Electric fuel system thoughts and help
 

I'm planning out the fuel system for my '63 Tempest that will have a fairly hot street/strip stroked 400 and hopefully run in the 11s (or better!). The engine will have a pair of Holleys on top. I'm starting from scratch and am considering going with an electric in-line pump setup. I haven't put together such a setup from scratch before. I could use some help with planning.

Here is where my plan is currently:

1. Find a stock-looking tank that fits and sump it;
2. 1/2'' lines and hoses throughout;
3. pre-pump filter Summit 230118 (100 micron, 8AN in/out);
4. Holley Black pump p/n 12-815-1, (3/8 NPT in/out);
5. pre-regulator filter Russell 650103 (40 micron, 8AN in/out);
6. return-style regulator (tucked away somewhere out of sight); and
7. from regulator, plumb one 1/2'' line through gutted dummy stock fuel pump, then up to carbs, splitting the single line with a tee fitting.

I'm unsure on which pressure regulator to choose. Holley's recommended part numbers with the pump are non-return regulators. Having read through numerous archived posts on this topic, I'm convinced I want a return-style regulator though. Any recommendations on one to use? The Holley 12-845 looks like it would work, but is $150. The cheaper ones that I see have 3/8 NPT outlets. Would a 3/8'' regulator result in substantial restriction in an otherwise 1/2'' setup?

I note that the fuel pump is also 3/8 NPT, but the price on pumps starts going up quick on larger in/out pumps...

Any general comments are also welcome on things I could do better, including comments on how to save a few bucks!

I've been using this reg with good luck:
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...=&pgGrp=search

everything your doing is good but i changed to a holley hp125 pump, so worth it, i don't hear it unless engine is off, as for all the work for a tank i would just cut the trunk area and build a drop style floor and drop it in, still gives lots of trunk space, but that would be the easy way, haha. Dan

x2 on the Holley HP series pumps. Might as well do the 150, it's not that much more. For regulators, I used this Aeromotive, and it's stable & accurate:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/aei-13301/overview/

The Summit brand filters are great quality for the price. With a carb, you can get away with running only one 100 micron after the pickup and before the pump.

A 3/8 NTP can take a AN 8 or maybe even AN 10 and there would still be no restriction. Internal passages are the key, 3/8 is plenty.

.

Thanks for the thoughts, guys. I really appreciate it.

A couple of follow-ups.

Looking more at regulators, I notice that many of them talk about being "able to support up to X horsepower, using a single carb..." For example, take a look at Quick Fuel's 30-900 model. I notice a few regulators that have a description specifically talking about multi-carb setups (and they have multiple regulated outlet ports).

Again, my plan was to run a single 1/2'' line out of the regulator, through a gutted dummy fuel pump and then up to a tee to feed the two Holley's. This allows me to keep a fairly stock look.

Am I going to be in for trouble trying to feed two carbs in this way?

FYI for those trying to find a gas tank that will fit under the trunk floor of a '63 Tempest and look at least sort of "stock."

After measuring under the floor and pouring over factory tanks for different models online, it looks like the tank for a 71-72 Pontiac Ventura will fit in the space pretty nicely. It is 38'' wide x 19.5'' front to rear x 7.75'' deep and has an 18 gallon capacity. It also has a center/rear filler neck location, though it has a welded-on filler neck would need to be cut down. Uses two straps oriented front to rear.

I'll be ordering one and trying it out.

FWIW, I installed a Holley black on mine, and every once in a while it would decide to just quit running. I replaced it with a Carter 4601 and have been happy with it.

FYI - I placed the order. I went with the Holley HP-150 pump and the Jeg's regulator mentioned above.

I received the fuel tank. It was part number RSD-AFT7104 at Summit. Again, it is for a '71-'72 Ventura. When I received it, I found that it is stamped with part number GM46C, which is a number I've seen it listed by elsewhere (that, or GM46B). It cost $140 delivered and looks like it is going to fit like a glove under there once I chop down the filler neck. Might be a good option for folks looking for an inexpensive tank for an early Tempest. I also just happened to have a pair of trunk support/strap mounts from a '68 Camaro that look like they will work perfectly to mount it. I love it when a plan comes together!

Just thought I would update this for anyone searching later regarding fuel tank solutions in an early Tempest.

As I mentioned before, I got the tank and a pair of straps for it. The 1st gen Camaro trunk supports fit perfectly on the tank, and only required a little trimming at the end to sit flat against the trunk floor.

I cut the filler neck off of the tank and was able to mate up the original filler neck with a short piece of 2'' fuel filler hose from NAPA. It stretches enough to get over the 2.125'' neck from the '63.

Then I sumped the tank, hoisted it in place and began welding in the trunk floor/tank supports. Yes, my lower tail pan needs some TLC... It is on my list of things to do.

Hope this helps, i was having a little trouble with small flucuation is pressure, i called Mallory and return line should be one size larger than the fuel line from tank, cured my problems.

Just a thought...don't forget to wire some sort of safety switch arrangement t osupply the power to the pump.
Holley make an oil pressure safety cutout switch, you can wire a momentary ON contact switch to bypass the safety switch for priming the carbs prior to starting.
Another idea - I use an LPG Gas system safety switch on my car...has a tach pulse input...no tach pulse, no power to the fuel pump. The big advantage on this idea is the switch has a few seconds of power to the pump when you first turn the ignition on...enough to prime the carb.