don't want to chance using the existing 3/8" line. Has anyone switched to 1/2"??? I'm assuming I will need to change the fitting at the tank pick-up??? Jay any input?

thx

[Cashburn]

Get the new aluminum tank from BDR. We usually convert the 3/8" to a return line... oh yeah that's for fuel injection.

[GBowman]

Jay...first off, OUCH! Second...can I convert the fitting to 1/2"??? If it comes as 3/8's wouldn't I need to re-drill/tap a new fitting?

Thx

[951mat]

If its 3/8" pipe threads, you may not need to. Its id is almost 1/2". If its a -6 AN, you'll want bigger.

[ERA Chas]

And plumb it all with hard line.

[lippy]

I'm having ERA plumb my car with a -8AN fuel line (Brent's recommendation) to feed my 427.

[Cashburn]

Think about the pickup tube...

[lovehamr]

I'm in that process right now for a change over to FI. I've converted the stock feed line (3/8" and 6AN) to a return as Jay suggested and have run 1/2" aluminum hard line and 8AN lines for feed. As jay said, the tank is my hold up as well. Mine is an aluminum tank with nothing but a couple of tubes welded into it. I don't even know what size those tubes were but they were smaller than 1/2" and larger than 3/8", probably some metric size. Maybe Jay can shine some light on that. To fix that choke point, I ordered a couple of 1/2" NTP weld-in bungs from Summit and was supposed to pick up the tank with the new bungs and pickup welded in today. Alas it was not to be. I've also had to make a few changes to how things were routed. The high pressure FP requires the use of a pre and post filter which made me put the pressure line in on the passenger side for packaging reasons. Thus far the line installation has turned out pretty sanitary. I'll try to get a couple of picks of what I've done so far.

UPDATED w/ PICS. From the back, forward;
What my tank looked like:


Looking at the frame cross member just forward of the diff at the pre-filter, HP pump and fittings to go over the frame to the hard line:


Right side frame rail, hard line attached with Adel clamps from pump:


Hard line attached to HP filter ( secured with hose clamp and metal screw to frame rail)


Hard line from HP filter up to 8AN line at throttle body:


Sorry for the crappy phone photos but that's all I have for now.

Steve

[PLDRIVE]

Steve i would put my return in one of the top conners as far away from the pickup as possible. U do not want to return the HOT fuel to the pickup area. FYI my factory BDR fuel return tube was welded all most completely closed.
spent days trying figuring out what was wrong with the EFI

[D-CEL]

Lovehamr

Your plumbing looks great. Do you have any flex line connecting the motor to the Alum hard line?


I built a return style system for my SPF last summer. I used -10 (5/8) stainless tubing terminating at the base of the firewall, with about 20” of Aeroquip AQP hose and XRP socketless fittings to the regulator, and -8 to each of the carb inlets. Then I wrapped all the hose in heat reflective tape.
It sure moves a dam lot of fuel at 6.5PSI!!

I built it with the intent of feeding my big EFI motor shortly. you can almost never have "too much" fuel system!! lol

Jason

[lovehamr]

Jason, yes I'm using 8AN hose connecting the pressure side and 6AN connecting the return side. Even though my engine is solidly mounted I still think the vibration would kill the tubing if I didn't build any flex into it.

Steve

[Cashburn]

Steve,
You have a tank design that did not last very long in production. As you know the tanks after that were different styles of plastic. Through BDR in USA they have wisely sourced a couple styles of aluminum tanks domestically. They can also build to your spec. if you would like additional ports etc.

The new tank for the aftermarket in tank pumps (we use on Coyote and FI installs) really is a thing of beauty. And the new aluminum aftermarket tanks for carb. setups looks so good a lot of our customers are opting for the upgrade while their cars are in for service.

[lovehamr]

Man, that sounds easier than what I'm doing. Do have any pics or availability for those Jay?

[Cashburn]

Sure, here you go: Backdraft Parts - Aluminum Gas Tank

You would need to talk with Mike at Iconic Parts and tell him exactly what you want on or in it. They make the sumps bigger with pickups for the race cars too.