Fuel Pump for 500HP BB?
Thread Starter
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,053
Likes: 4,405
From: Marlton NJ
Fuel Pump for 500HP BB?
I would like for my LS6 replica to look as "stock looking" as possible.
Anyone have any luck with a stock BB fuel pump at this HP level?
If not what fuel pump did you use?
What about the return vapor line?
Anyone have any luck with a stock BB fuel pump at this HP level?
If not what fuel pump did you use?
What about the return vapor line?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
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From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I'm running a stock replacement pump on my 496. North of 600 HP with no issues that I can tell. No return line, my 69 was not built with one. No idea what brand it is, got it at one of the chain parts houses.
I take that back-- it empties the tank really fast==
I take that back-- it empties the tank really fast==
Last edited by TimAT; Sep 14, 2019 at 11:16 PM. Reason: I take that back
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
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From: League City Tx
Engine Masters just did a video of fuel pump testing on a 450hp small block. They tested a $20 stock replacement pump , 120 gph Carter pump, and the 170 gph Holley pump. They logged fuel flow (liter per hour) and fuel pressure, as well as AFR on the engine.
1) The stock replacement pump had the fuel pressure dropping to around 3.5 psi during the pull, fuel flow LPH peaked/flat lined by 4000 rpms. The engine ran fine and did not lean out, but obviously was running low on fuel flow. This is a short dyno pull, in the car, running through the gears, it likely would have drained the bowls.
2) The Carter 120 gph pump kept up well, the fuel pressure dropped to around 5.5 psi, fuel flow LPH climbed up to about 5000 then went flat, seemed that the engine didn't need anymore fuel flow, it was getting all it could pull. In the car, this pump would likely be enough to run a full 1/4 mile without losing too much fuel pressure.
3) The 170 gph Holley was obviously the best. It held 6.5 PSI through the whole pull, fuel flow LPH peaked at 5000 and held steady til 7000. It supplied more fuel then the engine could consume. In the car, this pump would have been plenty, it would have been able to pull fuel through the Gs of acceleration on a launch.
Go watch the vid on MotorTrends youtube channel, its pretty informative. Moral of the story, do not go borderline on the pump sizing on a performance engine.
I tried to run a stock replacement pump (part store) pump on our 441hp 396 and it would not keep up, top of 2nd gear it would start to nose over, middle of 3rd it roll over and die... I ended up getting a Summit brand 110 gph and it solved the problems. No return line. It doesn't look like a stock pump but....you can't hardly see it anyway the way its tucked down and the frame is tight around it.
Function over form.
If you can find an OEM/NOS AC Delco stock BBC fuel pump, you would probably be ok but....Good luck on finding one.
1) The stock replacement pump had the fuel pressure dropping to around 3.5 psi during the pull, fuel flow LPH peaked/flat lined by 4000 rpms. The engine ran fine and did not lean out, but obviously was running low on fuel flow. This is a short dyno pull, in the car, running through the gears, it likely would have drained the bowls.
2) The Carter 120 gph pump kept up well, the fuel pressure dropped to around 5.5 psi, fuel flow LPH climbed up to about 5000 then went flat, seemed that the engine didn't need anymore fuel flow, it was getting all it could pull. In the car, this pump would likely be enough to run a full 1/4 mile without losing too much fuel pressure.
3) The 170 gph Holley was obviously the best. It held 6.5 PSI through the whole pull, fuel flow LPH peaked at 5000 and held steady til 7000. It supplied more fuel then the engine could consume. In the car, this pump would have been plenty, it would have been able to pull fuel through the Gs of acceleration on a launch.
Go watch the vid on MotorTrends youtube channel, its pretty informative. Moral of the story, do not go borderline on the pump sizing on a performance engine.
I tried to run a stock replacement pump (part store) pump on our 441hp 396 and it would not keep up, top of 2nd gear it would start to nose over, middle of 3rd it roll over and die... I ended up getting a Summit brand 110 gph and it solved the problems. No return line. It doesn't look like a stock pump but....you can't hardly see it anyway the way its tucked down and the frame is tight around it.
Function over form.
If you can find an OEM/NOS AC Delco stock BBC fuel pump, you would probably be ok but....Good luck on finding one.
Last edited by ajrothm; Sep 15, 2019 at 01:47 AM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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Engine Masters just did a video of fuel pump testing on a 450hp small block. They tested a $20 stock replacement pump , 120 gph Carter pump, and the 170 gph Holley pump. They logged fuel flow (liter per hour) and fuel pressure, as well as AFR on the engine.
1) The stock replacement pump had the fuel pressure dropping to around 3.5 psi during the pull, fuel flow LPH peaked/flat lined by 4000 rpms. The engine ran fine and did not lean out, but obviously was running low on fuel flow. This is a short dyno pull, in the car, running through the gears, it likely would have drained the bowls.
2) The Carter 120 gph pump kept up well, the fuel pressure dropped to around 5.5 psi, fuel flow LPH climbed up to about 5000 then went flat, seemed that the engine didn't need anymore fuel flow, it was getting all it could pull. In the car, this pump would likely be enough to run a full 1/4 mile without losing too much fuel pressure.
3) The 170 gph Holley was obviously the best. It held 6.5 PSI through the whole pull, fuel flow LPH peaked at 5000 and held steady til 7000. It supplied more fuel then the engine could consume. In the car, this pump would have been plenty, it would have been able to pull fuel through the Gs of acceleration on a launch.
Go watch the vid on MotorTrends youtube channel, its pretty informative. Moral of the story, do not go borderline on the pump sizing on a performance engine.
I tried to run a stock replacement pump (part store) pump on our 441hp 396 and it would not keep up, top of 2nd gear it would start to nose over, middle of 3rd it roll over and die... I ended up getting a Summit brand 110 gph and it solved the problems. No return line. It doesn't look like a stock pump but....you can't hardly see it anyway the way its tucked down and the frame is tight around it.
Function over form.
If you can find an OEM/NOS AC Delco stock BBC fuel pump, you would probably be ok but....Good luck on finding one.
1) The stock replacement pump had the fuel pressure dropping to around 3.5 psi during the pull, fuel flow LPH peaked/flat lined by 4000 rpms. The engine ran fine and did not lean out, but obviously was running low on fuel flow. This is a short dyno pull, in the car, running through the gears, it likely would have drained the bowls.
2) The Carter 120 gph pump kept up well, the fuel pressure dropped to around 5.5 psi, fuel flow LPH climbed up to about 5000 then went flat, seemed that the engine didn't need anymore fuel flow, it was getting all it could pull. In the car, this pump would likely be enough to run a full 1/4 mile without losing too much fuel pressure.
3) The 170 gph Holley was obviously the best. It held 6.5 PSI through the whole pull, fuel flow LPH peaked at 5000 and held steady til 7000. It supplied more fuel then the engine could consume. In the car, this pump would have been plenty, it would have been able to pull fuel through the Gs of acceleration on a launch.
Go watch the vid on MotorTrends youtube channel, its pretty informative. Moral of the story, do not go borderline on the pump sizing on a performance engine.
I tried to run a stock replacement pump (part store) pump on our 441hp 396 and it would not keep up, top of 2nd gear it would start to nose over, middle of 3rd it roll over and die... I ended up getting a Summit brand 110 gph and it solved the problems. No return line. It doesn't look like a stock pump but....you can't hardly see it anyway the way its tucked down and the frame is tight around it.
Function over form.
If you can find an OEM/NOS AC Delco stock BBC fuel pump, you would probably be ok but....Good luck on finding one.
To the OP DO NOT use a carter pump, the wrist pin that the pump lever arm rotates on is swaged in and they fail. Ive gone through 3 or 4 pumps on a 400+ hp 327 before I switched to an Edelbrock 130 gph pump. THe bottom is able to be indexed to align the fuel lines, but you have to rotate the botttom as a unit, you cant change the intake, output to each other.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
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From: Corsicana, Tx
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I ran the basic chrome Holley mechanical on my 427 and also used one on the 540 for a long time. It kept up just fine into the 750+ HP range.
The one on the 427 was in my Camaro at the time. The arm broke on it and left me stuck on the side of the road. ( It had a lot of years/miles on it). I hitched a ride to a parts store who had an AC pump in stock for a 396/375 HP combo. Specs said it had a higher pressure rating. Anyway...bolted it on to get moving and home again...and it stayed there for years and ran just as well. (Low 11's).
JIM
The one on the 427 was in my Camaro at the time. The arm broke on it and left me stuck on the side of the road. ( It had a lot of years/miles on it). I hitched a ride to a parts store who had an AC pump in stock for a 396/375 HP combo. Specs said it had a higher pressure rating. Anyway...bolted it on to get moving and home again...and it stayed there for years and ran just as well. (Low 11's).
JIM
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Was New Orleans but swam to Baton Rouge LA
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I have one of these on my BBC build. I will be interested in seeing how well it works. The quality on it is real nice. https://www.robbmcperformance.com/pr...hevybb550.html
