[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

What I got from this thread is the most important thing is picking up fuel from the tank. The factory tank and pick up works fine for what it was designed to do but under hard acceleration the fuel climbs the rear of the tank and uncovers the inlet tube. Three choices, sump the factory tank (requires a good welder), install an aftermarket fuel tank and in tank pump or install a fuel cell.

Is there a way to modify the pickup tube to move it to the back of the tank?

More than 3 choices. 1.42 (best) 60 foot, pulls the front tires 4-5" with no sump, no aftermarket tank , no in tank pump and no fuel cell.
You don't weld on a fuel tank if you have a choice. If the fit is good you silver solder them. Factory talks are soldered.
I got to 12 flat with just pulling the sock off and extending the pickup to the rear of the tank.
The 1/2" steel line I added ends up in the same area . I can pull a lot of fuel with what I have.
I do have to keep at least 5 gallons in the tank though. I start out a race with 5-8 gallons of fuel and add a little before each run.

It will end up with a fuel cell for safety reasons at least.
When I race Super Pro those 7-8 second rides fly by you on the big end like you are standing still. I have seen problems happen( blown tires, tie rod ends) and one can ends up in the other lane. It would be ugly.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Tim Corcoran

What I got from this thread is the most important thing is picking up fuel from the tank. The factory tank and pick up works fine for what it was designed to do but under hard acceleration the fuel climbs the rear of the tank and uncovers the inlet tube. Three choices, sump the factory tank (requires a good welder), install an aftermarket fuel tank and in tank pump or install a fuel cell.

Is there a way to modify the pickup tube to move it to the back of the tank?

Yeah, I've removed the senders in the past to take the 3/8" pickup out and solder in a new 1/2" tube. At that point you can bend and run the pickup anywhere in the tank you prefer, solder it in place and done.

This was long before anyone offered larger pickup tube senders for a factory setup.

Still a worth while mod if you're trying to maximize a stock mechanical pump setup or help an electric external pump. They all generally like the pickup larger than the feed line.

[Jay S]

I guess everyone reading this thread gets something different out of it. What I took from it is there are some very fast cars running electrical pumps in series with mechanical pumps, and the guys that say don’t bother with it have never tried it. But that’s cool, follow their advice and you won’t go wrong either, still good advice, just for a different direction.. I have had and have a variety of fuel set ups, big mechanical pump only, out of tank electric vane and or diaphragm pumps, bigger pipe on the pickup, removed fuel socks, lengthened suction with a hose on the end, baffled in tank pump with the Tanks set up, added sumps, ran 2 electric pumps parallel to each other, and, last but not least, the electric feeding the mechanical pumps.


On the street, with a carburetor, with stock fuel line, even 5/16” fuel line, my favorite combo is the electric pump back by the tank feeding the mechanical pump. I like that the electric pump does not run all the time, quieter and safer. That system limits the pressure loss’s in the smaller fuel line because it in effect shortens the length of fuel line that each pump feeds. I have always wondered what the limit for performance was, because I have never got there. So far, 9.80 ET is the fastest I have seen posted by Keith. To go that fast the two pump combo with a stock tank and pickup it tells be that the two pump combo is scavanging harder at the pickup, and has more suction. My only complaint is I wish I did the two pumps in series sooner, would have saved us a lot of work.