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..................................T--- Fuel System Part I ---
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Since the vortec block didn't have provisions for a mechanical fuel pump and since I'll need higher fuel pressure for the EFI later I designed a fuel system with a Bosch #044 pump (middle), an Earl's Performance 230208ERL pre-filter (left) and a Golan -8AN Fuel Filter (right) along with a Aeromotive 13301 Regulator. The pump and filters are all -8AN and the regulator is -6AN. Remember you can see all of the parts used on this build along with their part numbers ( HERE ).
The curved plate in the picture will support the pump and the "finger" one to the right holds the Golan filter.
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I didn't like the idea of the Golan filter just being held with the "finger" clip and wanted a hose clamp around it also. I tig welded a small tab over the top of a bolt for the hose clamp to go through.
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I welded the curved piece (exhaust pipe tubing) to two flat pieces so that a hose clamp could also go around the middle of this and ..............
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.............. welded all of that to a piece of strap. On the right end I drilled a hole for the bolt with the tab on top that holds the "finger" clamp.
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Here is the assembly at this point. Later in the build you will see me also add a support for the Earl's filter. Since these are aluminum lines and fittings here I didn't like the idea of these parts being unsupported on a vehicle that sees thousands of driving miles yearly.
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Next straps were welded to the flat plate that will secure all of this in the truck. The tops of the straps bolt up to a cross-member by the tops of the shocks and the bottom horizontal piece bolts to where the gas tank mounts. This all fits up behind the third member and will be protected by shields.
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Next I made this clamp blocks that will clamp the fuel lines to the sides of the frame rails. There will be two 3/8 inch supply lines and one 3/8 inch return line. The added lines are in anticipation of the fuel needs of the blower motor.
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I mounted the regulator to the firewall. on the passenger side. You can see the two side supply fittings and the bottom return fitting and the from fitting going to the carb. I also mounted a fuel pressure gauge to the regulator.
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I wanted to add a sump to the gas tank for the fuel pickup. It will be forward mounted on the tank. If this was more of a drag car I would have mounted it in a rearward position. If I go to the drags I'll just keep plenty of gas in the tank. I started by making a cardboard pattern (cereal boxes are great for this). I transferred that to 16 gauge steel and cut the steel out.
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Here the folded cardboard pattern is on top of the steel.
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It will mount to the lower left-hand side of the tank. I wanted two outlets just in case I have to add a second fuel pump later.
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Here I'm drilling the holes for the two fuel bungs that will be welded in.
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I drilled 6 holes in the tank so that the sump will be baffled by the tank bottom to some extent. Before working on the tank I took it to a welding shop here in town that cleaned the inside and tested it to make sure it was safe from fumes on the inside. for $50 I thought this was cheap insurance. BE SURE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE CUTTING OR WELDING ON A GAS TANK.
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At this point the sump has been welded up and I'm bending the flanges around the bottom of it to fit the contour of the tank.
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Here the sump has been welded to the tank. I used my tig to do this and there were no leaks. With a tig it is pretty easy to see if you have any pin holes while welding. You can't beat them for this application. All of this fuel system work and more to come took a lot longer than I though it would take.