OK while we are waiting for our new heads and dreaming of the fantastic horsepower we are going to have I am wondering if the 5/16 fuel lines most of our older cars came equiped with are going to be adequate. Ford equiped their Hi-Po Fe's with 3/8 lines to eliminate fuel shortages. Hoosier, Pegleg, others any comments?

Don't forget, the hookup coming out of the tank is even a tad smaller than 5/16s so it seems to me that ought to be delt  with as well. If we can get these gas tank companies to just install a larger 3/8s line and sock filter coming out of the gas tanks we can then install the larger gas lines and solve alot of the fuel starvation problems. It will take alot of calls to these companies to get them to listen thou. Spectra Industries in Canada is one and their ph: is 1-800-363-8533   I've already made a call but it will take alot more to get a simple problem fixed.

-Gary Burnette-

I was going to pull the in tank assembly out of a 79 460 equiped pickup I have scrapped and see if I could make that work. I was going to classic tubes and see If I could get a fuel line made in 3/8 instead of the 5/16 for the bird. For my fairlane I made the in tank assembly using 1/2 in copper tube, grafting a 3/8 adapter outside of the tank.

I've already run a 3/8s gas line from the tank forward on my tbird and will change the line into the tank if I can't get the tank companies to build some with the 3/8s line already installed. Some of the racers at Columbus have already changed the lines in their tanks and forward to the fuel pump as to not run lean on the top end. With the power on the upswing with the new aluminum heads, 5/16s I believe is too small when 325 HP and up becomes the norm for these engines. And yes I believe 5/16s is plenty big enough for the stock to mild buildups for most of the yblocks for pleasure driving and thats great, but alot will be doing some pretty good hopups if the parts are available and to me that's just awesome!!!!! sooooooo it would be nice to have tanks and gas lines to back' um don't you think. If you find a good fit for our tanks let us know.

-Gary Burnette-

Hey Guys;;   During the dyno test I was runnung out of gas at top end.  Engine is a John Mummart 331 stroker, engle cam, John's port job. I got a new tank--unsoldered the pickup tube and put a new 3/8 line in--   now 3/8s all the way to the fuel pump, doesn't run out now.  Running race prepared Holley, just  waiting for the new heads.   Believe a larger line is the wayto go...    Have Fun Guys     God Bless   Eddie

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630

Dinosaur:

The Bird pickup is in the front of the tank itself, not in the fuel sender like later cars and trucks.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

You can figure on the 5/16” line being able to safely support up to about 350 horsepower assuming the pressure drop at the carb isn’t excessive.  Every bend or kink in the line will cut back on the flow so the shorter and/or straighter the line is, the better.  Any horsepower expectations beyond this is going to require a larger line to insure an adequate volume if standing on the throttle for any given period of time.  A guestimate for a well designed 3/8” fuel line should be able to support 500-550HP.  For the drag cars, I typically use a AN8 line from the tank to the fuel pump and to the pressure regulator which is the equivalent of a ½” line.  Usually use a dual regulator system which uses AN6 lines (equivalent of 3/8”) going to each carb or each end of a carb.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I use a 3/8" line and I have replaced the pickup (with a Mustang in tank fuel pump). Both Ted and John are making substantially more power than I do. They would need larger lines

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Eddie, did you just add a 3/8s line into the tank or get one from a later tank with the sock filter already attached and install. What tank would have the correct 3/8s size line with filter and be an easy enough install?

-Gary Burnette-

Hey Gary;;   I silver soldored a3/8's line in the tank, using a filter just in front of the tank and another after the manual pump, with a reg. before going into the carb.  hope that helps.   Feels pretty good with this combo.   God Bless   Eddie

Eddie

Lake Forest, Ca. 92630