Fuel pickup size for FI, FE.

[Murphy]

Should I go to the trouble of upsizing the fuel pickup tube inside the gas tank from a #6 to a #8 to match the rest of the recommended fuel line size in my system? Running an aluminum Keithcraft FE 650hp with mass air fuel injection.

[Tom Decker]

I did a #10 out let with a # 8 return. 120gph @ 7Psi bypass system. The problem you will need to address with a high HP/ high flow bypass system on a Kirkham is the small trap door system in the tank. With low fuel on a corner the fuel pump can easily empty the small trap door box. I cut open the fuel tank and increased the 4X4 trap door box to 12X12. While the tank is opened tig in new fittings with a new pickup and install a return to the rear corner.

Tom

[xlr8or]

You should update the pickup or you may have problems down the road with the high pressure fuel pump. They dont' suck well and it may be too restrictive for it.

[Murphy]

Since you both have addressed this issue I trust your judgement and appreciate your reply. Like cutting the grass, I was just trying to get out of some work. Tom, did you use the 42 gal. tank?

Any suggestions or tips from your experience on pickup design and placement would be appreciated, as well as external fuel pump placement. The car is on its way from Kirkham now, left yesterday so I am making final decisions on small items like this. Thanks.

[RICK LAKE]

Murphy I have an ERA car that I turned into a FI. I was going to super charge the car but had belt problems and stayed with the FAST system I have 2, 255 in tank pumps in my era tank. The supply lines are 1/2" with filters and check valves in both lines. I use a 3/8" return line. One fuel pump runs all the time, the other was on a pressure sensor for when the car builds boost. Pumps in the tank are better than the big pump outside. The big pumps don't suck well if there is any kind of lift needed. I autocross and road race at R&G every year. I run a half tank of fuel and have no problems pulling
a G. In tank will take more engineering but a better setup Rick Lake

[Tom Decker]

My tank is a SS 42gal stock unit. I felt for durability, versitility (5psi to 75psi) and quietness that Aeromotive makes the finest pumps ava. I used the A1000 pump and the A1000 carb bypass with pre & post filters and the fuel computer. Your app would require the A1000 pump, pre & post filter and the A1000 injected bypass. You will have $1000 to $1500 in the system but it doesn't get any better. I mounted the pump under the car, in front of the pass rear tire to the outside of the frame. It takes a bunch of planning, time, hose fittings and Beer. As far as pick up placement, the stock location is fine. The trap is just to small. I installed the return fitting next to the out fitting in the stock location. I ran a internal SS line to the button rear conner of the tank from the return fitting.

Tom

[xlr8or]

Murphy I just got confirmation on a fix for a slosh/loss of pressure issue on my friends car that we put back together last night. He has an SPF and BB FI motor. What we did was setup a swirl pot type extra tank that holds one gallon. We feed the main pump from there with a -10 line and the return with a -8 back to the pot. We also ran a carb type fuel pump from the main tank to the pot that only has to keep up with the fuel consumption of the motor to keep the pot full and put an overflow line back to the main tank. We also vented both up to the filler neck. He used to starve for fuel at any thing under half tank under heavy acceleration. He ran it this morning with only 5 gallons and it worked perfectly.

[Murphy]

Thanks. MM