[Jack Ferris]

I'm working on a LeMans with a street/strip use 455 (450is hp)and I'm looking for electric FP ideas. It has the stock tank with a RobbMc fuel pick up. We started out with a QFT 30-175 pump mounted just above the rear axle and it will not pick up the fuel. I completely realize QFT suggests gravity feeding their vane type pumps, but that's not always possible. Over the last 30 years of using many different brands of vane pumps, the QFT is the first and only one that wouldn't pick up the fuel. Reason for using this pump is I didn't want a dead head style pump.
I'm looking for possible feedback if anyone is using this pump and/or a better funcional electric pump to use in this application.
Thanks

[Chief of the 60's]

Electric fuel pumps need to be gravity feed. They are pushers not suckers, that is why you have your issue. Mount the pump inlet below a tank sump outlet or install an in-tank pump.

[Formulajones]

Tanks Inc and put the pump in the tank is the only way I'll plumb these cars anymore. It's quiet, reliable, looks stock, and I've never had an issue at all feeding well over 700hp as long as you size the pump properly.

In years past I've done what you're doing, and I've always had best luck with the Mallory 140 pump that would move a 4,000 lbs. car well into the 11's at 118 mph with stock lines, using a return. But plan on rebuilding the pump every 4-5 years with new brushes if you drive it a lot. I got tired of that deal years ago.

[mchell]

I have been running a single Holly Black mounted above the axle and sucking fuel through a rob mc 1/2” pickup....3 + years now and still working......MANY street miles in very hot weather

Full bypass return to tank...

NOT ideal but it keeps chugging away... seems to get enough fuel to supply the performance level in sig below

[Chief of the 60's]

PUMP MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION:
The pump MUST be located below and as close to the tank as possible. This is necessary to allow for an adequate fuel supply. The pump is designed to push fuel and not designed to pull fuel out of the tank. The pump should be mounted on the chassis, in a vertical position with the pump motor on top.

https://documents.holley.com/199r7914-3rev6.pdf

[grandam1979]

A Mallory 250 has the return on the pump. Return it to tank and run a single line to front of car.

[Jack Ferris]

I completely agree that it should be gravity fed. But in this case it can not be. I guess I need to redirect my question as to why is the QFT pump not pulling fuel out of the tank when every Holley Red, Blue, Black, the old Dominator pumps, Mallory 110 and 140 pumps I've used in the past as well as the current Product Engineering pump on my drag car (see pic) will do so just fine mounted above the tank?

[Jack Ferris]

Originally Posted by mchell

I have been running a single Holly Black mounted above the axle and sucking fuel through a rob mc 1/2” pickup....3 + years now and still working......MANY street miles in very hot weather

Full bypass return to tank...

NOT ideal but it keeps chugging away... seems to get enough fuel to supply the performance level in sig below

Im assuming its this black pump 510-12-815-1 ?

[Skip Fix]

My Mallory 140 on the 78 TA is not below about tank level no problems-and dead headed. Stock pick up.

IA/Camaro has a Mallory 250 slightly above axle level RobbMc return regulator sumped tank and data logger shows 7psi whole run.

[mchell]

Originally Posted by Jack Ferris

Im assuming its this black pump 510-12-815-1 ?

Yep.......

[Jack Ferris]

Originally Posted by mchell

Yep.......

Did you just bypass it at the regulator?

[Hikin Mike]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

My Mallory 140 on the 78 TA is not below about tank level no problems-and dead headed. Stock pick up.

I ran that (dead headed) on my car for years as well. Had to change the brushes a few times. Recently pulled it out because I got tired of the noise.

[mchell]

Originally Posted by Jack Ferris

Did you just bypass it at the regulator?

Yes...

[grandam1979]

Dead heading will work but very hard on pump and on a street car doing a lot of cruising will make the pump run hot.

[Navy Horn 16]

I run a Holley Black through a regulator to the carb. No return, no problems, street or strip.

[RocktimusPryme]

Ive been researching this myself for both my race car and maybe a supplementary pusher pump for the Firebird. I 100% agree that in tank is the best way to do it...…..but not the only way. Ive began to come to the way of thinking that external inline pumps get a bad name because they are either installed incorrectly, or because so many people dead head them. Ive read more accounts of full bypass systems running a long time with the same Holley pumps that other people complain are only good for a single season.

I kinda like the Mallory georotor pumps. Though its only me researching at this point. I think I might try one of those. I see them all the time for pretty cheap from the circle track guys around and they make rebuild kits for them. So you can buy one and rebuild it for about half the price of a new one.

[Dragncar]

Mine, I took the stock tank and silver soldered a 1/2" steel tube just off the floor of the lowest point of the tank. And made a bracket to mount a Black pump just below tank level in axle well. I use a Mallory return regulator and it dumps right back in the tanks stock vent.
I did something weird just to try it and see it it works. The stock 3/8th line is still in the car with stock pickup. I took the sock off of it and extended it to the low point of the tank with a rubber hose and hose clamps. I have both a mechanical Holley 80gph pump and electric at the same time. Had it for years. The mech pump just goes to the primary's with the electric pump and its by pass going to the secondaries. It works, no fuel issues. I figured the 80gph should be able to keep up with half a carb, it does. I could up it to a 120gph pump the biggest available without needing it own regulator. 120+ 140gph is a lot of fuel.

[Chief of the 60's]

Keep in mind that most of these pumps were never intended for long running periods of time as in street car use. They were intended for short term racing, just like electric water pumps. The main key to longevity is to keep fuel in it and keep it from working hard which leads to overheating it. Gravity feed is key to keeping it from working hard while short run times is another. If you insist on using it as a daily driver, 3 solid years is usually what you'll get. Some people get less while others will "claim" they get more. Dead heading it? These smaller pumps don't care, its not going to matter. You want to run a return line knock yourself out, you're only pleasing yourself. Most of these smaller pumps don't even need a regulator as your needle & seat will cut the fuel supply off. On one of my cars I run a Holley Black with the regulator pegged at 9.5 lbs. Pretty much the pump's max.

You want to get down to brass tax, dump the 3/8" - 5/16" line and go to 1/2" because flow is more critical than pressure.

[Jack Ferris]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

Mine, I took the stock tank and silver soldered a 1/2" steel tube just off the floor of the lowest point of the tank. And made a bracket to mount a Black pump just below tank level in axle well. I use a Mallory return regulator and it dumps right back in the tanks stock vent.
I did something weird just to try it and see it it works. The stock 3/8th line is still in the car with stock pickup. I took the sock off of it and extended it to the low point of the tank with a rubber hose and hose clamps. I have both a mechanical Holley 80gph pump and electric at the same time. Had it for years. The mech pump just goes to the primary's with the electric pump and its by pass going to the secondaries. It works, no fuel issues. I figured the 80gph should be able to keep up with half a carb, it does. I could up it to a 120gph pump the biggest available without needing it own regulator. 120+ 140gph is a lot of fuel.

This for sure is the most effective way to do this. Unfortunately we had already purchased the RobbMc 1/2 sending unit and installed it. So, we need to make it work. I'm coming to conclusion that the QFT pump is giving us problems and we are sending it back.

[Skip Fix]

Dead headed for 20 years! Have had to replace the pump for worn brushes in that time. Granted not thousands of street miles but enough. Driving 1 hour+ both ways to autocross(and swap on 4 road race slicks) and back for about 8 of them