Fuel Injection Conversion: Potential Fuel Tank Issues
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 53
From: Bogart GA
Fuel Injection Conversion: Potential Fuel Tank Issues
I am considering trying fuel injection to improve my throttle response. I know there is much to choose from but no matter who's system it is, the big pink elephant (fuel tank) in the room is rarely discussed. Just slap that electric fuel pump on, run that new supply line, just use your old supply as return and you are good to go. Right. When I researched I found that everything from tank/sump modifications, surge tanks using multiple pumps, pump cavitation issues, never being able to allow the fuel tank to drop below 50% etc. appears to be common. It was a real turn off for me. Has anyone been able to address these issues? Having to pull my tank or buy a new one is a real deal breaker for me. I have been down this road too many times with these "bolt and go" systems and scope creep always pays a visit to my bank account.
Thanks
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 33
From: Lokeren, Belgium
Hi,
I made the same reflection. Due to the shipping costs it's not that obvious to have a new tank shipped here. There are quite alot of guys on here who installed a sump system and I'm sure they will chip in.
As I don't have access to a weld post I searched for a bolt in sump and eventually ended up with the Tanks Inc sump.
Will it work ? I'm sure not as well as a fully closed sump pot. Will it be better then nothing? In my opinon yes.
Nick
I made the same reflection. Due to the shipping costs it's not that obvious to have a new tank shipped here. There are quite alot of guys on here who installed a sump system and I'm sure they will chip in.
As I don't have access to a weld post I searched for a bolt in sump and eventually ended up with the Tanks Inc sump.
Will it work ? I'm sure not as well as a fully closed sump pot. Will it be better then nothing? In my opinon yes.
Nick
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
I know your feeling. If you think it is going to be cheap for a good system think again. Anything worth while is going to cost some. The system I am using is working well but if I let it get way down and I mean under 1/8 of a tank in a hard corner it may stumble. If I were to do it over I would have welded a sump on the tank. The in tank pumps that are baffled seam to work very well I still don't know how far down they will go. I have seen the custom tanks by Rock Valley that cost in excess of 1K work very good but I was not willing to shell out that kind of money. My system is just a bung in the very bottom of the tank with a #8 line gravity feeding the fuel pump and #6 line and 3/8 hard fuel line feeding from the pump to the injectors. I used the stock 3/8 feed line as my return line back to the tank.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 508
Likes: 1
From: Olive Branch MS
FAST has a new in-tank kit that is just waiting on the press release to be finished. It can be used on any fuel injection system and there is even an option to get it with the EZEFI kit instead of the in-line kit. The part number is 307033. You can check the website www.fuelairspark.com
It should start showing up on the site any day now. Uses a Walbro 255 HP pump, so it's capable of 600-650 hp N/A. This is for cars that didn't have an in-tank pump in the first place (like our 79 and older I believe).
It should start showing up on the site any day now. Uses a Walbro 255 HP pump, so it's capable of 600-650 hp N/A. This is for cars that didn't have an in-tank pump in the first place (like our 79 and older I believe).
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 53
From: Bogart GA
FAST has a new in-tank kit that is just waiting on the press release to be finished. It can be used on any fuel injection system and there is even an option to get it with the EZEFI kit instead of the in-line kit. The part number is 307033. You can check the website www.fuelairspark.com
It should start showing up on the site any day now. Uses a Walbro 255 HP pump, so it's capable of 600-650 hp N/A. This is for cars that didn't have an in-tank pump in the first place (like our 79 and older I believe).
It should start showing up on the site any day now. Uses a Walbro 255 HP pump, so it's capable of 600-650 hp N/A. This is for cars that didn't have an in-tank pump in the first place (like our 79 and older I believe).
Thanks for the info! I will wait and see. This sounds like it could be the ticket!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 0
From: Salina Kansas
I used the stock tank with no modifications other than running a bigger fuel line and using the stock fuel line as a return for 10 years in my '76 with a 383 and the Edelbrock Proflo system (kit had an inline pump and fuel line). I had zero issues. Probably a 425 hp motor.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 779
Likes: 1
From: Minneapolis MN
I think the issues are greatly overstated. I have the same setup as CorvetteDave01 basically, using the stock fuel sending unit.
This summer I will load up 5gallons in the passenger seat and run it as dry as I can to see what the limit is, but in 2 summers of moderate driving I haven't had an issue yet.
This summer I will load up 5gallons in the passenger seat and run it as dry as I can to see what the limit is, but in 2 summers of moderate driving I haven't had an issue yet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
I've got a stock tank, pickup, return line location with an external pump. You have to get really low on fuel before you get a stumble.
The thing you have to keep in mind is that the corvette tank is relatively deep. I'm doing an LS in a 72 cutlass now, that tank is shallow and wide. Everyone with A bodies have issues without sumps at even with the tank half full.
If I had issues with my corvette, my plan was to install a spiral sump through the filler and modify the pickup and return to feed it.
The thing you have to keep in mind is that the corvette tank is relatively deep. I'm doing an LS in a 72 cutlass now, that tank is shallow and wide. Everyone with A bodies have issues without sumps at even with the tank half full.
If I had issues with my corvette, my plan was to install a spiral sump through the filler and modify the pickup and return to feed it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,738
Likes: 53
From: Bogart GA
Thanks for that insight. I may look into one of those intank sump/pump deals. I am not crazy about the surge tank w/ 2pump deals although there is little doubt it would eliminate the problem.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
Likes: 240
From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
I've posted this before, but I will post it again to show another option.
I went with an SS internal fuel pump/sump kit from Rock Valley, for noise level and because of the design that traps fuel around the pickup. It cost $375 including the Walbro pump, and is very well made. It is made to fit the stock tank. If my tank wasn't basically brand new, I would have went with the complete Rock Valley SS tank and fuel pump/sump. I had the local race shop (Powell Raceshop) weld it in my tank for me, then I custom bent SS hardlines for it. I then painted the tank.
Here is my tank installed in the car:
I went with an SS internal fuel pump/sump kit from Rock Valley, for noise level and because of the design that traps fuel around the pickup. It cost $375 including the Walbro pump, and is very well made. It is made to fit the stock tank. If my tank wasn't basically brand new, I would have went with the complete Rock Valley SS tank and fuel pump/sump. I had the local race shop (Powell Raceshop) weld it in my tank for me, then I custom bent SS hardlines for it. I then painted the tank.
Here is my tank installed in the car:
