Going from 5/16" to 3/8" Fuel Line.......Details

[Joecuda]

I am running a 410ci Small Block in my 64 Barracuda. It runs a single plane intake, ported heads, a 900cfm carb, with 9.5 comp and open exhaust. It is set up for race but is run on the street. It runs slicks. I need to go to at least a 3/8" fuel line in this conversion (dual feed carb, single accel. pump) and need to take out the old 5/16" line and pickup. I don't want to run a fuel cell, and the line conversion is plenty easy (bend line, flow gas....=) but what about the pickup? 3/8" Pickup's from Year One are $125!!!!!! Doesn't it defeat the purpose if I stay with the 5/16" pickup and/or line? What should I do? Pay the money? Suggestions.....

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• 1964 Barracuda Formula S Custom
• 410ci 340 Stroker
• 833 Four Speed Custom
• 3.55 8 3/4 489SureGrip
• Lakewood/McLeod Hydraulic Clutch Setup
• Hurst Race Package
• 1965 Dart GT Front Clip
• Disc Brakes
• AmericanRacing Aluminum Slot Mags
• ONE HELL OF A WILD RIDE!!!!!!

[PRO]

Use your existing p/u but modify it for a 3/8 tube,carefully remove the 5/16 line by cutting it off on both sides of the "lid" then drill it out(carefully)to 23/64,now you should have an interference fit as you press the 3/8 line in,shape it to pickup fuel from thr rear of the tank,after a trial fit then silver solder it on both sides of the lid,any hydraulic line shop(industrial) should be able to solder this if you cant for $5......PRO.....

[Joecuda]

Thanks......will do! While I'm at it...should I go to 1/2"? Car is a street car with 292/.509 cam and 9.5 comp. It will run consistent low low 12's, maybe better. Do you think 1/2" is necessary....or worth the trouble? Joecuda

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• 1964 Barracuda Formula S Custom
• 410ci 340 Stroker
• 833 Four Speed Custom
• 3.55 8 3/4 489SureGrip
• Lakewood/McLeod Hydraulic Clutch Setup
• Hurst Race Package
• 1965 Dart GT Front Clip
• Disc Brakes
• AmericanRacing Aluminum Slot Mags
• ONE HELL OF A WILD RIDE!!!!!!

[JOHN SHERRED]

3/8 LINE WILL MOST LIKLEY WORK WITH A GOOD FUEL PUNP BUT 1/2 IS THE SMALLEST I WOULD RUN ON ANY CAR THAT SEES ANY RACE TIME

AND THE METHOD OF MODIFING THE PICK UP WORKS GOOD

BUT THE FUEL CELL IS STILL BETTER

[ChristianCuda]

Question
Has anyone thought about designing a swivel-swinging pickup?? such that with forward motion it moves back with the fuel and on slow down it moves forward with the fuel??

Thinking a similar setup to the swivel-swinging pickups for oil pans. I know that by putting a long pickup so its towards the rear of an a-body tank thats actually uphill from stock location. I have thought about putting in a 3/8" line and custom making it but it had just dawned on me about the swinging pickup. Does anybody else think this would work?? If not then I would cut the tank and install a sump in it and use that for pickups. The sump coul even be mounted towards the front as long as it was level and baffled it would hold fuel over a rear mounted one on the angled tanks.

Just thinking about new possibilities
Christian

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Http://ThunderRacing.Knudstrup.net/

68 'Cuda 383 Best of 8.363@83.78 in the 1/8mile which is a mid 12 with a 1.89 60ft
Formula S recreation not original but making like they should have at the factory) Working on adding EFI
69 'Cuda Race Parts Car
76 Duster 273 recent transplant
95 Neon 2.0 SOHC best of 16.96
84 Dodge Ram D50 transplanting 360

[djswwg]

Joecuda, do yourself a MASSIVE favor and use a 1/2" line! It's no more work since you are changing the whole line any way. As for the pick-up, have a rad/gas tank shop solder a 1/2" elbow into the bottom of the tank near the rear so that when you smack the gas pedal all the fuel is slammed back toward the pick-up. The stock pick-up unit is retained so your gas gauge still works; just cap the old 5/16" line where it comes out of the tank. Have used this set up for ten years on my car and have built several others like it for other big horsepower cars. With 410 inches you are pretty much in big block territory, and if bigger power gains are in your future, your fuel line won't have to be modified again. When it comes to fuel delivery, it's almost immpossible to be too big......djs

[Joecuda]

djswwg, great idea! I think I will have a new attachment put in! Also, I like your reasoning on the 1/2 line....=) Thanks again!!!!!

[Leigh]

djswwg has the hot tip. I also ran that way for years before a fuel cell came along.

[Rob Voyles CA]

This fuel tank modification....you saying solder this 1/2" tubing in the bottom rear of the tank with the tube sticking straight "up" into the tank? How far off the bottom did you have the tubing protrude into the tank? I assume you would need it too a little so It wouldn't suck "junk" off the bottom of the tank. Thanks for the neat idea...

[djswwg]

Rob Voyles; Have it about 1/4" higher than the tank floor. Remember that the rear of the tank is higher than the front because the tank slopes up toward the back of it. Personally I think it's best to have the gas go directly to a filter, then on to the pump, whether it's mech. or elec. That way it doesn't matter if you get some junk in the tank, the filter saves the rest of the system. Fuel cells are awsum too, but I like this cause it's cheap, looks closer to stock, allows me to have a trunk, (which isn't much in an e-body), and works without a hitch! Hope this helps....djs

[Leigh]

My setup. Not the only way, just the one I used. Have a 1/2" female pipe nipple soldered in the middle and in the rear of the tank. Use 1/2" 90 degree hose nipples (Mr Gskt.) to connect to aluminum line with short pieces of rubber hose(Napa). Flows like a b***h. Dual lines have large volume of fuel standing to help prevent suction cavitation.

[djswwg]

Leigh; sounds like a good set-up. The secret is to pick up the fuel at the rear of the tank and use 1/2" line......djs

[bbaspense]

Does anyone know if this is a legal modification for Stock Eliminator for NHRA. I would rather do this mod than to play with the pickup.

Jason

[djswwg]

I doubt it. Check your rule book...djs

[Leigh]

The 2001 rulebook say's the stock inlet and outlet locations must be retained. Resizing of the fuel line and pickup is allowed.

[Joecuda]

Leigh, let me see if I've got your right? You ran two fittings? One in the middle and one at the back? This gives me an idea, because I am running a street car and I was worried that unless I always had a lot of gas in the tank, I would run out because of the location of the fitting and the slant of the tank. I also didn't want to go playing with the pickup too much. But, now, What if I just soldered a new fitting at the rear of the tank (1/2") for when I slammed the pedal, and then also connected it to the stock 5/16" line, for when I was just driving around....and then merge both (1/2 from rear and 5/16 from stock) into one 1/2" line and run that to the pump? Sounds good to me. Also, only problem is that my Holley Chrome Mechanical pump has a 3/8 fitting, which means that it is almost pointless for me to run a 1/2" line, unless for shits and giggles, or I need to get a new pump.......What do you all think? Remember....street car.....fast car.....low budget!

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• 1964 Barracuda Formula S Custom
• 410ci 340 Stroker
• 833 Four Speed Custom
• 3.55 8 3/4 489SureGrip
• Lakewood/McLeod Hydraulic Clutch Setup
• Hurst Race Package
• 1965 Dart GT Front Clip
• Disc Brakes
• AmericanRacing Aluminum Slot Mags
• ONE HELL OF A WILD RIDE!!!!!!